Strange Home In Siberia Give New Meaning To “House Flipping”

Mar 28, 2015

If you happened upon this house while walking around Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, chances are you’d do more than a double-take. The surreal design of this inverted home comes courtesy They followed through with all sorts of details, from the upside down furniture inside, to the parked car in the driveway, and even the food hanging upside down in the kitchen.

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I like shooting stories about people who belong to the “one in a million” category – unusual people doing unusual things. They can be amateur artists, builders, extreme sportsmen, winter swimmers, or people who live in difficult conditions in the modern world and manage to survive. (Source)

Photographer Ilya Naymushin took these photos, which capture the curious reactions of visitors touring the home. The house itself was constructed as a sort of tourist attraction, and we imagine it might be the main attraction in Siberia – why else would you take a vacation there?

Incredible Hobbit Home Sculpted By A 1960’s Hurricane

Mar 27, 2015

If Bilbo Baggins lived in the 21st century and had an architectural inclination for clean lines and subdued interiors, he would be right at home in this modern subterranean dwelling. The unique duplex was built upon a foundation that was caused by high off-shore hurricane winds back in the 1960’s. Rather than build up upon the dune, the property owner (who happened to also be architect William Morgan) decided the best course of action was to carve into the mound, exploiting the space below the earth.

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Large circular openings bring in natural light and expose spectacular ocean views. The organic forms and curvilinear nature of the structure is consciously juxtaposed to the strict, rigid treatment of the interior build-out. It’s an interesting and obvious statement about man vs. nature, and how we symbiotically shape each others environments.

A Creative Solution For Homeless Housing, Or Just A Pipe Dream?

Mar 26, 2015

Homelessness remains a worldwide issue, and in nearly any city or town with a prevalent number of homeless, you’ll find a number of solutions in place. The most popular being a shelter. But what if there was another solution?

This concept from DesignDevelop might seem a little far-fetched at first, but the fact remains they are generating a discussion about the issue, regardless of whether or not their solution is viable. What is their solution you ask? The design firm created a 178 square foot triangular-shaped home with sides that double as a billboard.

Step inside the dwelling and you’re met with a decidedly luxurious looking design. We have to wonder what sort of maintenance would be required should something like this actually serve as a home for the homeless.

The “live-in” billboard is raised off the ground, and is accessible via a small staircase. The only visible hint of what’s sandwiched between the billboard is the rear of the structure, which has a few windows.

There’s a bathroom, shower, toilet, and a raised bed with storage underneath. You’ll also find a galley kitchen and a study area opposite the bed.

While the concept is pretty cool, we have to imagine that living next to a highway would itself violate most zoning laws. Regardless, we comment DesignDevelop for the thought behind their billboard home.

Photos courtesy DesignDevelop

This Tiny Country Guest House Is An Absolute Dream

Mar 26, 2015

There’s a lot to love in this tiny cabin, from the abundance of reclaimed and salvaged wood to the repurposed wagon wheel chandelier and the splash of color in the country kitchen. At just 336 square feet it packs a lot of cozy, rustic charm into a tiny space thanks to a terrific remodel by Heritage Restoration.

The cottage serves as a guest house, and is located outside Waco, Texas. Upon entering, one of the first things you’ll notice are the high ceilings and the large exposed beams and broad planks salvaged from a barn.

An array of “naked” tree trunks support the ceiling above the loft.

What do you think? Is there anything you’d change about this country cottage? Let us know in the comments.

This Swiss “Eco Pod” Luxury Hotel With Private Ski Lift

Mar 26, 2015

For anyone lucky enough to pay a visit to the Swiss Alps, we would encourage you to stay at this very special hotel. The Whitepod hotel is an exclusive hi-tech camp located at 5000 feet elevation. The design garnered the resort a Responsible Tourism Award for Innovation, thanks to its low-impact mark on the surrounding nature.

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“Whitepod is inspired by a desire to create a haven of beauty and tranquility where guests can restore tired bodies and jaded spirits in the knowledge that their presence will bear little if no impact at all on the surrounding environment.”

Each pod sleeps up to four, and comes with its own individualized decor and a fully equipped bathroom/shower. During the winter, they cover the pods with a white blanket and in the summer with a green one. A main chalet nearby offers dining and spa facilities.

Visit http://www.whitepod.com/wpod/winter/en/ to learn more

Three College Kids Built This Affordable, Sustainable ‘Dogbox’

Mar 26, 2015

One wouldn’t think so by looking at it, but this beautiful example of sustainable, affordable design was the brain child of three ambitious architecture grad students. New Zealand natives Ben Mitchell-Anyon, Sally Ogle and Tim Gittos started the venture with the goal of gaining real-life building experience as their education came to a close. I’d say they passed with flying colors.

They worked hard to find an affordable site to build the house, but finding cheap land had a catch – it was at the top of a steep hill. With the help of some dedicated and gracious friends, they were forced to hand carry all materials up the hill in order to get them to the building site. Hands on experience, indeed.

The house itself uses affordable, locally sourced materials and off-the-shelf components in order to remain cost-effective. For example, guard rails are made up of common chain link fence, and gives the home a bargain bin, yet contemporary aesthetic. Most of the finished materials such as the concrete and plywood were left raw, saving construction time and money, as well as reinforcing the industrial-chic framework.

