not just a living roof. Pictures are right amazing. Especially the second.
I've seen pictures of chairs, didn't know that someone had written a fairly recent book about it.
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20060116/treehouse_tec.html
QuoteJan. 20, 2006— Growing a home from living trees instead of building a home from felled timber is the goal of an architect from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Mitchell Joachim, part of the MIT Media Lab's Smart Cities Group, along with ecological engineer Lara Greden and architect Javier Arbona, propose a home that is actually an ecosystem.
The Fab Tree Hab goes beyond sustainable housing and so-called green design — building with materials that have a low impact on the environment and human health.
"Not only does it do zero damage, but it will hopefully clean the air," said Joachim.
The habitat is based on an ancient gardening method known as pleaching, which weaves together tree branches to form living archways, lattices or screens.
(http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20060116/gallery/treehouse_zoom.jpg) (link to photo added, J. Raabe)
I wonder how you would be safe from lightning. They say, never stand under a tree in a thunderstorm.
Is a house any different than a tree as far as lightning?
Interesting but strange concept. I don't think a human habitat and a living woven together structure could really work together compatibly.
What happens with weather-tightness in a growing structure? How about hanging cabinets, plumbing runs, level floors, window seals, etc.? Adjustments would be endless. Living systems not only grow but move in the wind and adjust to environmental conditions like growing toward the light.
If this is a rustic outdoor room you go to at times (like a tree house) then that is one thing. But this is not a place where you take a bath, build a fire and watch TV on a stormy night.
Be a neat thing to try though. People were referring to underground homes as "Hobbit houses," is this an elf house?
its cool to see people push designs to the limit.
I've wanted to do this for years - but as a dining pergola.
That seems it would make more sense, Epiphany.
What type of living contruction material would you use? I would think it would need to be a fast growing plant.
Or build for the great-grand kids!
I've seen pictures of it and it's called a "living gazebo", but it's made from young saplings, gathered in a more or less circle, and connected at the top. It just continues to grow, with an eating or playing space on the ground underneath where the trees come together at the top.
Willow or hazel--at least in Europe. Some of the ficus species--e.g. Banyan trees
(how about privet!!!! >:( --except I don't want that stuff seeding itself anywhere near me)
Amazon's listings to two books on the subject (Richard Reames How to Grow a Chair and one more, then the search goes off into stupidity--no discount, about the same price (either $2 less, or one more from Reames):
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index%3Dblended%26field-keywords%3Dhow%20to%20grow%20a%20chair%26results-process%3Ddefault%26dispatch%3Dsearch/ref%3Dpd%5Fsl%5Faw%5Ftops-1%5Fblended%5F13527105%5F1/103-4441361-7626258
And Reames (on the West Coast--not the person who was working with the houses at MIT) has a nice website.
his news letter has links to what other people are doing, one in Australia--site owner is pook not pok, typo in that URL. (site has frames, you can navigate. don't know where you'll land first):
http://www.arborsmith.com/
There's an entrance to a yard here. I want it.
(but I'm too lazy to resize and put up on my picture page so it won't be too large)
http://www.plantware.org/gallery.htm
Interesting entrance. Reminds me of a Gold town near here with a very old vine that has broken the post holding the building porch roof up but still has a firm grip on it and the large vine trunk is holding everything up.
If I created something unique and interesting it would be just my luck to have 500 hippies in my front yard protesting the manipulation of a helpless tree.
(http://i1.tinypic.com/mw8x3p.jpg)
Is that the right picture, Jimmy? Looks like the start of a "love in" to me. ;D
Maybe I should let them stay?
I'd bring out the free beer. :)
QuoteIs that the right picture, Jimmy? Looks like the start of a "love in" to me. ;D
It is funny you said that.... I got the pic from this web site..
http://60sfurther.com/SiteMap.htm
Far out , man.
I wasn't quite a hippy - just at the tail end of the era. Class of '69
:-/ :)
Glenn, you may have missed the initial hippie movement, but I think you have a good grasp on it in your golden years.... ;)
Epiphany
Class of '73 and still a hippie chick
Thanks Epiphany, -----I think. :)
What do you think defines the Hippy attitude, Epiphany. Liking things like this Living House --- etc.
Mike Oehler is a full out Hippy and I agree with about all of his ideas - that I know of. At least the ones he wrote about. ;D
Your love of the government for one thing..... Oh excuse me - the establishment. Underground house. Growing veggies on the roof. No mortgage - all those poor starving bankers.... Doing things for yourself. Thinking for yourself, not believing everything the media and/or the establishment tells you.
That was a blast from the past!
All the psychedelic images gave me a headache.
Didn't seem to bother this guy though.
(http://60sfurther.com/GZigZagManSepia.gif)
How can he just keep toking like that?
I knew I was among kindred spirits...
QuoteI knew I was among kindred spirits...
