Head over to SonnyRadio.com to see more kooky stuff – lots more.

Hugs to Merry over at Cranky Fitness (a fine blog) for sending this my way – such a great find.

Post from: Blisstree

Best. Mansion. Ever.

Storefront for Art and Architecture, in association with Control Group is holding a little competition called the White House Redux.

The basics:

You ponder, you design, you send your idea for a spankin’ new White House in.

“The best ideas, designs, descriptions, images, and videos will be selected by some of the world’s most distinguished designers and critics and featured in a month-long exhibition at Storefront for Art and Architecture in July 2008. All three winners will be flown to New York to collect their prizes at the opening part.”

The prizes for three winners will include:

• First Prize: $5,000
• Second Prize: $3,000
• Third Prize: $1,500
• Plus, the winners will be, “Flown to New York and given three day’s free accommodation in The White House Hotel on the Bowery.”

See all the prize perks here. Yup there is more.

The White House is semi the result of a design competition back in 1972, of which James Hoban won, and semi the result of presidents since 1972, adding on (ah, our tax dollars hard at work.)

According to White House Redux, “The White House includes: Six stories and 55,000 square feet of floor space, 132 rooms and 35 bathrooms, 412 doors, 147 windows, twenty-eight fireplaces, eight staircases, three elevators, five full-time chefs, a tennis court, a bowling alley, a movie theater, a jogging track, a swimming pool, and a putting green.”

Um, I’m sorry, but the White House is a baddie McMansion at it’s best. Too big, not that attractive, with features you don’t need to live properly. It’s excess. Care to see my shocked face?

What I think:

Honestly, if it were up to me, the president would have to live in whatever the majority of Americans currently live in. You know, to get a feel for real American life.

The median price for American homes is $224,000. Lately, as you’ve likely noticed, that isn’t going to buy much. Maybe the president could get a condo in Washington for that – maybe not.

Politics being wobbly like they are, a Jello house would be fitting.

On a mad day (most days I think about politics) I might have to go with something like the Poop House or the Toilet House – that’s fitting. Maybe we should have the president live in the toilet house until all children have health care?

I’m guessing I’d be way too sarcastic to be an effective entry in the White House Redux. Still, you can enter. Let me know if you win.

Post from: Blisstree

How Would You Redesign the White House?

Since it’s a holiday I thought we should have some music. This is a video I just recently saw at a fellow bloggers home base, The Production Side. It goes along with Into the Wild — which I haven’t seen but have read a multitude of times. The book is great (actually all of Jon Krakauer books are good) but the movie looks like a visual wonder. Anyway the video got me thinking; here at Offbeat we talk a lot about the trouble with McMansions, saving space when we can, and leaving a smaller footprint. Now we have a new year arriving and with it new chances to make a difference with how we live, build and occupy the land.

You know, if we don’t use these chances there won’t be movies like this with beautiful scenery to see. We won’t have forests and wide spaces to visit in person because they’ll be replaced with miles of structures. Obviously I love a good structure but I think we can have both; structures and land preservation we just need to plan and think carefully about our actual needs vs. wants. That’s manageable for 2008.

Wishing everyone a beautiful and peaceful New Year.

Post from: Blisstree

Happy New Year’s Music

I don’t know quite how a green mega home could be efficiently accomplished purely based on the energy (both human and supply wise) it takes to build a McMansion. There’s all the excess materials and on and on. It just seems like a poor idea. But one guy doesn’t think so.

Real estate guru Frank McKinney is building what will be (if he can accomplish this) the world’s largest certified green home EVER. He’s doing this on spec so props for trying without a buyer but I actually think he will get a buyer because it seems like the overly rich like new toys and an eco-McMansion is certainly in that category.

RIVR Media is recording the whole process for what will eventually be a documentary called The Green Giant. McKinney has named this mega project Acqua Liana and an overview is available at his website.

Now, one he does seem like a nice guy in the video below and at his website. However, he is a seemingly nice guy who has admittedly been bleeding the land. He gives back to the world’s poor and wants to do good but I wonder how much it takes to give back when you’re so entrenched in these fat mansions. I’m torn. I suppose my final word is that I’m glad he’s trying and he seems perfectly kind and sort of charms you but much of the point of green living is skewed by this project. I’m not even sure if a project like this can be certified green either. I guess we’ll see — the home is set to be completed by December 08.