How Do You Throw A Party In A Tiny House? Get Down To The Tiny Basics.

Mar 25, 2015

Josh and Shelley like to keep a fully stocked bar and enjoy hosting friends and family, but they faced a challenge when making the decision to downsize into a tiny house. As cute as tiny houses are, they don’t work so well for hosting parties and entertaining unless you literally want to rub shoulders with people. But thanks to an extraordinary design and some help from the crew of FYI’s “Tiny House Nation” they seem to have it all figured out.

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The 224-square-foot home includes two lofts, with one used for sleeping and the other for Shelley to get ready. The bedroom loft has all sorts of clever built-in storage hidden in the floor, which keeps clutter to a minimum. Downstairs you’ll find a living/kitchen area with an open floorplan, and perhaps best of all a large pass-through window that connects to the outdoor bar, where up to 8 people can hang out comfortably!

It’s safe to say that when you add up the extra deck space, seating at the bar, and the surrounding yard, this couple has truly figured out how to live big in a tiny house!

Follow their journey at http://tinyhousebasics.com

Students Turned This Old Mobile Home Into A Stylish Zen Masterpiece

Mar 25, 2015

In the world of architecture, mobile homes don’t often get much attention for their innovative design approaches. Quite the opposite really. If you came across this home shown below, you might think it was a custom prefab.

And you’d be wrong. Sort of, at least. You see, the home above was built on the shell of this 1960s mobile home:

The drastic facelift came about thanks to the University of Colorado and architecture professor Michael Hughes. They were given a dilapidated mobile home with a leaky roof, rotting wood, and a host of other issues, and told to rebuild it as they saw fit. They tore down the existing shell, and used the 489-square-foot chassis to recreate their version of a mobile home.

Professor Hughes works with students to create memorable designs from the unremarkable. Through projects like TrailerWrap he hopes to address issues of sustainable design in the context of small-scale living.

“TrailerWrap is a collaborative, design + build project that addresses issues of sustainable and affordable design in the context of the ubiquitous American trailer park.”

To learn more about the project, visit http://trailerwrap.net/

Home Owner Converts Her Garage Into A Beautiful Income-Generating ADU

Mar 25, 2015

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are becoming more and more popular in cities that are trying to increase density in single family zones, without incentivising the demolition of historic architecture. As most of these strucutres are being build in backyards and limited to modest footprints, designers must get creative in terms of getting the most out of their small stature. This bright and spacious ADU shows just how much functionality one can get out of a small footprint, which also happened to be a conversion of an existing detached garage.

Susan Moray had large aspirations when she began her journey to create new space on her small lot in Portland, Oregon. She had 550 square feet to work with and was looking to build-out the garage into a guest house, even with potential to rent out to long-term or short term tenants.

Vaulted ceilings add space vertically, which makes the interiors feel larger and more bright.

Historic neighborhood standards kept Susan from going design-crazy on the exterior. The form of the existing garage provided a solid framework to build on, adding contemporary touches like fully glazed sliding doors, a patio, and garden features.

The kitchen occupies a nicely lit corner in the ADU, with functional open shelving and a funky orange refrigerator.

5 Funky and Adorable Cabins From The Blue Moon Rising Ecovillage

Mar 25, 2015

Blue Moon Rising is one of the most interesting ecotourism places we’ve encountered. Located in Deep Creek Lake, MD, they offer a dozen tiny cabins available for rent, each with its own distinct name and personality. We picked a couple of our favorites to share with you below.

Bella Donna

This little cabin was built by the crew at Hobbitat, and it packs a ton of charm into the small space. They managed to fit a queen size bed in the first level, and a second queen in the loft space above. By using “bump-outs” on either end they also allow enough room to move around freely in the kitchen and living area.

Kaya Cabin

The Kaya is positioned in a spot overlooking the property, and this little cabin was built using a unique combination of reclaimed metal, wood, and other materials, resulting in a truly distinct appearance.

Cairn Cabin

Cairns are normally ornate piles of rocks used to guide people through barren landscapes, but in this case they describe the Cairn cabin as a way to lead people toward thinking differently. At 13′ x 19′ it’s tiny but still remains spacious inside, with two twin beds that double as couches and a single queen in the loft. The architecture is a unique blend of gothic /rustic/salvaged styles, with a high peak roof, gothic revival porch, and closed gables for when storms roll through.

Funkomatic 513

With a name like “Funkomatic” you know this one has to have a bit of personality. One of several “Walden” model cabins on the property, this one was named by the owner of Hobbitat, who also built it. The purple door and trim add some pop, complimenting the reclaimed barn woods and aged metal roofing. Inside you’ll find a cozy nook with a queen bed, and another queen bed in the loft.

Sugar Magnolia

As you approach the property, this is one of the first cabins you’ll see. Based on the “Walden” design, this version pays tribute to the flowing water and river life nearby, with heart pine flooring and accents, room to seat 4 for meals or relaxation, and two beds.

All Photos courtesy Blue Moon Rising

To see the other cabins and learn more about Blue Moon Rising be sure to visit their website at http://bluemoonrising.org/