Crazy Dr. Seuss-style House
Check out this NYTimes slideshow of an absolutely awesome house on Long Island!
None of the surfaces are level, everything is brightly colored, and you'd have to hang curtains to get any privacy. The architects included poles to help people stay upright when climbing around. I totally want one of these...
From the article:
The house is off-limits to children, and adults are asked to sign a waiver when they enter. The main concern is the concrete floor, which rises and falls like the surface of a vast, bumpy chocolate chip cookie.
But, for Arakawa, 71, an artist who designed the house with his wife, Madeline Gins, the floor is a delight, as well as a proving ground.
As he scampered across it with youthful enthusiasm on a Friday evening in March, he compared himself to the first man to walk on the moon. "If Neil Armstrong were here, he would say, "This is even better!
Then Ms. Gins, 66, began holding forth about the health benefits of the house, officially called Bioscleave House (Lifespan Extending Villa). Its architecture makes people use their bodies in unexpected ways to maintain equilibrium, and that, she said, will stimulate their immune systems.
"They ought to build hospitals like this," she said.
A reporter, who thinks they should never, ever build hospitals like this, tried to go with the flow.
None of the surfaces are level, everything is brightly colored, and you'd have to hang curtains to get any privacy. The architects included poles to help people stay upright when climbing around. I totally want one of these...
From the article:
The house is off-limits to children, and adults are asked to sign a waiver when they enter. The main concern is the concrete floor, which rises and falls like the surface of a vast, bumpy chocolate chip cookie.
But, for Arakawa, 71, an artist who designed the house with his wife, Madeline Gins, the floor is a delight, as well as a proving ground.
As he scampered across it with youthful enthusiasm on a Friday evening in March, he compared himself to the first man to walk on the moon. "If Neil Armstrong were here, he would say, "This is even better!
Then Ms. Gins, 66, began holding forth about the health benefits of the house, officially called Bioscleave House (Lifespan Extending Villa). Its architecture makes people use their bodies in unexpected ways to maintain equilibrium, and that, she said, will stimulate their immune systems.
"They ought to build hospitals like this," she said.
A reporter, who thinks they should never, ever build hospitals like this, tried to go with the flow.
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Apr 18, 2010. 6:54 PMkitnrose
says:
I love this - not sure I could live there (especially mornings before coffee - I'm wobbly enough without help) but it's supremely fun. My only complaint is that they haven't gone nearly far enough. Add in some bungee rope nets for seating, platforms , a ball pit, slides, rope bridges stretching from one side of the room to the other ... and make that the starting point for more insanity.
And my cruel side really, really wants to sit on one of those platforms and watch the last hour of a cocktail party.
And my cruel side really, really wants to sit on one of those platforms and watch the last hour of a cocktail party.
It's a bit too tacky and crayola for my taste and architecturally a hack job. Aside from the obvious hazard of the floor and all too many sharp angles on which to gouge oneself after stumbling on the braindead floor, it just looks like yet another waste of capital by another bored overly rich person to satisfy the demands of his ego and those of his bored, privileged wife. I see they're part of "that" generation...no wonder.
Mar 14, 2010. 4:07 AMCatalystAdvocate
says:
You've gotta be kidding. Who doesn't love crayola? Maybe you just grew up too quickly. This is awesome
All I can say is ... "Yech". Looks like it was made of some left over shipping containers, although I have to admit that it seems well suited to Neuvo Riche arti'ste wannbees. I think the whole thing is another example of the silly, myopic tendencies towards Me-centric Uselessism displayed so often by the generation who both paid for it and "designed" it...that is, when they're not demanding that everyone get onboard with their frivolousness or be shunned as "uncool". I define my cool based on more strenuous criteria than D-level, 8th grade level geometry, kindergarten-level color schemes, and tweener-driven skateboard-park-in-the-living-room fantasies.
But I realize that I'm not "normal"...tg. ;)
But I realize that I'm not "normal"...tg. ;)
The outside and the individual rooms (especially the bathroom) are stunning. I don't care for the bumpy floor or the crazy modern art museum feel of the common areas, but the rest is wonderful.
Jan 4, 2009. 9:33 AMstarwannab
says:
I want to go here!! I think this is totally awesome!! Maybe Jim Carrey stays here?
Dec 10, 2008. 12:05 AMIrishNymph
says:
That is real cool! But I do have to say that you should add some Dr Seuss odd and ends. And maybe some hidden rooms/cabinets. And you should also consider making a child-safe smaller house, they might even pay. Really nice,though
Dec 9, 2008. 6:27 PMwhiteoakart
says:
How different would this be than going camping? Running water, electricity and a lot fewer bugs, I suppose. But the terrain and tree trunks look familiar. Ever have to find your way to a potty spot in the dark? It's just like this. Maybe this is how New Yorkers go camping?
But it's not in the shape of a Tesseract ? explanation
And he Built a Crooked House appears to be online!
And he Built a Crooked House appears to be online!
So far, that is a marvelous story....I hope I can finish it....
That certainly seems....familiar... somehow. Was it published in an anthology or in one of Heinlein's own books?
It was published a lot of places. Time to introduce you to The Internet Speculative Fiction Database
I always wondered if CUBE and CUBE2: Hypercube got their ideas from somewhere else...... :-)
Oh Cool, thanks. Not sure when I will have time to browse there.....but what I see so far is great :-)
Hmm, did you see the movie: Cube2: Hypercube? I was lost with the movie, because I didn't see the first one: CUBE
*shudder* I can NOT imagine having to vacuum or scrub floors in that place LOL
In fact, that would definitely be dangerous to live in for someone like me who, at one time, did some sleepwalking *shudder*
May 20, 2008. 3:40 PMDr Seuss
says:
Ha ha that is definitely one amazing house. But it looks like it's lacking on the memorabilia! This place needs more Dr Seuss books, Dr Seuss poems, Just plain ol' more Seuss! You can never have enough.
With out the Cat in the Hat or the Lorax, Dr. Seuss seems strangely absent....
Apr 3, 2008. 1:45 PMthejrb
says:
Looks really cool! I wouldn't want to live their though maybe as a night stay or something.
Oh no, not overnight.....imagine waking in the middle of the night having to go to the bath room LOL You could DIE or get seriously injured. No, it would be cool to visit during the day....though.
That house, plus a couple of pints of St Peter's Ruby (in my hand right now, 4.3% ABV), equals a broken limb or three...
It looks good, but I can't understand why they ban children - they could charge money to let them play there for an hour or three.
It looks good, but I can't understand why they ban children - they could charge money to let them play there for an hour or three.
I think it would only add to the fun, then again I'm a bit younger and more likely to survive the repeat falls...
The US is too litigious for that.
Now if the flooring was that neat recycled rubber tire stuff instead of concrete...
While Playguard only seems to come in tiles, you can get this stuff in pour-in-place form. Sounds perfect.
Now if the flooring was that neat recycled rubber tire stuff instead of concrete...
While Playguard only seems to come in tiles, you can get this stuff in pour-in-place form. Sounds perfect.
Woah, thats trippy. Living in it wouldn't be fun anymore after a few months
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