The winners of the second and final phase of Initiative 99, a global competition to design affordable housing that can be built for $99,000 or less, were announced today by ICON, a leader in 3D printing technology. In a major step forward for the future of affordable housing, two of the winning designs from the Professional category will be 3D-printed for a nonprofit community in Austin, Texas, dedicated to serving the area’s homeless population (as of 2023, it’s estimated to be around 4,600 people, according to recent data).
The top prize winners and honorable mentions of Phase I were subsequently invited to advance their designs within Phase II of Initiative 99. Phase II asked contestants to adapt their designs to site constraints and parameters for construction at Community First! Village. First, second, and third place winners have been awarded in both the open and student categories, as well as three honorable mentions per category. Two of the award-winning designs have also been selected for construction at Community First! Village and will be brought to life in part from grant funding from Wells Fargo. Construction is anticipated to break ground in early 2025.
A Global Effort with Local Impact
Launched earlier this year, Initiative 99 attracted submissions from over 60 countries, showcasing designs that addressed the pressing global need for affordable housing. ICON revealed the Phase 1 winners in March during a technology showcase at SXSW. Since then, the competition has moved to its final phase, with teams tailoring their designs to meet the specific needs of Community First! Village.
Winners in the Professional category include Guerin Glass Architects from the U.S., MTspace Studio from New Zealand, and Concave, a team with members from various locations. Notably, both Guerin Glass Architects and Concave have been selected to have their designs 3D-printed at Community First! Village. “ICON’s innovative 3D-printed technology paired with these beautiful, imaginative Initiative 99 designs can be a model for the future of safe, high quality, affordable housing,” said Darlene Goins, president of the Wells Fargo Foundation, whose foundation has committed $500,000 to help make these homes a reality through grant funding. “Wells Fargo is proud to help make these 3D-printed homes a reality at Community First! Village.”
“We are thrilled with the evolution of each team’s submission from Phase 1 to Phase 2 of the competition," said Melodie Yashar, ICON’s VP of Building Performance and Design. "We believe the designs generated by the competition introduce a wealth of ideas to advance progress on affordable housing worldwide.”
Expanding the Vision Beyond Austin
The impact of Initiative 99 extends beyond Austin, with winning designs also being incorporated into other forward-thinking projects. ICON has partnered with Liz Lambert to expand the iconic El Cosmico campground in Marfa, Texas, using winning designs from the competition. The project will feature new hotels, homes, and hospitality spaces over a newly designed 60-acre plot.
In addition to these high-profile projects, the winning designs from Initiative 99 will also be featured in ICON’s CODEX, a digital library of ready-to-print architectural plans. Builders, developers, and homeowners can access the designs to bring affordable, world-class architecture to life using 3D printing.
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