*grin* And one more. Although I'm more of a wannabe, since I turned 6 in 1969. But granola culture is still alive & well up in Maine. Eventually, I'd love to move to Blue Hill.
And to return to topic, I think one of these would be stunning woven out of birches.
I like your answer Epiphany. You nailed it pretty good. My second grade school teacher clued me in on what the government was up to. Is Bourgeoisie a second grade word? We had 3 grades in one room. She could have been Hitler herself but was a good teacher. If she was still alive I'd love to go back there and wrap her over the fingers with a wooden ruler. :)
You're right The whole establishment ---- including suits - I don't really dislike the people in the suits -- it's just what the suits represent - people trying to project a different picture of themselves than what they really are - ie: Someone who under those clothes is naked just like the rest of us- puts their pants on one leg at a time ---- but when that suit goes on they become the lawyer - the politician - the big business man - the tax man -the president - most of whom I feel I have to watch out for. Sure -there are always exceptions but in general I trust a guy in a set of blue jeans more.
I guess that's why the hot springs on the east side of the Sierras are so relaxing -- lots of people there from all walks of life with nothing to hide. :)
Back on the topic, Mike Oehler said the house should be a living growing thing. That is exactly what this place is - not always plants although they are very much a part of it. The house itself grows out of the earth - history such as bridge timbers -boat docks - trees from this and other property in the area -things inspired by other buildings - other methods - other places - claystone, rock , quartz, mud, whatever I can work into it in a pleasing to me manner. That's what I like about this place - whatever it is - I with the help of my wife made it.
BTW, I'm still a virgin-- not only did I not inhale, Mary Jane has never even kissed my lips. Drank a few gallons of whiskey etc. in my younger days though.
Oh, wow.
They've even got a link to Mike Oehler's Hippie Survival Guide to Y2k
It got lots of good reviews back in 1999. And is not absolutely dirt cheap as a used book even now.
this discussion reminds me of a trilogy of books i read when i was a kid...Below the Root, And All Between, Until the Celebration...the author made up this world where people lived in the trees...very much a living house. Anybody read it?
I haven't read that set. Here's a link Until The Celebration (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0689305729/ref=pd_rhf_p_1/002-1304145-1777633?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=283155)
The last one I remember reading in school was Lord of The Flies. Somehow it doesn't fit this topic- maybe more of a current events book. :)
Come to think of it-- I even smuggled 151 Rum and Canadian beer across the border from Chilliwack, BC, Canada to here under the seat of my Volkswagen when I was 17. Had to try 2 border crossings because they caught me at the first one and wouldn't let me in --- second one (Lynden?) asked me what I did with the stuff - told them I sold it -- was I lucky they didn't look under the seat or what? Can they still get me for that?? :-/
Mike Oehler sent me a copy of the "Hippy Survival Guide to Y2K" (for "laughs" as he said). It might mean that he has copies available from Mole Publishing. It's a good read.
I've also enjoyed "One Mexican Sunday", another of Mike's lesser known books. He's a very nice Hippy, and a good writer and genuine human being. That's probably why I like his books.
Yep, just checked, Mole Publishing - http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/UnderGroundHousing.htm - they have both of these books. And the money goes to the deserving guy living in the underground hole. (No, not Glenn :-/)
Note to Glenn about the stuff under the seat... They send you to Cuba these days! :o But I think you only get a one-way ticket.
I've always wanted to go to Cuba, just because they tell me it's off limits. I just don't want to go to the Gitmo torture chambers on the American side. :-/
Glenn, Cuba is well worth a visit. Well, the beach resorts are just like any other, but the rest of the country is great. Since you know Spanish, no problem for you. I've heard a lot of Americans make the trip out of Canada or Mexico. When you get there, just ask their customs/immigration staff not to stamp your passport.
Oh yeah, they've got good rum there, but if you get caught trying to bring some of it back in your luggage... well that would be a dead giveaway... back to Cuba you would go.
Sounds like that would work, Bart - I'm not hot on resorts etc. When I go to different places I like to get out off the beaten path - see the sights --and meet the locals.
I guess I'd just have to try the Rum while I was there- then leave it. :-/
I wonder if that was a Cuban cigar Clinton had? :)
QuoteIf I created something unique and interesting it would be just my luck to have 500 hippies in my front yard protesting the manipulation of a helpless tree.
Hmmm... I think I recall dancing around in one of those circles in my younger days at Yosemite Park...
::) Sassy
(http://i1.tinypic.com/mw8x3p.jpg)
I'm surprised you could remember it. :-/
QuoteI'm surprised you could remember it. :-/
DUCK!
Sitting next to her here, I can tell you that she is trying to think of someway to write something in a manner that is not to defamatory. :-/ I already have my response ready to anything she writes. ;D
"The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed." :-* Carl Jung
I wasn't ready for that. :-/
HA!!