Nov 17 2009 BURN IT DOWN!: The Bender Head House
The Bender House looks like Bender's dome from Futurama. If you've never seen Futurama I'm going to assume you don't have a television or internet so you probably aren't even reading this. Unless they print out copies of Geekologie and distribute them in Africa, which, I think we can all agree, is the best idea you've ever heard. Anyway, I'm gonna go ahead and start taking bets on how many beers it takes me to crash out of Bender's right eye and lay bleeding in the driveway -- oh -- oh -- *crash* Fourteen and a couple buttery nipples. Now somebody call 911 411, this guy needs a pizza.
I want this house [warmingglow]
Thanks to Marcie, who used to live in a house that looked like Robbie the Robot but it mysteriously burnt down. *whistling* Weird.
May 27 2009 House From Ferris Bueller's Day Off For Sale
The Highland Park, Illinois home of Ferris Bueller's best friend Cameron is currently available for $2.3 million if you're interested. The house is best known for its cantilevered plate-glass garage that Cameron sends his dad's Ferrari through after kicking the shit out of it.
The Ben Rose Home - site of the famous movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." Cantilevered over the ravine, these two steel and glass buildings - which can never be duplicated - have incredible vistas of the surrounding woods. This is a unique property designed by A. James Speyer and David Haid, both notable architects of the 20th Century.
Anybody seriously interested? And if so, want to adopt a blogger? Just saying, I'll do the dishes. And, hopefully, the maid. Pool boy too!
Ferris Bueller's Ferrari House For Sale [retrothing]
Thanks to wulk, who knows that people who live in glass houses shouldn't own Ferraris.
Mar 9 2009 Kangaroo Broke Into Home, Mistaken For Ninja
A kangroo recently broke into the home of Beat Ettlin while he and his family were sleeping. He mistook the kangaroo for a ninja and began to pummel the 90lb beast.
The 42-year-old told Sky News Online: "I just saw this black thing. I thought it was a lunatic ninja, an intruder. It just fell on top of us on the bed.
Finally, Beat was able to subdue the kangaroo in his son's room, and kick the leggy bastard out the door.
"When I got in there, it was against the wall by the window, trying to get out I think so I just jumped on top of it. I got him in a headlock and pressed him to the ground.
"I had to open the door with one hand, pressing the kangaroo to the wall with the other hand. Finally, the door opened and I could actually release it.
Good looking. Of course, how could you not kick a kangaroo out of your house with a name like Beat? That would be like being named POW and getting your ass kicked by a koala that broke in through the attic.
Oz Dad Fights Off 'Lunatic Ninja' Kangaroo [skynews]
Thanks to Alex, Jazzy 8 Ball, and Victoria, who have all punched ninja-roos in the pouch and lived to tell about it.
Feb 27 2009 Coooool!: All Glass House Has Sliding Exterior
The Sliding House is an all glass house built by Ross Russell and his wife in Suffolk, England. Its exterior walls and roof are all one piece that can be rolled off of the glass shell via a system of wheels and motors, exposing the entire house to sunlight. I want one. And not just because I'm an exhibitionist, but because HEY, LOOKIE HERE! Haha, yeah, because I'm an exhibitionist.
Thanks to Dan and Joemo, whose houses don't just slide, they electric slide.
Jan 20 2009 Fire Hazards: $5,000 Paper Houses
The Wall AG is a Swiss company out to solve the problem of homelessness, particularly in third-world countries, with the Universal World House -- a $5,000 paper house.
This isn't mere papercraft--the Universal World House is a $5,000, 390-square-foot modular home, outfitted with plumbing and boarding facilities to support up to eight (eight!) residents each. The secret of its construction is its "paper" shell; the resin-soaked cellulose, made from recycled paper, is shaped into honeycomb walls, which provide structural integrity and insulation to the houses.
Concerned about your ability to slaughter an animal in your new abode? Worry not!
It has been designed so that a family can slaughter an animal on the veranda, wash it in the shower and hang it, along with fish, on an integrated washing line.