Anyhow, visit his site and watch the promo for The Green Giant below and come to your own conclusion.

Post from: Blisstree

Can You Build A Green McMansion?

Well, the Home & Dining Channel here at b5media has two new amazing blogs for those of you who jump for joy come Oktoberfest, dream of being married at a vineyard, or maybe even like a little wine with breakfast.

Our two newest blogs, Behind the Vines and Brew Ha Ha will cover all that and so much more.

I’m more of a coffee girl myself but still, in honor of the new blogs I did think I might try and bring a little drunken pleasure to Offbeat today. But you know; I used up my one and only alcohol shaped building back on Labor Day. With that in mind I thought I’d be serious for once and address the very real issues of alcohol and judgment.

It’s well know that we should not drink and drive (right folks) but a lesser known fact is that one should not drink and plan architectural projects. You could end up with ideas like this…

Or this…

Or this!

You might even go smack crazy and decide that building rows and rows of look-alike McMansions will make all your dreams come true.

I just love big old land grubbing homes… Let’s take a closer look. This one is awesome!

Yup alcohol enhanced… I can tell.

So, if you promise to drink wisely and think before you build than go ahead and visit Behind the Vines and Brew Ha Ha. Both are smart, interesting, and nicely free of bad architectural ideas — all stellar qualities in a blog.

The love me disclaimer: Before you get on here and yell or try to argue the merits of say, the former PLOT architects let me just point out that I in fact love almost all structures and ideas including other PLOT items. I even love structures made of poop, cartoons, and spam. These building above simply rub me the wrong way. Sorry my opinion. I know there’s stuff you don’t like.

On the other hand, if you feel like leaving a comment that says I suck for hating cookie cutter McMansions by all means feel free — we both know I’m right anyhow.

Post from: Blisstree

Got Alcohol?

Yup folks the end of HGTV Design Star is drawing to an end. Will it be Kim or Todd? Who knows. It’s won’t be Sparkle Josh so it’s hard to care but still he is supposed to be on the final show so that’s exciting. I did vote and you should too. I had to vote at least once to make my world complete I suppose. I voted for….

Todd

Why? Because frankly Kim gets on my nerves and I honestly question her design skills. Todd has the fun edge. But I only voted once; I don’t like Todd that much. You can vote through Wednesday.

If you are aching to see the return of all the canceled designers watch the season finale on September 16, at 9pm e/p. Or if you fancy yourself a savvy design star in the making apply for season 3. Who knows you might be my favorite next year.

In cool Offbeat Homes news:

I got an email today from International Listings telling me that Offbeat Homes is being recognized as one of their Top 100 Real Estate Blogs in the Green Ideas category. According to their site, International Listings has been a leader in online luxury classifieds advertisements since 2001 and they do have an interesting selection of worldwide homes featured.

I of course, frown on McMansion style living but did find some nice villas and some glamorous but not huge homes at the site. Which made me happier than seeing all mega homes.

Overall I was pretty excited. Eco-living is so important to me and I try to insert a lot of green home info here at Offbeat. To be listed along side of sites like Jetson Green, Treehugger, and Inhabitat is a huge honor to me and made my week — so a hearty thanks to International Listings for the nod.

A tasty treat:

Obviously I used most of this post up talking about HGTV and Offbeat props so I leave you with some beautiful morsels of an offbeat home:

The home above; the Orchid House is just one of the amazing homes designed for Landmark Homes. The Orchid House is by Sarah Featherstone. The entire site is full of beautiful and offbeat designs and has a large eco-slant. The architects seem heavily into blending ecology with structure form which is one of my favorite things to hear. Pay them a visit.

Now, who are you going to vote for as the all new Design Star?

Post from: Blisstree

Vote for Your Favorite HGTV Design Star & Other News

I want to know what you think because clearly, “hot” is objective. And until I hear otherwise, incoming hot and not stuff will be brought to you by yours truly. And while I’d like to think that I’ve got some “hot” ideas to offer… well, we all miss the mark sometimes.

