A See-Through Church That Suspends Disbelief

Mar 23, 2015

Spaces of prayer and worship have traditionally been designed create suspension of disbelief in order to give the users a grander sense of a higher being. This church, designed by Belgian architects Pieterjan Gijs and Arnout Van Vaerenbergh, does just that by appearing to be completely see-through.

Layers of rusted steel ribs are stacked upon each other with spacers that create gaps between each piece. The result is a structure that is more translucent than it is opaque, allowing light, air and views to flow into one exterior wall and out the other.

The ephemeral church blends majestically into the surrounding Belgian hillside, especially when backlit by the rising or setting sun. It won’t protect you from rain, wind, floods or snow, but it will provide a serene setting to appreciate the things greater than yourself.

Beautiful Renovated “Ecostream” Will Have You Swooning

Mar 18, 2015

Dubbed the “Ecostream” this renovated Airstream is dripping with style, from the subtly colorful exterior LED lighting to the cork flooring and luxuriously appointed interior.

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The couple who own this beauty sold all their belongings and their home, purchasing the Airstream in 2009. After completing the extensive renovation they spent the next 18 months living in it. When the solar powered RV isn’t being towed by a vegetable oil-fueled pickup truck, you can find it comfortably parked in the owners driveway, outside their modest Alameda, CA home.

“We are driving towards sustainability one mile at a time. We owned a home. We sold a home. We rented a house that was 1500 s.f. Now we’re living in under 200 s.f. We are living on less and living more purposefully.”

For more information visit http://www.greenrvlife.com/ and check out the Airbnb listing to rent it for a night.

10+ Stylish Prefab Homes That Won’t Break The Bank

Mar 12, 2015

While we love seeing all the upscale prefabs marketed as sustainable and low-cost solutions, they often seem overpriced, which flies in the face of the sustainable values that guide their vision. These are ten of the most affordable and versatile prefab homes that prove you don’t need a deep bank account to get a stylish home.

1The Escape Cabin

This gorgeous RV model can be towed anywhere you want, and comes fully outfitted with all the modern finishes you could dream of. With roughly 500 square feet of space, and plenty of options, it’s a great choice. Starting at $79,000.

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He Made His PubShed Incredible With 5,500 Pennies

May 12, 2015

With the growing trend of “pubsheds” comes an increasing amount of creativity, as demonstrated by this guy who turned a simple shed dubbed “The Barn” into a very creative backyard bar where he and his buddies can hang out and enjoy a couple drinks. What makes his build unique though is the peculiar use of a whopping 5,500 pennies which he incorporated into the design. Check it out below.

The gabled barn style shed looks nice on the outside…

Yet the inside was lacking in proper bar decor, so he went to work building a bar.

The bar itself isn’t too fancy…yet.

Here’s where he starts to get creative, setting aside $55 worth of pennies for special use.

He even sorted the pennies, keeping the pre-1982 ones from the rest. Talk about commitment!

Before using the pennies, he decided to soak them in vinegar and salt, which removes the oxidization and brings them back to a shiny new state.

But he also left half of them to dry without polishing, which created a nice variation in the color for his project.

Then he set to work, laying the pennies in a diamond pattern according to their shades of color.

You might notice every penny is facing heads up.

Finally he slathered four quarts of resin over the top, using a blowtorch to remove any bubbles, and was left with a beautiful surface on his new bar.

And of course he installed a kegerator to dispense ice cold brews for him and his friends.

The completed project on display, with three local Virginia beers on tap!

Images via Imgur | American Standard

Raw Concrete Home Wedged Between Rocks And Earth

Apr 30, 2015

A bit of imagination and a crate of dynamite was all it took for Olsen Kundig Architects to turn this giant bolder into a luxurious, modern dream home. Raw materials such as exposed concrete were used to compliment the natural feel of the rocky backdrop which flanks the home on two sides. There are even areas where the remnants of the existing stone pokes though on the interior, creating a grotto like feel that offsets the stark finishes that accompany the new space.