Last week I posted the iPAD by Andre Hodgskin. In said post, I noted that I wasn’t as crazy about the exterior as I was the interior. Great house, nice lines, awesome interior, just not my cup of tea outside. You can choose various options, but I’ve only seen it in black, which may be my issue (not a black or red fan).

Well, Andre Hodgskin was nice enough to send me some new images of a three module house being built in the Waitaki Valley in South Otago. Hodgskin notes that he thinks the various groupings and external cladding options work really well here and I’m inclined to agree. I really like the natural vs. chocolate shades used here.

Check this out:

What do you think? You can see images of the original iPAD module at the iPAD site (along with the various options). I like the option above.

Thanks to Andre Hodgskin for the images. Personally if it was up to me, I’d wake up each morning to pretty architecture filled emails – so much more fun than dealing with spam and other nonsense.

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New Andre Hodgskin iPad in South Otago

The idea is a good one. To save miles of footprints, why not simply move folks up onto billboard platforms? They’re already plentiful. They’re already in major residential areas. They’d cost less than those choice city real estate options.

I’d be a little freaked one might blow right over. It’s not the house integrity I’d be worried about but the actual billboard. Of course I know little about billboard construction; maybe they’re way sturdy. In any case, I still like the whole idea behind Aeroform.

The Aeroform renderings are award winning, and it’s easy to see why. Aeroform is pretty darn clever. Besides just plunking a prefab house atop a billboard the designers have a plan for resident revenue off said billboards. The outside is covered in insulated panels and a layer of carbon fibers to minimize weight and thus that structural problem of the billboard I mentioned.

It’s not the house for me, but then I don’t want to live in the city. I like it far out and away. If other people want to live in the city – on a billboard – good deal. More quiet for the country. I always adore the idea of building up though. Every time you build up you’re cashing in on a nice sustainable technique. Overall, this is a great project idea.

See more of Aeroform and other cool beans projects at Nocturnal Design Lab.

[images via Nocturnal Design Lab]

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Would you live on a billboard?

The iPAD by New Zealand architect Andre Hodgskin arrived on the scene last spring but I don’t think I ever posted anything about it. While I like Hodgskin’s work, the iPAD is not one of those homes I totally fell for. The iPAD is designed to work well as a one bedroom home, a studio, an office, a holiday home, and more. I think you could use it as your main home base just fine though. Its starter size runs small, but you can configure the iPAD with more sq ft. I don’t particularly think this home would look great big. It’s nice small in my opinion.

iPAD stats:

• “A single iPAD totals 50m sq with decks of 55m sq and will retail in New Zealand for $125,000.00.
• Various external cladding and color options are available.
• iPAD can be manufactured off-site and transported to its final destination, or shipped (as a kit) and erected on site by a licensed contractor.“

iPAD is not my fave so far as exteriors go, but I like the interior layout options a lot. Below are main space and bedroom shots.

Learn more about iPAD.

[images via here]

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iPAD by Andre Hodgskin

Inhabitat posted the prettiest little prefab ever back in December. Actually, it’s not so little. The ‘Puma City’ Shipping Container Store designed by the always fab LOT-EK, is rather large at 11,000-square-feet and three levels. It took 24 containers to get it done, and the beauty is that it can be packed up flat for mobile ease.

This has to be the coolest commercial prefab I’ve seen – much more style than most, which just goes to show you that my current prefab lust is not totally off the map. See loads of other great images of the Puma City Store at Inhabitat.

[image via Inhabitat]

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Pretty Puma Prefab

This lovely prefab is simple, small, and focused on outdoor-indoor living. It adds a smaller footprint than many homes, and can be totally customized and in most cases up and running in about 12 weeks. Not bad.

You know, about 3 years ago, I was not the biggest prefab fan; not even close. Now though, I’m sort of digging them. There are so many gorgeous styles out there now, and most with eco-friendly qualities too. I would even consider owning one I do believe. How’s that for progress? Maybe I’ll have to do a beautiful prefab line up post soon.

See interior shots of the iT House above.

Learn how to get your own iT House.

[images via Taalman Koch Architecture]

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Off-Grid iT House

It’s been a while since we had some yummy structural link love. Since my bookmarks are way too full, now seems like a good time to drop some…

house of the week: 003 | Terrace House via Architechnophilia – this image above is the part of the house that’s not actually there, or so the post states. What’s that mean? Why not go find out? It’s worth the click.

I’ve had this saved for almost a month and it’s time to let go. This delicious little prefab hails from Jetson Green, but I actually first saw it at Architecture.mnp. What to do? Who to give the link love to??? Well, either way, you win, because both blogs rock. That said, why not visit Jetson Green to read more about the Johnson Creek weeHouse Prefab Home and then head to mnp for a surprise old school post of mnp’s that I really liked. (Yes, it’s a nice kind of surprise, not one of those surprises that suck btw).

inhabitat has a very nice Top Ten Green Architecture Projects Of 2008 round up going on. It’s a lovely read, with all sorts of sustainable delights of the last year; well, except the Eco Spheres, which are way older than 2008 (????) Still, I love inhabitat too much to complain any more about this – how petty of me.

