There’s a notion, among folks I’ve met, that all green dwellings are weird, kooky, or minimal (read boring) but that’s not true at all. I actually do like the unique green dwellings, but many green homes are being built nowadays in contemporary styles, modern styles, and basic styles. You can’t even tell that some green homes are green from looking at them, so if you’re interested in green homes, but not in extreme green homes, you do have plenty of options.

Image via Lifecycle Building Challenge

Here are some various ends of the green home spectrum. Starting with, yes, the unique. This to-die for home seen above is fresh from the Lifecycle Building Challenge – something that the ever green Jetson Green covered in depth. This particular home, the Loblolly House: Unbolt, Detach, Reassemble was one of the challenge winners and it’s easy to see why. This beautiful beyond belief, prefab, energy conserving, waste reducing home is simply awesome.

Image via Tumbleweed Tiny House Company

If small and sweet is your dream then Tumbleweed homes are perfect for you (see above). Space saving, resource saving, and green to the max.

Image via A Low Impact Woodland Home

One of my favorite green homes is the amazing Woodland House. This home is not only unique but greener than green with so many eco-feature you can’t believe it. Learn more.

See a slide show of TEN amazing green homes – from cob to prefab to green remodels and more. There’s a green home styled just for you in this slide show.

From time to time I’ll share some other cool green homes here – stay tuned.

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Luscious Green Houses

Two structure. Both rolling. Both Kundig.

The first; Rolling Huts…

Rolling huts are, in the words of the Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects website, “Several steps above camping” – I’ll say. These sure beat a leaky tent. These lovely and unique huts were created for housing visiting family and friends. They also of course make stellar party conversation.

Hut construction is unfettered; a steel clad box on a steel and wood platform. 200 sq ft of simple rolling living, well, not counting the extra 240 sq ft of decking. The interior is just as cool, made with cork and plywood. See many more images (including the great interior).

The second rolling structure is very much to die for…

I could just say oh bliss, and leave it at that. If you need more though, this is Chicken Point Cabin in Idaho. A gorgeous little cabin that sleeps 10. The rolling that this cabin does is very cool. The cabin’s big window-wall (30 feet by 20 feet) rolls right open to expose the living space to the forest and lake. Again, I say oh bliss. You can see the rolling in action by clicking here. They’ve got some nice videos up that show the process.

Honestly if Mr. Kundig insists on being so clever all the time, I’m never going to narrow my favorite structure of his down. I thought my favorite was the Delta Cabin, but I REALLY like this cabin above. So much amazing architecture, so little time. That’s the best sort of problem to have – don’t you think?

Need more Kundig? Read – Eleven Eleven East Pike.

[Rolling hut image via photographer Tim Bies; Chicken Point Cabin image via photographer Benjamin Benschneider both via Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects]

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Houses that roll – in more ways than one

[image via Highland Craftsmen]

I recently got the book, Bark House Style: Sustainable Designs from Nature from the library, and it got me thinking a lot about bark in design. I used to think of bark design as more just a rustic beach house look, but this book was cool; it shows a lot of different ways in which bark can be used for home design; from rustic to contemporary. I also didn’t know how sustainable bark could be. Of course there are ways it might be unsustainable, but if you work with a decent company, you could have a home outfitted in sustainable bark.

For example, Highland Craftsmen Inc., notes…

“We are a “green” building company, and proud members of the US Green Building. Through the Arbor Day Foundation, we plant a tree for every job done. Many of our Bark House materials and products use zero water and very little energy in their manufacturing process.  By 2010, we will use water exclusively from rainwater catchment systems. If glues or sealers are needed, we educate clients about quality green products to use.  HC offers FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) products as well.”

Versatility of bark in home structures:

Something I picked up from the book and Highland Craftsmen website is that bark is way more than shingles. The HC website explains it as, “Bark House materials are characterized by their natural, un-milled and unprocessed state. Although usually left bark intact, the bark may also be removed. Being unprocessed does not mean they are not precise. On the contrary, the dimensional variances as well as the specific recommended uses for the materials took years of research and development to establish. Materials include twigs, logs, poles, massive wooden slabs, sheets of bark that are un-laminated and stumps with stems.”

You can see lots of bark design options in this gallery.

My favorite part of this book was the bark house history chapter. There are some truly beautiful old house images shown, and some great stories about builders of the past who utilized bark as a structure material. Part of the history chapter covers the the lovely six story Oregon Caves Chateau located at the Oregon Caves National Monument. I’ve been there, and the Chateau is an amazing example of an old school bark structure; made from peeled Douglas Fir logs. Below is an old image of the Chateau…

[image via Oregon Caves Chateau - see more historic images]

If you’re interested in bark; or not, but think you could be, I highly suggest reading Bark House Style: Sustainable Designs from Nature. It’s chock full of beautiful images partnered with info you can use; either to simply learn more, or to make decisions about building your own bark style house. I was never that into bark, and only picked this book up on a whim, but I’d give it an A.

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Sustainable Bark House Style

This home is made of a redwood, and is located in the parking lot of Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum in St. Augustine, FL. Actually, being that I’m so obsessed with redwoods, I’m surprised I’ve never run across this cool structure. Of course, I wouldn’t be caught dead in Florida, so maybe that’s it.

See the inside of the log house.

[image via Waymarking]

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The One Log Home

The Nautilus House, is one of the more odd abodes I’ve seen lately, and is a literal shell of a house.

The home is a little hard to comprehend at first, but if you look at the layout it makes more sense.

If undersea mammals are more your style then the Mexican Whale home might suit you better.

