pseudo-cottage - small habitat

[Red Lion]

Here are some images of a project I'm working on that will be in the Toronto Green Living Show.

http://www.greenlivingonline.com/torontoshow/

An article about the project in a local Toronto Magazine:

http://www.nowtoronto.com/columns/ecoholic.cfm

It's a very interesting project to work on - I hope I get more work like this in the future.

It's about 16.5' high and as long as the customer wants it.

I'm pleading with them to not use plastic. I want them to keep it "green".

Clockwise - Myself (Assistant Builder / OCAD Industrial Design), Martin (The Architect / Lead Designer / OCAD Teacher), Rico (Assistant Designer / OCAD Environmental Design), Kevin (Graphic Designer / OCAD Industrial Design), Marek (Lead Builder / OCAD Environmental Design)

 

[jspicer1010]

Matthew,
Very unique idea. Can you explain how you made the arch/bend in the lamination(?) What lumber are you using for the framework?
john

 

[EcoFurniture]

That's a pretty cool project! Tell us more about your wood source and construction method.

I'm a operating a green business myself, let me know if I can be of any help!

Cheers,
Andreas

 

[Red Lion]

John and Andreas,

Most of the material in this project is locally sourced white cedar - the other material is the LVL which spans across the top to hold the bent beams in place (the engineer needed an LVL), and some beautiful Finnish plywood for the side cladding. The architect is getting one made of red cedar - red cedar is not grown locally so it disqualifies itself of a "green" title. The form is made of 8 sheets of plywood screwed together. We made a long trammel and marked our curve on the plywood. The arc has a radius of around 19'. We then drilled holes along the tangent every 2'. Glued some big dowels in the holes and that's pretty much all there is to it. There could have been more eco-application in the building process but we are under some serious deadlines. There's a heck of a lot to do still - I will keep posting pictures as we build. There is a website being developed for this product but it is under construction right now. We are milling the roofing material then we have to finish the structure. There is going to be a second level for a bed, more structural uprights, cladding for both walls, mosquito screen for the front, and a sail curtain that attaches to the front some-how.

Thanks Andreas and John for the interest - The designer has already been approached by prospective buyers. It is possible that this could turn into a business we don't know what the reaction will be after the show. There is a huge learning curve for starting an "eco-business". I will drop your name and website with the architect. I'll get some more images uploaded a soon as I can.

http://www.aerieloft.ca/

M@

 

[EcoFurniture]

Thanks for the info and for passing on my info!

Cheers,
Andreas

 

[Red Lion]

OK so the show was a great success and Breathe Architects have a bunch of orders for this product. The website is up and running if anybody is interested.

Here's some pictures:

I couldn't get to the show that weekend so this is the only picture I have for all the hard work that went into it.

All of these cut outs were done with a lot of patience and a TS75.

The weather siding is corrugated polycarbonate sheets - not the most green element of this product but this is a working prototype built from scratch two weeks before the show.

We also made sawdust angels but we can't find those pictures.

My friends say this looks like a carharrt ad because its so fake looking - jerks, that's real sawdust.

 

[EcoFurniture]

Congratulations! It's looking great.