Living House

Started by Amanda_931, January 23, 2006, 10:10:37 AM

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Amanda_931

January 23, 2006, 10:10:37 AM Last Edit: January 23, 2006, 10:39:10 AM by jraabe
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.

(link to photo added, J. Raabe)

Jimmy C.

#1
January 23, 2006, 10:14:57 AM
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?
The hardest part is getting past the mental blocks about what you are capable of doing.
Cason 2-Story Project MY PROGRESS PHOTOS

John Raabe

#2
January 23, 2006, 10:50:02 AM
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.
None of us are as smart as all of us.

Ailsa C. Ek

#3
January 23, 2006, 10:53:13 AM
Be a neat thing to try though.  People were referring to underground homes as "Hobbit houses," is this an elf house?

BinaryWhisper

#4
January 28, 2006, 09:13:41 PM
its cool to see people push designs to the limit.  

Epiphany

#5
January 30, 2006, 02:06:09 PM
I've wanted to do this for years - but as a dining pergola.

glenn-k

#6
January 30, 2006, 02:12:28 PM
That seems it would make more sense, Epiphany.

Jimmy_Cason

#7
January 30, 2006, 02:54:21 PM Last Edit: January 30, 2006, 02:55:47 PM by Jimmy_Cason
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!

Epiphany

#8
January 30, 2006, 03:01:28 PM
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.

Amanda_931

#9
January 30, 2006, 08:55:41 PM Last Edit: January 30, 2006, 09:59:50 PM by Amanda_931
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/

Amanda_931

#10
January 31, 2006, 12:34:00 AM Last Edit: January 31, 2006, 12:43:16 AM by Amanda_931



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

glenn-k

#11
January 31, 2006, 12:42:00 AM Last Edit: January 31, 2006, 12:42:22 AM by glenn-k
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.

Jimmy_Cason

#12
January 31, 2006, 09:41:12 AM Last Edit: January 31, 2006, 09:49:58 AM by Jimmy_Cason
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.  





glenn-k

#13
January 31, 2006, 09:53:50 AM
Is that the right picture, Jimmy?  Looks like the start of a "love in" to me. ;D

glenn-k

#15
January 31, 2006, 09:59:25 AM
I'd bring out the free beer. :)

Jimmy_Cason

#16
January 31, 2006, 10:03:09 AM Last Edit: January 31, 2006, 10:06:27 AM by Jimmy_Cason
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

glenn-k

#17
January 31, 2006, 10:07:16 AM
Far out , man.  

I wasn't quite a hippy - just at the tail end of the era.  Class of '69

:-/ :)

Epiphany

#18
January 31, 2006, 10:47:08 AM
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

glenn kangiser

#19
January 31, 2006, 10:51:07 AM
Thanks Epiphany, -----I think. :)
"Always work from the general to the specific." J. Raabe

Glenn's Underground Cabin  http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=151.0

Please put your area in your sig line so we can assist with location specific answers.

glenn kangiser

#20
January 31, 2006, 11:03:15 AM Last Edit: January 31, 2006, 11:03:36 AM by glenn-k
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
"Always work from the general to the specific." J. Raabe

Glenn's Underground Cabin  http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=151.0

Please put your area in your sig line so we can assist with location specific answers.

Epiphany

#21
January 31, 2006, 11:17:56 AM
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.  

John Raabe

#22
January 31, 2006, 05:16:50 PM
That was a blast from the past!

All the psychedelic images gave me a headache.

Didn't seem to bother this guy though.



How can he just keep toking like that?
None of us are as smart as all of us.

Epiphany

#23
January 31, 2006, 05:21:24 PM
I knew I was among kindred spirits...

Ailsa C. Ek

#24
January 31, 2006, 08:25:00 PM
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.
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