12 unconventional homes inspired by nature

8/12/2019 12 Unconventional Homes Inspired by Nature

1/13

12 Unconventional Homes Inspired byNature

In recent years, architecture has seen a flurry of offbeat yetbeautiful abodes with designs based on the world around us.| By Sara Carpenter, BobVila.com

Whether it's a hike in the woods, a night beneath the stars,or a sunny day at the beach, natural inspirations arecreeping more and more into residential architecture.Intended to be in sync with their surroundings, thesehomes may appear out of the ordinary, but their designsare based on common features of the great outdoors likemushrooms and seashells. Click through to see a dozenstunning examples of organic architecture from yesterdayand today.
http://www.bobvila.com/http://www.bobvila.com/http://www.bobvila.com/http://www.bobvila.com/


2/13

Perhaps the most famous house on this list,Fallingwater was designed by the incomparable FrankLloyd Wright in 1935. The house represents an attemptby the architect to build a structure both inspired byand integrated with nature. Taking its cues fromJapanese architecture, a waterfall on the site, and thesurrounding Pennsylvania forest, Fallingwater isconsidered a consummate success in creating harmonybetween man and nature.
http://www.bobvila.com/sections/tv-shows/projects/23-craftsman-bungalow/episodes/275-reconditioning-the-windows/videos/1116689917001-tour-of-frank-lloyd-wright-s-hollyhock-househttp://www.bobvila.com/sections/tv-shows/projects/23-craftsman-bungalow/episodes/275-reconditioning-the-windows/videos/1116689917001-tour-of-frank-lloyd-wright-s-hollyhock-househttp://www.bobvila.com/sections/tv-shows/projects/23-craftsman-bungalow/episodes/275-reconditioning-the-windows/videos/1116689917001-tour-of-frank-lloyd-wright-s-hollyhock-househttp://www.bobvila.com/sections/tv-shows/projects/23-craftsman-bungalow/episodes/275-reconditioning-the-windows/videos/1116689917001-tour-of-frank-lloyd-wright-s-hollyhock-house


3/13

Can you guess what natural feature this house mimics?Undulating walls ensure that the cross-section of thisremarkable residence resembles a fluffy, floating cloud.Built as an addition to an Edwardian-era home inAustralia, the "cloud" is not visible from the street,keeping this little bit of tranquility a well-guarded secret.
http://www.bobvila.com/articles/2232-home-additions-and-renovation-projects-where-to-begin/pages/1http://www.bobvila.com/articles/2232-home-additions-and-renovation-projects-where-to-begin/pages/1http://www.bobvila.com/articles/2232-home-additions-and-renovation-projects-where-to-begin/pages/1http://www.bobvila.com/articles/2232-home-additions-and-renovation-projects-where-to-begin/pages/1


4/13

Wrapped around a redwood tree in New Zealand, thiscocoon of sustainably harvested pine and poplar slats atreehouse restaurant, in fact plays host to what must be

a most ethereal dining experience. The open-slat designallows light to filter in by day; at night, light emanatesfrom inside, visually setting the cocoon and walkwayablaze.
http://www.bobvila.com/sections/tv-shows/projects/11-modern-colonial/episodes/137-wood-floor-finishing/videos/1091581625001-touring-the-hancock-land-company-sustainable-forestry-operationhttp://www.bobvila.com/sections/tv-shows/projects/11-modern-colonial/episodes/137-wood-floor-finishing/videos/1091581625001-touring-the-hancock-land-company-sustainable-forestry-operationhttp://www.bobvila.com/sections/tv-shows/projects/11-modern-colonial/episodes/137-wood-floor-finishing/videos/1091581625001-touring-the-hancock-land-company-sustainable-forestry-operationhttp://www.bobvila.com/sections/tv-shows/projects/11-modern-colonial/episodes/137-wood-floor-finishing/videos/1091581625001-touring-the-hancock-land-company-sustainable-forestry-operation


5/13

Inspired by the work of Antoni Gaud and Frank LloydWright, the Nautilus House in Mexico City was designedby Javier Senosiain of Arquitectura Orgnica to resemble

a seashell. The smooth walls and spiral interior create atransporting experience that suggests what it must be liketo walk in a cephalopod's shoes well, shell.


6/13

This mushroom-shaped New York abode was actuallyinspired by Queen Annes lace. The five interconnectedpods define distinct private and common areas.