Sweet! The only problem is the, uh, the paper. Remember The Three Little Pigs. Even the dumbest one used straw. Just saying.
$5,000 Paper House is the World's Swankiest Hobo Pad [gizmodo]
Thanks to kristy, who was smart enough to build with Styrofoam.
Dec 16 2008 Scientists Find World's Oldest Spider Web (Until Another, Much Older One Is Found)
Scientists have found what they believe to be the world's oldest and least circular spider web, encased in a piece of amber. It's allegedly 140 million years-old.
"It's not a striking, perfect web," Braddy said. "(But) this seems to confirm that spiders were building orb webs back in the early Cretaceous" -- the geological term for the period of time between 145.5 and 65.5 million years ago when dinosaurs and small mammals shared the earth.
Are you thinking what I'm thinking? If it's, "let's clone whatever that spider bit and have sex with it", then you are. High five for being on the same page.
Oldest Spider Web Found, Scientist Says [aolnews]
Thanks to Pat, who doesn't get bitten by spiders because he bites them. That's pretty freaking sick, Pat.
Sep 5 2008 Sure, Why Not?: The Enter Doorbell
The Enterbell is just that, an Enter key doorbell. Pretty straightforward. No ess curves required to understand this one. Unfortunately, it's currently only a concept created by Li Jianye. Wait a minute -- a concept? How hard is it to glue an Enter key to a regular freaking doorbell? Not very if you don't glue your hand down your pants first (I'm typing one-handed). Seriously though, if you want an Enter doorbell, don't wait for Li, just yank a key of your choice off a coworker's keyboard and glue that puppy on. Enter key alternatives include 'Home' and 'Insert'. Or, if you're not into the whole technology thing, you could just hang a sweet knocker. Knock knock. Who's there? Enter. Enter who? Me from behind, I'm feeling kinky!
Geeky Doorbell Speaks For Itself [ohgizmo]
May 1 2008 Company Specializes In Secret Passages
Creative Home Engineering is a firm that specializes in build secret passageways into your house. Which is pretty much the awesomest thing I've ever heard (besides hearing that American Gladiators was coming back, but before I saw one and realized it was a disaster). They make everything from the stairs you see here, to bookshelf doors and rotating fireplaces. Prices range from $5,000 to $250,000 depending on how ridiculous you want to get. You know, growing up I lived in a house with a little secret passage. It was in the upstairs hallway. I was always afraid to see where it led but one day I went for it and climbed in. I fell two stories into a hamper by the washing machine. It was awesome.
Several more hidden passageway pictures, and a link to the company's gallery, after the jump.
Mar 31 2008 Underwater Habitat For Sale On eBay
After the homemade island debacle of a couple of weeks ago, I was reluctant to post this underwater habitat. But I'm doing it anyways in hopes of normalizing the situation and moving on with my life. For sale on eBay is a 300 square foot underwater habitat that is going to attempt a World Record in June for longest uninterrupted stay beneath water.
The record attempt will be used as a publicity event to highlight the habitat and the future company which will build these Worldwide. The successful bidder will have the option of becoming a partner in the future company. (25%) It will be there for a period of 3 months and then raised again. The living space is that of a Large RV (300sq ft) and it has full access to the internet and cable TV. The Habitat Waterford is connected by umbilical cord to the surface with power, fresh air and telecommunication being piped underwater. With no use of petrochemicals.
The bidding starts at $50,000 with a Buy-It-Now of $80,000. The record breaking will be attempted off the coast of Miami, but if you don't live there they say they can build these things anywhere. Real? Fake? Old? Old and real fake? You be the judge. But not the bailiff, I get the gun and to do the oath thing with the Bible.
UPDATE: Looked at the myspace page for the guy behind this. Questionable (but not as bad as Jack). Posted after the click. WARNING: His sultry stare can and will make you cry like a baby.
Several more schematics and info about the thing after the jump.