Offbeat Hot: HGTV Going Green

HGTV has never been cold towards eco-living issues, but now the network is pumping up the green to increase their heat factor. On Sunday, June 10th at 9pm e/p, HGTV is premiering a new special called Red, Hot, and Green. The one-hour long special, hosted by green happy craftsman Carter Oosterhouse and “eco-stylist” Danny Seo, promises numerous features including: Tours of unique, green friendly homes, advice for incorporating environmentally sound options while building, and tips you can use in your own home. I’m excited about this show because I love to see what others are doing to make green living a reality.

The new special, combined with other recent HGTV green perks such as promises of more green programing in the future, brand new eco-living web content, and the very cool “Green” Home Giveaway Contest 2008 makes HGTV a current “Offbeat Hot” pick on my list.

Offbeat Not: Life In the Castle

Speaking of HGTV; I recently watched the special, What’s With That Really Expensive House. Although I’m a huge long-time fan of the original What’s With That House, I was a bit distressed by the size of the homes shown on the special. But not to single HGTV out, because recently I’ve watched friends — and other folks I know, buy six plus bedroom homes with triple car garages and four bathrooms. I’m not friends with the Brady Bunch. These are families with four to five members max.

There’s numerous reasons why this phenomenon bugs me, but to simple it up I’ll just say this: In my mind, you need a home that is proportional to the space you will fill. Having two extra baths and three extra sitting rooms or bedrooms than you don’t genuinely need seems wasteful of both natural and manufactured resources. Not to mention the money. One of the homes on the afore mentioned special cost around $20,000 a month to keep it running. Not to get preachy — but imagine all the positive things you could do for others if you had $20,000 extra just sitting around each month. I’ll stop now. But living in an abode far beyond your basic needs absolutely makes my “Offbeat Not” list.

Offbeat Hot: A Little Bedtime Reading

Benjamin Aranda and partner Chris Lasch, quoted in New York Magazine as having, “Learned to be the architects we are from a bird keeper in Brooklyn, a basket weaver in Arizona, and a big billboard in Queens,” makes them sound far more like the Beasty Boys than architects; but architects they are.

The two were awarded this years Young Architects Award from New York’s Architectural League and co-authored #27 in the Pamphlet Architecture series, Tooling. A weekly dose of architecture gives a great long description of Tooling. Here’s an excerpt:

“The seven projects included in the book present seven ways of experimenting: spiraling, packing, weaving, blending, cracking, flocking, tiling. As part of each project they explicitly define the algorithmic means for each maneuver and, of course, following up with the outcome of that maneuver on a specific program.”

Tooling is informative and beautiful. Much of the text reads like poetry and the pictures are gorgeous. This sound really odd for the type of book it is — you just have to see it for yourself. Once you read Tooling, I’m sure it’ll be on your “Offbeat Hot” list too.

Offbeat Not: This Cute Fellow

I like an adorable robot as much as the next gal. But I’ll hire some humans to build my house, or do it myself; thank you very much. Ok, we all know this little guy won’t be building anything anytime soon, but some other robots are. Dr. Behrokh Khoshnevis, an inventor and engineer professor long ago invented a robot that will theoretically be able to build a house in just one day. His current robot built structure, (10 years in the making) is expected to be completed by the end of summer 2007.

I’m not sure what to say about this. Design and craftsmanship contain artistic elements and robots, to me, seem more technical and less artistically inclined. Plus the whole robot building with only concrete seems scary, (steel bars for tension anyone?) You can see a prototype of Dr. Khoshnevis’s creation in live action here. It’s interesting, and actually cool to see in action, but the idea of concrete only homes along with a total lack of human creativity makes this an “Offbeat Not” in my book.

And that, friends, is what I’m deeming Offbeat Hot and Offbeat Not this week. Note also, that this was an extra long special edition to get us going. From here on out, the focus will be on one “Hot” topic and one “Not” topic.

Now it’s your turn. Agree or disagree, I’d love to hear your thoughts either way, and don’t forget to suggest your own “hot or not” topic.

