If we want to reduce consumption, whether it is oil, water, or coal, it would be beneficial to start with the future generations. The Greens at MeetTheGreens.org are doing just that. Me and my daughter spent 20 minutes at their site. She is only 5 (5 1/2 going to be 6 on July 13, as she tells people when asked how old she is). She thought it was pretty cool that the kids can play and pump water (go to the site and see what she means).

While we are on the subject of sites working to improve all of humanity, we can forget that the Open Architecture Network opened this week. Place for architects to share their sustainable, eco-friendly ideas with the rest of the world. An idea realized by the people at Architecture for Humanity.

UPDATE: PrairieMOD has finished their Library . A remodel of a room in one of the editors houses. I like this site because it reminds me of what I love about the Prairie Style.

Need a quick fix of architecture, see it in pictures. You need to put this site in your reader, if you don’t you’re going to screw up.

Never give up! You’ll get the amount you want for the home you have grown to love. If not, be the thorn in the side of those bully developers!

Post from: Blisstree

re:Saturday Green for Kids

Tree houses are awesome, and these ’sperical tree houses’ are no exception. So what are these spherical tree houses all about? Let’s check in with the people behind the concept to see what they have to say about it:

The “Spherical Tree House” concept borrows heavily from sailboat construction and rigging practice. It’s a marriage of tree house and sailboat technology. Wooden spheres are built much like a cedar strip canoe or kayak. Suspension points are similar to the chain plate attachments on a sailboat. Stairways hang from a tree much like a sailboats shrouds hang from the mast.

A suspended sphere is tethered, by 3 nearly vertical ropes, to each of 3 separate trees. This distributes the load evenly over the 3 trees and results in a stable hang. Like an inverted three legged stool. There will be almost equal tension in each of the three suspension ropes. The sphere resides in the center of the triangle formed by the 3 trees. It can be slung from 5 to 100’ off the ground, depending on the size of the trees. The triangle formed by 3 old trees was called a sacred grove in the druid tradition. Each grove was influenced by the type and age of the trees.

Pretty darn cool, if you ask me. And it looks quite cozy in there. Well, assuming you’re not claustrophobic (I am). And even to me, it looks pretty nice inside:

Makes me want to crawl in there with a book.

Obviously, a tree house such as this would lead to many questions, well the mastermind behind Free Spirit Spheres is more than happy to answer your concerns.

 

Where’s the washroom?
For now it will have to be in the nearest building equipped with one. In the future I hope to have a washroom sphere as part of a colony of spheres with a self contained sewage plant down below on the forest floor. Another option I’m selling is a composting toilet in a little outhouse that mounts to the edge of the platform on the door tree.

Height from the ground – minimum, maximum?
They can be sitting on the ground in a cradle or as high up in the air as the trees will permit. The limiting factors are the size and spacing of the trees. In the big old growth Douglas firs on the west coast of Canada they could be as high as 35 meters (120′) or more. It gets a little scary at that height though.

Does it sway much?
The spheres sway gently in the breeze but move much more abruptly when someone inside changes position. Since the tethers are almost vertical, and a sphere is tied to 3 separate trees, the movement of the sphere in the wind is a muted average of the motion of the treetops. However, since the spheres are light (500 kg) when somebody inside moves it jiggles the whole sphere.

Is there power?
Each sphere I make is equipped with a standard power connection that is recessed into the side of the sphere where the suspension bridge attaches. A plug is inserted into this connection which brings power into the sphere. The power supply must be connected to the nearest source of electrical power of the right voltage and frequency.

The tree houses come in two models:

Eryn

And:

Eve

As you can see from the Eve picture, the spheres are accessed through spiral stairs that lead up to the entrance.

The Eryn model is available for rental, and if you’re interest, you can access the details right here. Renting Eryn will set you back $150/night or $275 for 2 nights for 2 people, with an extra $35 fee for an extra guest. That sounds like it would be a bit cramped though.

If you want to own your very own Eryn model, though, be prepared to spend the cost of a real home. The fully equipped version would set you back $150,000 USD.

Post from: Blisstree

Spherical Tree Houses

Well, it looks … cozy. I guess. Sort of. Kind of. Original, anyway.

Let’s head on over to Linz, Austria, where luxury awaits you inside your very own sewer pipe. Dasparkhotel will be happy to provide you with foam mattress double beds, sleeping bags, and a wool blanket. Not to mention other essentials such as lighting and storage. What more could you want?

It’s not all dark inside your pipe-dream room, either, for a small circular hole at the top lets in a bit of light (and who knows what else?)

Unfortunately, you will be forced to forego such things as a toilet and shower (head over to the nearest bush or body of water – in this case the Danube River – for those luxuries). Kidding. There’s museums and public showers somewhere nearby…

The best part of this hotel, however, is the pay-what-you-wish system. Yup, pay whatever you want! They can afford it! It’s a pipe!

I give them an A+ for innovation. This is awesome for the kind of adventurers who are getting around with little to no money and who need someplace to stay.

Via | Sellsius Real Estate

Post from: Blisstree

Sewer Pipe Hotel

So here’s another one to add to the list: Sunspace Rotating Homes. It’s all about being in tune with the environment.

