Weird Homes

I have been meaning to profile another Weird Home for a while now,

 and the timing for this one couldn't be more perfect! 

If you had the funds, how would you furnish your 'Weird Home'?
What is your secret (or not so secret ;) passion?

Have a great weekend everyone!

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* A quick update: I saw The Hobbit this evening :) 
I know I said I was going to wait, but I'm glad I didn't.
We already had our tickets, went an hour ahead - and 
I was even able to get my coveted back row seating.

Incredible, amazing, visually stunning!!!
Go as soon as you possibly can... I'm going again on Friday :D

Weird Homes

I am fascinated by weird homes! A few years ago there used to be a regular tv series by the same name (now cancelled), whose host travelled all over North America featuring the oddest homes you could ever begin to imagine. In many cases they were inhabited by the most endearing characters, as well. Perhaps you remember this series yourself? I was sorry to see it go.

I hope you also love the odd, the strange and the bizarre when it comes to homes...? Moving forward, I'd like Weird Homes to become a regular feature - hey, if nothing else, maybe we can all get some decorating ideas!

This short (1 minute) clip features the world's narrowest home, 

which was recently built in Warsaw, Poland.

The Simple Life

This is a fascinating look at one woman's compromise to achieve a particular lifestyle.

Not Just For Hobbits Anymore

I'm really just looking for an excuse to live in a Hobbit house!

The roofs in the slideshow (link below) are amazing, especially the Beijing Capital International Airport.

Sustainability is no longer just a trend, a buzz word or even a preference, when it comes to architecture and design. It's the standard. It's vital. And this "greening" of cities continues to take new, exciting forms, as well as adopt old ones.

Consider green or "living" roofs. Forward-thinking Germany (where reportedly 10% of roofs are green) led the pack in the 1960s, and the trend spread throughout Europe. And why wouldn't it, when you think of the advantages? Lower heating and cooling costs, the ability to pull pollution from the air, and increased real estate values and the creation of intimate spaces in the environment are just a few. And, well, what's more aesthetically pleasing--a concrete expanse or a lush landscape? Green roofs can be minimalist, dramatic, landscaped or wild.

Here's a link to the article and slideshow:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eva-maddox/top-10-green-roofs_b_787715.html#s190430

Here's a few others:

Toronto

Australia

Japan

Why are green roofs such a great idea?
First, they help to reduce roof stormwater runoff. In some cases, this can help reduce the size of stormwater pipes, and the amount of stormwater that needs to be treated by municipal water treatment. In a light rainfall, a building with a vegetated roof can have no stormwater runoff at all.

Green roofs also protect the roof membrane from sunlight, which breaks down the roofing material. Having even a couple inches of soil helps to greatly extend the life of the roof, and a longer lifespan means less material ends up in landfills from re-roofing buildings after the membranes have failed.

Green roofs keep the roof cooler, which helps to reduce the heat-island effect, which contributes to cities being hotter than the surrounding countryside. This can be beneficial to the building in reducing its summertime cooling load.

A green roof is also a source of oxygen and provides a habitat for some birds. Birds and insects can find homes much more readily in the living environment of a green roof, where an ordinary roof is nearly barren. And yes, it's even possible to graze goats.

http://green.yahoo.com/blog/ecogeek/26/green-roofs-an-introduction-with-pretty-pictures.html