Post from: Blisstree

Offbeat Hot & Offbeat Not: Week One

Then you read about a dumb-rich-ass.

[photo courtesy of LAtimes via Curbed]

Duane Hagadone residence above consumed over 62,000 square feet of land, on top of a ridge, overlooking a private golf course. Well now, the other residents of the Bighorn golf course in the Palm Desert are upset because he stole their view. What is more appalling is, according to the LA Times, “city officials” gave Hagadone an exemption from an ordinance that doesn’t allow hillside homes to be larger than 4,000 square feet. They based this exemption off of PRELIMINARY models.

Now the “city officials” are upset. They feel they have been dooped, because when they accepted the PRELIMINARY plans, they were only at 32,000 square feet. So now they have Hagadone cornered, because he has to go in front of the board and convince them not to make him tear out the additional 32,000 square feet. He convinced them.

Be mad at the city officials.

We will not change things, environmentaly, unless we penalize people for doing shit like this. People should be allowed a tax credit for living in a SMALL house. Then those living in a house over 5,000 square feet should have to pay a penalty.

Post from: Blisstree

Steps Backward

This is an aerial photo of John Edwards home I found in the Carolina Journal. I told you about it in a previous post.

On Tuesday John Edwards decided to share his energy policy. During which time he was confronted about his own personal energy consumption. His response as quoted by the Sioux City Journal:

Meeting with reporters, Edwards brushed off the idea that his spacious home used too much energy, saying it uses solar power and received a five-star rating from the federal government.

Well now I have to call BULLSHIT!

The first thing I don’t see, in the photo above, or this one are solar panels. The home is 28,000 square feet. A home that size is going to require a lot of solar panels.

The next, a statement “received a five-star rating”. The federal government ratings are not graded by stars. In fact, if you wanted to brag about your homes efficiency it would by LEED Certified and registered with the USGBC.

Post from: Blisstree

UPDATE: An Inconvenient Green Home

[picture via Treehugger]

This home seems humble, right? Found in Texas, this 4,000 square foot ranch house sits on a concrete slab running East to West. This has to be in order to take advantage of shade. Well, the porches would help with that right? True, but in this case the porches also act as a hallway between rooms. This is an excellent idea considering the climate. It also lets you use all of your square footage for living spaces not halls. Halls in typical ranch home plans can be killers. You can’t see it in the above picture but there is also low stone apron detail around the perimeter of the home. The stone used for this detail is actually recycled. A good alternative and often gives that “old-country cottage” look.

The homes design is pretty eco-friendly but it doesn’t stop there. In fact the home is heated and cooled geo-thermally. There is also 3 cisterns for collecting rain water, grey-water (showers, washer, dishwasher), and black water from the…(jokes flying) toilet. All of which is purified and used for irrigation around the property.

Now what if I told you this home is actually the Crawford Texas Ranch that President Bush retreats to for R-n-R? Yep, that is who owns this eco-friendly home. I found it very interesting that reading the articles about this home, which is environmentally responsible locally and globally, he is constantly criticized for it.

Since I am not the typical “Kool Aid” drinker, registered Independent,(Means I can’t be loyal to someone just because they are a member of a party) let’s take a look at some of the “hypocrits” they support.

[picture via Carolina Journal]

The above is a 28,000 square foot home, worth about $6 million dollars and owned by Democratic Presidential hopeful John Edwards. I believe that property required more deforestation than the Artic National Wildlife Refuge drilling proposed by the Devil (The President).

Al Gore, you have to give him credit for trying. He made a movie that will help get people to think. Although it was disheartening to find out that neither of his (three) homes are using alternative energy. Not that he needs to have solar panels or windmills on the property, but he doesn’t even use alternative energy credits offered by the local power districts.

But according to public records, there is no evidence that Gore has signed up to use green energy in either of his large residences. When contacted Wednesday, Gore’s office confirmed as much but said the Gores were looking into making the switch at both homes. Talk about inconvenient truths. [via USA Today]

Let’s admit it, we are all a little hypocritical. I mean, the article about Al is from August. I just wish I could have learned more about the design of the home and not the anger toward our President.

Post from: Blisstree

An Inconvenient Green Home