Sit back and think for one minute how all the powerful elements of nature occur in circles. The Sky and Earth are round, the Wind at its strength swirls in a circle. Birds nest in a circle. Animals make dens that are circular. The Sun rises and sets in a circle as does the Moon and both are round. Even the Seasons form a giant circle changing yet returning to where they were. Our lives form a circle from childhood through to adults and back to childhood. Wherever power moves a circular shape can be found. It is from this power that the SUNSPACE Home has evolved to take on its curved shape and strengths today.

Well, can’t argue with nature.

The Sunspace homes feature the following characteristics, all of which are outlined and detailed at the website
• Space, Light and Comfort: Lots of space, lots of light, lots of comfort.
• Rotation: Each rotates up to 300 degrees helping you to spice up your view or simply go with the flow of the sun’s rays. If you’re someone who likes light, this is definitely an awesome way to get the most out of daylight hours.
• Energy Efficiency: Different heating options are available to keep energy costs down, such as: wood burning stoves, forced air furnaces, and electric baseboard heaters.
• Natural Hazard Resistance: These structures are built to face some of Earth’s more dangerous challenges such as earthquakes.
• Site Selection: You have a lot of flexibility as to where to build your Sunspace home.
• Evironmentally Friendly: A Sunspace home only requires a small amount of space, making it a great option for sensitive sites where “normal” construction is forbidden.
• Custom Interiors: You’ve got complete freedom of design!
• Low Maintenance: No gutters, no painted surfaces, no valleys, no ridges, no roof leaks! And the windows come with a leak proof warranty.
• Building Packages: Choose between three building packages
• Nine Models: Choose your perfect rotating size.

If you want to know more about Sunspace Rotating Homes, head on over to their main site, where information abounds!

Note: It has been pointed out to me (Thanks, Andy!) that the contact info on the Rotating Homes page isn’t working. If anyone knows of anyway to contact the Sunspace Rotating Homes people, please let me know by commenting below or emailing me directly at idiaz@b5media.com.

Post from: Blisstree

Sunspace Rotating Homes and Commercial Structures

I really like the fact that it looks like it’s tipping over. I just wish I knew more about it. Anyone have the history on this one? Drop me a line at idiaz@b5media.com

In the meantime, I’ll just continue to go, “Hmm…”

Post from: Blisstree

Houses that Make you Go “Hmm”

The book, The Perfect $100,000 House: A Trip Across America and Back in Pursuit of a Place to Call Home, chronicles the adventures of Karrie Jacobs, Founding Editor in Chief of Dwell magazine, as she tours through the United States in search of the perfect (by her standards) $100,000 home.

The journey leads through 14,000 miles of houses, architects, builders, and architectural visions for the future.

If you’re interested in the book, you can purchase it right from amazon for $16.35 (USD).

Post from: Blisstree

The Perfect $100,000 House

Okay, so we’ve covered hotels made out of salt, and hotels made out of recycled materials, but what about one made out of ice?

Indeed, the ICEHOTEL is world famous by now. The people behind the ICEHOTEL have built and rebuilt the hotel every winter for the past seventeen years!

The hotel rests in Sweden, in a village by the name of Jukkasjärvi. At the heart of the hotel is the River Torne, whose pure waters provide the perfect source for the ICEHOTEL.

If you’re planning a stay at the ICEHOTEL prepare to bring warm clothes. Despite its beauty, it’s rather cold! Inside, the temperature remains a toasty -5 °C to -8 °C, regardless of outside temperatures. So, at least you know what to expect.

Sweet dreams

For more about the ICEHOTEL and how to book a room, please visit its official site.

Post from: Blisstree

The Ice Hotel : What Could Be Cooler?

The John Richards Octagon House in Wiscosin is said to be the largest pre-Civil War single family residence in the state, if not the entire Middle West of the country. It has, after all, fifty-seven (57) rooms! Well, that’s if you include the halls and closets. I’m not sure how many standard “rooms” it has. Less than 57.

The house was built by John Richards sometime between 1854 and 1856, and his wife and children moved in. For the next 80 years, despite deaths and losses, the house remained occupied by at least one member of the Richards family.

Since 1938, the house has fallen to the Watertown Historical Society, who happily invite guests into the home.

For a plethora of history and pictures about the John Richards Octagon House, please visit this site.

Post from: Blisstree

The Octagon House

In middle of the Uyuni Salt Flats sits a very interesting structure, now known as the Salt Palace & Spa. This ’salt palace’ is actually a hotel … made mainly out of salt!

The Salar de Uyuni is a prehistoric lake of salt which resides near the Chilean border. Bordered by volcanoes, geysers, and even flamingos, this Bolivian landmark has become quite the tourist attraction.

It is here that four years ago, Juan Quesada, a tourism operator, used blocks of salt to build his hotel.

Today, the Salt Palace & Spa features twelve guest rooms, twenty-four beds, and a shared bathroom.

If you want to stay at this salty paradise, head on over to their main site and book yourself a room. One night will set you back $50 for a single, and $60 for a double, which is quite affordable for such a memorable experience.

Post from: Blisstree

Salar de Uyuni: Salt Hotel

Set in Curitiba, Brazil, Suite Vollard is made of reinforced concrete and gigantic metal platforms. Vinyl-framed glass panels change shades every 90º, and the remote-controlled engine spins residents right-round, round-round, clockwise and counterclockwise with a touch of a button. Each apartment revolves individually, so no need to call all of your neighbors to schedule a spinning session (that could get messy…)

Via | Sellsiusº Real Estate

Post from: Blisstree

Revolving Apartment Building in Brazil