A small structure with low energy and a big impact.
After experiencing great acclaim for the Crystal River Tree House in 2004, Green Line Architects of Carbondale, CO had set aim on something much more foresighted for 2015. Tree houses, by and large, are a novelty. They don’t last any longer than the tree they are settled in, they are tremendously inefficient from a building operations standpoint and not to mention very inaccessible, think ADA. Green Line wanted to look carefully at the today and the future of architecture.
In the future, our building codes will be modified as dramatically as our medicinal and agricultural practices, organic and holistic will rule. Our building materials will be stamped with a nutritional facts statement including the method of extraction, the material content, the transportation impacts and the application and procedural guidelines. In the future, people will ask, “have you seen your local architect this month?” After all, our three basic needs include food, water and shelter.
The environmental movement is shifting. It has become an issue about human survival on this planet as opposed to simply the protection of the environment. We now know that if we don’t regulate or land use and resource management, this planet will shake us off like water on a wet dog. In the future, humans will either perish, or learn to become part of the natural system.
Products are created all around the world, and the earth is where the materials comes from, someone may say that the world has a restorative power and that no matter what we do, we will not play a role in it’s events, as if the world is on a different timeline or pattern. Which is true, in terms of the existence of the planet compared to the existence of our societies. But in terms of the relationship that we have right now, that relationship that we have with nature and the earth is inextricably linked to now and everything else living right now. We must consider our relationship to nature as a life giving force.
Products can be created in one of two ways, manufactured or crafted. Think leather, someone might say that leather is bad, bad for the environment and otherwise, maybe they have seen videos of production farms. On the other hand, there is a native in his cave at the dawn of time, using tools to benefit from every single piece of his kill, creating clothing and fabrics out of the hides. Still they are linked, linked to the natural system, animals, humans, very different in their actions but doing the same thing. Life is a natural force, but it can be mechanized, or organized, always relative to the other pieces, bad input results in bad output.
Oh yeah, the building is also a bike ramp..
See more about this project at; whatistheoculus.com & GreenLine Architects
Watch the TV show for $2.99 in HD at; YouTube
Photos by; Brent Moss
Furniture by; Brad Reed Nelson
Text by me, Rob, you can reach me at zzzrob.hollis@gmail.com