Mar 3 2008 Apartment Building With Hydroponic Gardens
There's a new apartment complex going up in Wuhan, China. Big deal you say? Well what if I told you that each apartment includes a 100-square-foot trellised hydroponic garden? Now I know what you're thinking -- "Yes, weed!" And you are correct. Indeed, all the weed you need. No but seriously, you're supposed to grow vegetables and stuff like that. Although that girl in the picture does look kind of high. And kind of like a ghost. So you can count me out. No number of hydroponic gardens is enough to get into a haunted apartment complex. Am I right? High five!
An apartment building with private hydroponic gardens [dvice]
Feb 28 2008 You Deserve It: Home Installed Bowling Lanes
Are you a bowling fanatic? Does seeing The Big Lebowski give you a boner? If so then you're not invited over to watch it this weekend. Just kidding, you're more than welcome. But if you just plain love bowling and hate having to leave the house to hit the lanes, then how about getting your own installed? United Bowling will install two regulation lanes (complete with pin setter-upper, ball return and computer scoring) in your home for a paltry $88,000. Unfortunately I called and that cost does not include building the necessary 88' x 12' x 10' room. So, yeah. Thought I was going to pull a fast one on them. Nope. I still managed to sneak in the "Do you carry 12lb balls?" joke though. Freaking classic. I'm throwing rocks tonight. Mark it, Dude.
Another picture of the lanes, and a DIY video of some guy that made a 10ft lane in his garage, after the jump. If you watch the video make sure to notice the pin hit the camera at 0:37.
Continue Reading " You Deserve It: Home Installed Bowling Lanes "
Feb 21 2008 Another Awesome House I Will Never Own
The Quetzalcoatl Nest home was designed by the same architect as the Nautilus House featured last week. It's ridiculously ridiculous and I want it so bad but know I will never ever in my wildest dreams get to live in something half as cool (right now I'm living in a Dodge Neon on cinderblocks in a bad part of town, which is approximately one-quadrillionth as cool). So, yeah. Hold on somebody's at my trashbag and tape window. Oh, gotta go, I'm being robbed.
A ton more pictures after the jump, along with a link to the architect's website.
Feb 20 2008 Get Green: Build Your Own Hobbit House
Let's be honest, the Hobbit houses from Lord of the Rings were awesome and we all wanted one. Maybe not to live in all the time, but at least as a vacation home or secret get-away from a nagging spouse. Well now is the time to build your own low impact woodland home.
You are looking at pictures of our family home in Wales. It was built by myself and my father in law with help from passers by and visiting friends. 4 months after starting we were moved in and cozy. I estimate 1000-1500 man hours and £3,000 (~$5,825) put in to this point. Not really so much in house buying terms.
Wow, I totally want one. I'm going all out Hobbit. Now somebody come over and help me saw my legs off below the knees.
Another picture, some specs, and a link to the build page after the jump.
Feb 14 2008 Seashell House Is Unbelievably Awesome
This seashell inspired abode was built by designed by Senosiain Arquitectos for a couple in Mexico City. It's amazing. It has to be seen to be believed, so there's a bunch more pictures after the jump. My wife said if our next house isn't like this she'll divorce me. And I could tell she wasn't lying.
Taking cues from a Nautilus shell, the house is put together using ferrocement construction, a technique involving a frame of steel-reinforced chicken wire with a special two-inch-thick composite of concrete spread over it, resulting in a structure that's earthquake-proof and maintenance-free.
Before I saw this I didn't even know I wanted to live in a giant shell, but now I totally do. Anybody want to get together on weekends and start construction of something similar? And obviously by 'start construction' I mean go kill the world's largest nautilus and live in its shell.
A bunch more MUST SEE pictures after the jump.
Dec 27 2007 Picture And Frame Turn Into Table, Wow!
Designer Verena Lang must live in a broom closet like I do, because she's the one responsible for the space-saving PictureTable. It's a picture frame that hangs on the wall but folds out to become a table when you need a place to eat dinner. Unfortunately there are no chair fold-outs, so you may have to stand. Now not to toot my own trumpet or anything (toot-toodle-toot!), but I made one of these in college. It was a beerpong table that folded down from the wall, just like her design. Of course it didn't feature a nice piece of art or anything. No, it was mostly penis and vagina doodles done in crayon and magic marker. Although now that I think of it, that thing was a freaking masterpiece. I'm calling the Louvre.