Lastly, those kooky cats at Swamplot are having a big ol’ contest for the Greatest Moment in Houston Real Estate, 2008. If you know Swamplot, then you’ve already guessed that the awards nominees are super fun. In case you’re lost, the nice folks at Swamplot brought us the home with nine and a half bathrooms and the killer wood panel home. Voting has ended, but you can still view the nominees, and soon, you’ll be able to see who won.

NON STRUCTURAL LINK LOVE OF THE WEEK:

Just for fun, and because Valentine’s day will be here soon enough, I have to ask – is there anyone on this planet who you love MORE than zombies love brains? If you said yes, here’s a smacking good offbeat worthy V-day gift idea.

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A house that’s not all there, wee structures, the green life, zombies, and more…

“Our homes are designed to minimise their impact on the environment and to maximise their utilisation of natural resources. Our manufacturing process ensures almost complete waste reduction during construction and our centralised plant minimises travel miles and carbon emissions for workers and building materials. This provides significant embodied energy savings when compared to traditional onsite construction. Add in the fact that our homes are wholly relocatable and the Prebuilt model provides a significant step forward for environmentally sustainable housing.” 

I like that you can choose from a variety of home designs and that each can be customized, including prepped with a choice of finishes. There’s also a range pf price choices, making this an affordable housing choice no matter your budget.

I like all the Prebuilt home designs but I can’t show them all so I picked two favorites to share; the first is the Pod house – super cute. This one below is settled by the sea. Nice.

 I also like the Escape which is a tad more streamlined, but really cool. I love the easy design. It’s almost like a tiny barn.

To see all the Prebuilt options, and to learn more about the company, visit the Prebuilt home page.

[images via Prebuilt]

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Prebuilt Homes

Designed by architect David Adjaye in conjunction with photographer Ed Reeve, you can see many more cool shots, and learn more about this cube at G Living.

[image via G Living]

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The Big Bad Cube

FlatPak is a terribly amusing company which I’m betting makes your home buying experience way more fun that it might otherwise be. How they roll is by offering a take out menu of sort; you start with a basic foundation, an 8′ ft wide wall. Every 8′ you make choices such as glass, no glass (or choose from other options). It helps to grab the concept if you check out the Mrs. Jones home creation example they have listed under their “How to FlatPak section” – really you should read this little story no matter what, because it’s pretty fun.

FlatPak is also oh so pretty. While the configuration of course, relies on your decisions, each of the homes I’ve seen from them is really nice.

FlatPak house – Catskills

FlatPak house – Aspen

To see more visuals visit FlatPak house’s photostream. To learn more about getting your very own FlatPak or for a fun read, visit the general FlatPak site.

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The Take Out Menu of FlatPak Homes

In honor of Play Library, we’ll be looking at some kid friendly play spaces. As you might expect, here at Offbeat, we frown on boring playhouses. Why have this?:

When a world of unique play opportunities awaits? Offbeat has already featured many a unique play space, such as…

• The Maritime Youth House
• Kidsonroof Mobile Home
• 50 Soul Warming Ways to Inspire the Next Generation of Offbeat Architects
• Treehouse Bling
• And more…

But, maybe you’re looking for a fresh crop of kid’s play structures. In that case jump to the next page to see the best of the best in child size offbeat playhouse fun.

[Wooden childs playhouse via the exceptional Reel Furniture - David Meddings Designs]

[Cardboard Cubby via Super Colossal]

Then two prefab bits of cool for the kindergarten set…

[MetroPlay via MetroShed]

[The Modern Playshed via Velocity Art and Design, via Inhabitat]

All of the above; much better than most of the plastic looking Toys R Us sets out there. Now, for more kid’s stuff all the time you have to visit Play Library. Susan, who blogs over at PL is the mama of triplets! Believe me, she’s got some knowledge in the what to do with kids for fun department. She posts cool stuff like…

• Step 2 Naturally Playful Sandbox – Review
• Configurable Balance Beam Toy for Children – sort of an offbeat toy! Very different.
• An awesome Little Tikes Slam n Slide Pool, Slide and Climber, that frankly, I wish they had in adult size.
• Beach Blast Ball for Outdoor Water Fun
• And a very cool Teeter Twirl
• Plus oodles more.

Visit Susan at Play Library today, and increase your fun knowledge ten fold – your kids will adore you for it.

By the way, which playhouse would you choose? I love them all, but think I’m partial to the second prefab. Although as a kid, I’d have gone straight to the little woodchuck-like log home.

[Image of Happy Home Playhouse via Amazon]

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Offbeat Play Structures for Your Unique Child