House That Moves With the Wind

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Architects Alex Schweder and Ward Shelley have taken the idea of living with nature a whole step further with their newest creation. ReActor, as their project is called, is not just a house, but could also be considered a work of art. The home rests atop a 15 ft (4.5 m)-tall concrete column and can be rotated a full 360 degrees. This rotation is either the result of wind or the occupants moving from one part of the home to another.

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ReActor house measures 44 x 8 ft (13 x 2.4 m) and they designed it in an effort to explore the effect constructed environments have on relationship dynamics and vice versa. The home is fully furnished and features a foldaway kitchen and bathroom, as well as a propane stove, ice box, shower, chemical toilet, two beds, shelving and storage, and a few comfortable chairs for lounging.

The architects did not wish to reveal exactly how the rotation mechanism works, but it apparently involves an axle and bearings hidden inside the column. They’ve both lived in it for a couple of days already and plan to do so again in the fall.

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While one might assume that the constant movement could lead to discomfort or even motion sickness, they claim that it’s barely perceptible. Apparently, the movement is so gentle it never even woke them, and they compared it to being rocked. The most challenging aspect of living in a house that moves was staying out of the sun, according to the architects. Though this can easily be solved by lowering the blinds.

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ReActor house is currently on display at the Omi International Arts Center, in Ghent, New York. It’s part of a larger Architecture Omi program and an exhibition called Wood: From Structure to Enclosure, which showcases a number of other interesting architectural works as well.

[source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/jetson_green/~3/EMOZiq0wiY8/house-that-moves-with-the-wind.html]

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