ICON to 3D-Print Sustainable Homes for Texas Artificial Surf Community

ICON and Firmah Architecture have announced Desperado, a 450-acre residential community in Texas built around Waco Surf and its artificial lagoons.

The plan centers on 88 3D-printed concrete homes—44 standalone houses and 44 duplex townhomes—arranged around a new kidney-shaped wave pool and the existing surf amenities.

The project blends surf culture, Texas ranchland, and forested landscape into a walkable, car-free master plan designed to connect architecture, water, and nature.

Architectural Vision: Flow, Form, and 3D Printing

The design team aims to translate the sensation of movement into built form, using curves and rounded volumes that echo the flow of water and landscape.

The use of flow as a guiding principle shapes both the neighborhood layout and the homes themselves.

Flow as Core Concept

Firmah’s design language centers on rounded walls and gentle curves that create smooth transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces.

The kidney-shaped wave pool and the surrounding pavilions inspire outward-splaying roofs that shade verandas, while wood-framed windows and sliding doors frame daylight and views.

The 88 3D-printed concrete homes—split between 44 standalone dwellings and 44 duplexes—are organized to optimize sightlines toward water features and common spaces.

Materiality and Interiors

Interior spaces emphasize warmth and tactility, with wood ceilings and natural materials that contrast with the industrial precision of 3D printing.

The homes’ forms, shaped under the guidance of Ashley Heeren of Firmah, balance modernity with a human scale, while sliding doors invite cross-ventilation and connection to exterior courtyards.

Site and Landscape Strategy

The project sits at a landscape crossroads where old-growth forest, prairie, and surf culture converge.

Desperado is conceived as an outdoor-first community where nature is central.

Nature-Inspired Hybrid Landscape

A central old-growth forest anchors the plan, surrounded by prairie edges and water features that weave through the built environment.

The design respects the land’s character while enabling a surf-inspired lifestyle that blends outdoor recreation with residential living.

Mobility and Access within the District

Inside the community, vehicles are de-emphasized in favor of a pedestrian-friendly, car-free environment.

Residents will navigate the neighborhood by golf cart, bike, or on foot, reinforcing safety and a closer connection to the surrounding water and forest.

Pathways, shaded pavilions, and pocket parks connect homes to lagoons, campsites, and public spaces, creating a human-centered experience.

• Car-free internal streets with golf carts, bikes, and walking as primary modes of transport
• Pedestrian-friendly amenities and shaded gathering places integrated with water features
• Direct access to Waco Surf’s lagoon and standing wave pool, plus new water amenities

Amenities and Lifestyle

Desperado combines surf culture with ranch-life amenities to create a family-focused community that thrives around water and nature.

The development leverages the offerings at Waco Surf while adding new aquatic and leisure features designed to enhance outdoor living.

What Residents Will Enjoy

• Waco Surf’s pre-existing lagoon and standing wave pool
• A new second lagoon to expand water recreation options
• The world’s longest lazy river, expanding the resort-like experience
• Pickleball courts and a 13-hole golf course
• Fishing lakes, campsites, and on-site restaurants
• Open-air, wood-rich interiors and interconnected outdoor spaces

Desperado is described as “a place to integrate surf, outdoors and intentional living where families can settle and children grow up around water and nature.”

The project combines water-centered recreation with a quiet, nature-forward living environment powered by 3D-printed construction and thoughtful landscape design.

Timeline and Collaboration

Construction is slated to begin in summer 2026. Move-ins are expected in summer 2027.

The collaboration brings together ICON, the Austin-based Firmah Architecture, and principal designer Ashley Heeren. Her experience on projects like House Zero shapes the neighborhood’s resilient, low-embodied-energy approach.

Desperado combines advanced construction technologies with a strong landscape and water strategy. The project aims to set a new standard for surf-inspired, master-planned communities in Texas.

 
Here is the source article for this story: ICON to 3D-print housing for artificial surf community in Texas