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Put that on your green roof... and live in it

Posted by aolson | 08/05/08

When we were younger and my sister and I would accompany our do-it-yourself parents to hardware stores, we would usually pass the time perusing kitchen appliances, gazing at the rows of light fixtures and selecting our future front doors. We were strange children.
After I met my fiancé and we became more serious, we would sometimes wind our way through department store aisles of stovetop ranges and refrigerators, oblivious to price tags as we chose a double oven then scampered off to browse window treatments. Alright, the drapes were all me. He took on the daunting task of choosing the right television.
A few years later, here we are, experienced renters who have since learned that your first fridge is not your fridge, and if you are paying $600 a month for rent, it isn't a stainless steel fridge, either.
Now, when I catch him in the right mood, we go online and look at houses for sale. Par for the course, we set our sights and standards high, and that is the mini-house movement reentered my consciousness.
I first stumbled upon the trendy, tiny homes a few years ago. I think a New York Times feature lead me to them, and I was fascinated by the idea of using literally every inch of space, and how the people living in these spaces were able to keep them so clean and uncluttered.
Now that saving the earth seems to be the underlying cause and effect of, well, everything living small seems even more relevant.
The idea behind micro-homes, is that they require little physical space, reducing the footprint of the inhabitants, and make incredibly good use of the space they have. Most of the tiny homes are also built primarily with eco-friendly materials.
They give new meaning to pre-fabricated homes. A cool, trendy, hero-of-the-planet meaning.
In light of a recent column I wrote regarding green roofs in urban areas, I thought I would highlight one of the most unique pre-fab micro-homes I have found: the loftcube.
Loftcube is a German-designed 20 by 20-foot mobile living space designed specifically for installation on urban rooftops. It is a super-sleek NYC style loft, wrapped in galvanized steel and glass, resting above the ground on four short legs.
The concept of Berlin-based designer Wener Aisslinger, the loftcube is meant to accompany a nomadic lifestyle, best suited for short-term stints of “dense urban life.”
What sparked my interest in the loftcube, among all the other micro-homes on the internet, was the price tag. In a 2007 Inhabitant article, the loftcube weighed in at just $55K.
Of course, a visit to the official website, loftcube.net, proved that not even moveable German pod homes are immune to inflation: a basic loftcube now goes for $136K.
Forgo the bathroom and kitchen, (I don't even know why that option is available), and have your very own loftcube installed via crane or freight helicopter for just $111K.
Did I mention the total square footage is in the 550 range?
Hey, nobody ever said living green was affordable.

CATEGORY: Environment

TAGS: micro home, loftcube, tiny home movement

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My own commentary

Posted by aolson | 08/12/08

I admit, maybe sometimes I take things too seriously and allow my emotions a little more control of my mouth than they ought to have.
That being said, I was shocked and quite embarrassed by Matt Lauer and Bob Costas' commentary throughout Friday's Parade of Nations during the 2008 Olympic opening ceremonies.
Ok, now I know three-plus hours of, literally, groups of athletes entering and circling an arena, waving flags and smiling, (and sometimes not), can quickly become repetitive and boring.
How wonderful it would have been to have learned during that time about the cultures of those athletes, and to have gained a little insight into some individuals and nations.
Instead, I was treated to Lauer and Costas' personal reaction to the Hungarian team's outfits...

CATEGORY: General Society

TAGS: Olympics, Costas, Lauer, Parade of Nations

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Listening to...

Damien Rice