Do you believe that this is a house? It surely is. It has a stunning interior you can see at the Senosiain Arquitectos website. Actually you really should visit because not only can you see more of the whale and shell home, but also an amazing shark house. Can you build a house that really looks like a shark? Apparently yes. Visit Senosiain Arquitectos and click on “Organic Works” to see more.

[images via Senosiain Arquitectos]

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I’d like to live, under the sea…

Just some quick shots, because I love this little house so much, I’ll never be quiet if I get going. That said, this was built by cobworks.com and cob cottage. Once you see the interior this home just gets better and better. You can check out a multitude of wonderful photos of the home above at cobworks.com, not to mention that you’ll see many other beautiful structures. If you’re really impressed (and have some free time) you might want to check out cobworks.com’s summer workshops.

See this was a quick shot, and I’ve said too much. But do check out the sites above – useful info if you’re interested in cob homes, clay, or straw bale.

[photos via cobworks.com]

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Offbeat Quick Shot: Mayne Island Beauty

The Fennell Residence is a floating house in Portland, Oregon, that was designed beautifully to match the floating aspect. Curved glue lam beams, huge glass facade and curved lines are perfectly suited to life on the water. When I first saw this, I had no idea it was even a floating home it was a neat surprise. What I did notice were the tear drop like sides and just fell in awe with this house.

How great is this house? Seriously. Look at the nighttime view…

Sigh. To see more make the jump.

Great light.

I love this photo of the house. I don’t know why, it’s like silk, how it flows. I love it, even the red doesn’t ruin it, and red anything usually ruins visuals for me.

To see more of this lovely floating home visit here. To see many more amazing structures visit the entire website of Robert Harvey Oshatz – it’s one of those don’t miss events. There’s even a movie – oh yes, there is.

[All photos courtesy of Robert Harvey Oshatz]

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Robert Harvey Oshatz – The Fennell Residence

Oshatz has designed many an amazing structure in my home state – Oregon and in other areas as well, as far reaching as Japan. His work is a mix of commercial, residential, religious, and more. What I love is how his work is entirely unique yet somehow manages to fit into the landscape so well – which is crucial I think if we want to preserve the natural environment. We really need to see more often that landscape and structure can ease together.

His design philosophy is really bold. Here’s a clip:

“Except for the basic elements of design composition, dominance, transition, and identity; I stay away from design theories. They seem to be too transitory and irrelevant to my work. Design theories tend to outshine their author’s performance, becoming limiting concepts, prejudicing the mind while tying one’s hands behind one’s back. They are roadblocks to new ideas. While subscribing to a particular theory of design an architect must solve problems within the parameters of that theory; this is limiting at best…

The requirements of architecture are such that I must go beyond what the client understands. There must be surprise, mystery, beauty and delight, elements that make architecture rewarding to its users for a lifetime. This is one of the primary differences between architecture and building. It is the architect’s responsibility to go beyond the mere program and into the realm of what I call the spiritual.”

You should really read Oshatz’s entire design approach though, not simply the clip above. It’s great, very interesting when combined with his work.

I ran into some issues deciding which homes to show. I’ll show two houses today, but narrowing it down to two was very difficult. I love many of his residential works a lot. Being a fan of Oregon in general, I did decide to go with two Oregon homes, which narrowed it down a little.

First up the Wilkinson Residence. This is not a house easily captured in photos. However, it’s lovely and offbeat all the same. Located in Portland the home’s lot is a fast sloping grade which according to Oshatz’s site, “Provided the opportunity to bring the main level of the house into the tree canopy to evoke the feeling of being in a tree house.” The client wanted a home that flowed with the natural environment, and I’m thinking that said client got their wish. Take a look:

It sort of makes you gasp, no? I almost can’t stop looking at it. This next photo is my favorite picture of the home. It’s the entryway, but it resembles a kaleidescope somewhat – like the flow keeps going when you look right at the circles. Very slick.

Make the jump to see a few more photos.

Look at this door.

It does really seem like a treehouse from the inside. Out the windows all you see is green. I bet it’s amazing in the autumn though as well.

Cool interior view.

Now, there are many more photos of this home at Oshatz’s site, including, some really neat exterior curves and windows. Later today, we’ll see one more home by this amazing architect.

[All photos courtesy of Robert Harvey Oshatz]

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Outstanding Offbeat Organic Beauty – the Work of Robert Harvey Oshatz

What I found a little odd was that Bamboo Living Homes notes that many bamboo homes in Japan have been standing for 200 years plus; but the homes they ship are made of the same same species of untreated bamboo poles used in certain Vietnam bamboo structures that have lasted 50 years. (Why note the known longer lasting bamboo along side your not-as-long bamboo, I’ll never know). Still, the homes are pretty cool to look at.

This one, the Eco Home, is so darling – it looks like an ornate box.

I think the Thai Hale is pretty neat – a little tropical for my personal taste, but honestly, you can’t beat the flowing railing look.

They’ll do custom designs as well; this custom is covered in cement. It’s cute, like a little adobe bamboo home.

Bamboo Living Homes has numerous other designs to choose from – most of them beautiful, and not too bad price wise. I suggest checking out the Hip House and the Cottage style homes. They also do interiors, but all of the ones I saw  at their site were a little too tropical (I’m not a big tropical person) spent too much time happy on foggy very not-tropical west coast beaches.

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Bamboo Living Homes

Read more about the home itself, and see more pictures, at Metro or the Daily Mail, or learn more about the final sale and watch a video at the BBC News.

Personally, I think it might be chilly. Although, it is slightly charming, in a very old world sort of way.

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Life Inside A Rock