A Table for your Pictures [yankodesign]
Dec 20 2007 It's About Time: Personal Nuclear Reactors
Similar to those used on nuclear submarines, the Toshiba-made Micro Nuclear Reactor is a personal power plant for your house/neighborhood. It's 20' x 6', about 100 times smaller than a typical reactor, making it a "fun-size" power generator -- like those little candy bars.
The 200 kilowatt Toshiba designed reactor is engineered to be fail-safe and totally automatic and will not overheat … The whole process is self sustaining and can last for up to 40 years, producing electricity for only 5 cents per kilowatt hour.
I dont' know if 5 cents per kilowatt hour is a good deal or not because I steal electricity from my elderly neighbors, but I imagine it is since they're bragging about it. The first unit is being installed in Japan in 2008 and if regulation allows (read: get freaking real) they'll be available in the U.S. in 2009. Just like the larger penis the drugs I take promise, I don't plan on seeing this in my lifetime.
Power your home with a mini nuclear reactor. No, really. [dvice]
Dec 19 2007 Shipping Container Transforms Into "House"
The Illy "Push Button House" is a shipping crate. It's a shipping crate that, with the push of a button, transforms into a "house". The whole process takes about 90 seconds. Designed by Adam Kalkin, the unfolded unit features a kitchen, dining area, bedroom, living room, and library. What it doesn't feature is a damn roof. Which is fine if you happen to be living in the mall where the thing is being showcased. But having no surrounding walls would make it kind of awkward. Particularly when you're on the couch masturbating to the mannequin in the Victoria's Secret window.
Several more pictures showing the transformation after the fold-out.
Continue Reading " Shipping Container Transforms Into "House" "
Dec 17 2007 Orbiting Fan Is Wack Looking, Okay I Think
The Brisa 2000 ceiling fan is pretty funny looking. That's because the fan actually orbits around that big sphere in the center, allowing for all kinds of air mobility! You can rotate the fan itself from straight down to straight up, depending on the season, so it's also pretty functional. It's also pretty expensive -- $1000 a pop. But you can get them in all kinds of different finishes and the company accepts custom orders as well. I actually made one myself, and it turned out surprisingly alright. It makes getting in and out of the bunk-bed a little dangerous, but if you do get hit it isn't that painful. Definitely nothing compared to the scorch of the flame-throwing bidet I made for my wife.
Two different models after the jump if you're curious.
Continue Reading " Orbiting Fan Is Wack Looking, Okay I Think "
Dec 11 2007 Vacuum + Broom = Vacuum Broom, Wow!
The Vacuum Broom from designer Wilson Song is the lovechild of a vacuum and broom that were locked in the same closet overnight. I heard a mop insisted on a threesome but they wouldn't have it. Anyways, the hollow broom bristles have suction ducts inside that allow for the vacuuming of small particulate, while the unit also acts as a traditional broom, sweeping larger debris into the dustpan. Interesting concept, but I question how well it would work. Although I don't really care. I don't clean floors, that's the maid's (read: wife's) job. Ha, ha, just kidding honey. No but seriously make sure the house is clean and dinner is on the table when I get home.
Two more close-ups after the jump.
Dec 3 2007 Air Purifier Cleans With The Power Of Plants
The Bel-Air indoor air filtration systems sucks in dirty air and runs it through a plant's leaves, roots, and a "humid bath" before releasing it back into your room, purified.
This patented principal has two advantages: Bel-Air is to the American and Asiatic common filter appliances what Dyson is to regular vacuum cleaners. Here, the noxious particles are captured, and transformed inside the system. No more filters to change, and no more clogs.
I really like the concept, but question how effective the device is. I mean those are pretty small plants, and the tenement I live in is pretty freaking disgusting. That plant would be a goner in a matter of hours. I mean I can actually see the air in here. It's brown.