Texturized walls create a cavelike effect indoors, while abevy of large windows provides a visual gateway to thewoods beyond.


7/13

In designing a familys floating house in Oregon, architect

Robert Harvey Oshatz looked to the river that would buoy the

structure. The roofline comprises two waves on the verge of

breaking. Solid walls on either side provide privacy fromneighbors moored nearby, and a glass wall that is open to the

river offers a view that could easily inspire an cannonball dive

on a hot summer day.
http://www.bobvila.com/nation/post/compact-sayboat-floating-residence-in-the-czech-republichttp://www.bobvila.com/nation/post/compact-sayboat-floating-residence-in-the-czech-republichttp://www.bobvila.com/nation/post/compact-sayboat-floating-residence-in-the-czech-republic


8/13

The reinforced concrete exterior of this home, designed byTokyo firm ARTechnic, mimics the organic curves of ashell. The soft arcs of the faade are echoed indoors.

Though inspired by a shell, the rounded walls of theinterior and exterior evince a futuristic twist that goesbeyond nature.
http://www.bobvila.com/articles/345-should-you-consider-a-concrete-house/pages/1http://www.bobvila.com/articles/345-should-you-consider-a-concrete-house/pages/1http://www.bobvila.com/articles/345-should-you-consider-a-concrete-house/pages/1http://www.bobvila.com/articles/345-should-you-consider-a-concrete-house/pages/1


9/13

When this flowery dwelling is completed, a wind turbine,ground-source heat pump, and array of solar panels willhelp it achieve a zero-carbon footprint. The living area of

each "petal" will converge underground to create a four-bedroom home. Skylights and expansive windows at entrypoints will fill the subterranean house with light.
http://www.bobvila.com/hobbit-houses/27590-12-hobbit-houses-to-make-you-consider-moving-underground/slideshowshttp://www.bobvila.com/hobbit-houses/27590-12-hobbit-houses-to-make-you-consider-moving-underground/slideshowshttp://www.bobvila.com/hobbit-houses/27590-12-hobbit-houses-to-make-you-consider-moving-underground/slideshowshttp://www.bobvila.com/hobbit-houses/27590-12-hobbit-houses-to-make-you-consider-moving-underground/slideshows


10/13

This Brazilian home employs an open floor plan to createa strong cross-breeze important in such a balmy climate.The leaf-shaped roof traps the cool air inside and protectsthe house from the hot sun. If the distinctive botanicalform doesnt leave you feeling at one with nature, theswimming pool that stretches from the backyard to theindoors might do the trick.
http://www.bobvila.com/articles/418-open-floor-plans-is-this-design-right-for-you/pages/1http://www.bobvila.com/articles/418-open-floor-plans-is-this-design-right-for-you/pages/1http://www.bobvila.com/articles/418-open-floor-plans-is-this-design-right-for-you/pages/1http://www.bobvila.com/articles/418-open-floor-plans-is-this-design-right-for-you/pages/1


11/13

Just as leaves provide cover in nature, the copper "leaves"of the roof on this Australian home give shelter to itsoccupants. Shaped to resemble a cascading pile of fallen

foliage, the roof is supported by walls of glass that allowthose inside to feel as if they're living within the landscape .
http://www.bobvila.com/articles/2405-landscaping-made-easy/pages/1http://www.bobvila.com/articles/2405-landscaping-made-easy/pages/1http://www.bobvila.com/articles/2405-landscaping-made-easy/pages/1http://www.bobvila.com/articles/2405-landscaping-made-easy/pages/1


12/13

Two freestanding circular structures bookend thisAustralian home, providing much-desired shade andvisually announcing the design as distinct from its

suburban surroundings. Even as they shield and unify theliving spaces , below, these "lilypads" allow a nearby parkto seem almost integrated with the property, establishing aconnection between outside and in.
http://www.bobvila.com/categories/other-rooms/living-spaceshttp://www.bobvila.com/categories/other-rooms/living-spaceshttp://www.bobvila.com/categories/other-rooms/living-spaces


13/13

Well-known treehouse builder Takashi Kobayashiconstructed this human- sized birds nest for the set of aNescaf commercial in Japan. Due to the structures

growing fragility, visitors are no longer permitted, but thetreehouse's unique appearance still draws attention in thenearby town and has surely inspired a backyard fort ortwo.

12 unconventional homes inspired by nature

Documents