home in a seed

Jan 27, 2006 01:09

The Human Ecology Design Team at MIT developed Fab Tree Hab, a proposal to grow homes from seeds (thanks for the link, spiritofnow). Admire:


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architecture

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Comments 11

disi January 26 2006, 17:28:48 UTC
what about the fact that in all likelihood that tree is not a native species and could conceivably do more harm in the long run to the ecology of an area?
and many cities in the US don't have the right soil for for large trees, not to mention enough water for their human inhabitants over the long run.

this is an interesting idea, but it doesn't seem a good long-term solution. that said, my sister will undoubtedly want one.

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rekraft January 26 2006, 17:39:47 UTC
Yup - point 4, except that you spelt it out more specifically. Still, it would be interesting to for someone to actually realise the proposal outside rarefied architecture circles. Work on your sister. :)

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disi January 26 2006, 17:42:47 UTC
she's not any better--she's a wannabe landscape architecht ;)

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rekraft January 26 2006, 17:47:31 UTC
Would be interesting to see what she thinks of the idea, all the same. :)

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spiritofnow January 26 2006, 19:32:39 UTC
Some very good points here, thanks. I've linked to this post in my LJ.

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queerbychoice January 27 2006, 01:49:50 UTC
Heh. So in short, these tree-houses would probably need to be owned by rich people, yet rich people would not typically want to put up with living in them. Rich people's children, on the other hand . . . well, these would be truly extraordinary childhood treehouses.

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rekraft January 27 2006, 20:03:31 UTC
Exactly. And actually... if I was going to get a treehouse, I'd much rather it be up in the tree.

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kaidude January 27 2006, 08:19:06 UTC
I still prefer the previous architectural wonder you've introduced in your lj - the anti-flooding one. Methinks that's a really viable and more necessary form of shelter.

It's a novel idea... but the idea of living within 24-7 in a living and breathing organism that's prone to diseases - not for the OCDs and people who are paranoid 'bout bugs. Say, if the house catches fire, mucho mucho danger?

Well, one good thing I can think of is the possibility of returning human waste to growing their own property... literally turning poop to property? =P

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rekraft January 27 2006, 20:01:36 UTC
people who are paranoid 'bout bugs.

Yah, man... that kind of house cannot make it here.

Say, if the house catches fire, mucho mucho danger?

H'm... now I'm thinking these houses may not be a terribly good idea in many parts of Australia either, what with the weather they get at this time every year.

literally turning poop to property? =P

Oh, good. You just gave me the cue to pimp one of the most delightful architects ever. Friedensreich Hundertwasser who, in addition to creating some of the most joyously bizarre buildings, was also a bit of an ecologist and went as far as to whip up a Sacred Shit Manifesto:

Shit turns into earth which is put on the roof
it becomes lawn, forest, garden
shit becomes gold.
The circle is closed,
there is no more waste
Shit is our soul

More about him here. And if you get the chance over the long weekend, the rest of the site is quite interesting to peruse too.

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And a few other things: cgmp January 28 2006, 05:53:27 UTC
1. Construction is often very damaging to trees' root systems.

2. Tree houses would mostly give up the opportunity to use solar power.

3. Here is the Pacific Northwest, where we have real trees even in our cities, we know that wind and ice storms can cause big branches to fall, tree tops to break off, and sometimes large trees are blown over entirely. Tree house dwellers would need to think about that.

4. I'd love to see some thought given to the kind of housing that could be developed in groves of giant timber bamboo.

Si

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Re: And a few other things: rekraft January 29 2006, 18:47:56 UTC
2. There's probably something that isn't occuring to me right now, but why would tree houses preclude the use of solar power?

3. Oh yeah, I suppose I ought to have known too, having once had a tree fall on my childhood home in a thunderstorm.

4. And I'd love to hear more.

Welcome here, Si!

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