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[EN VIDÉO] Plants and robots unite to one day build our homes Strange idea that these researchers of the Flora Robotica project: program small luminous robots to grow plants according to pre-established patterns. Structures of all kinds can thus be created with very little means. The possibilities are immense, but the road will be long.
On AirBnB, you can find a bit of everything. Very classic. But also, unusual houses. If you dream of spending the night — or your entire vacation — in the Spice Bus or at the very top of a crane, the category “Wow! » — for English speakers, we are rather on the “OMG! », acronym of Oh my God — is made for you. But the managers of the community housing rental platform have decided to go further. They are launching a contest to encourage people to build ever crazier houses. At stake, one hundred endowments of 100,000 dollars each.
Four judges will be responsible for ranking the projects according to four criteria. Originality, first, you will understand. Those hoping to win will have to surprise. Propose amazing works. But the project must also be technically feasible. And completed by August 2023. The interior will also have to live up to the exterior as well. Crazy, but comfortable. Finally, projects will only be able to win one of the prizes if they are sustainable. If they rely on a source ofenergy clean and on recycled materials. Applications are open until July 22 this year.
Shake up habits
According to those responsible for the platform, the idea is to shake up habits. Today, people choose their residence from holidays depending on where it is. Paris, New York or Rome. Tomorrow, they could have to choose their vacation spot depending on where the house of their dreams is located. A house which, on its own, is worth the detour.
Of course, the initiative is part of a marketing campaign devised by AirBnB to relaunch its activity. Assuming that many platforms offer classic rentals. But they are much less likely to highlight unusual accommodation. So, if it can give a boost to your dream of an extraordinary house…
A house… in bloom! Over 100 million flowers of some 70 different varieties — according to the garden’s official website. The Dubai Miracle Garden, understand the miraculous garden of Dubai, is today the largest flower garden in the world. Here, flowers are everywhere. On the ground – on beds with unusual shapes – on sculptures, on the surrounding wall and even on a Boeing. And of course also on the facades of the houses. A touch of gaiety in the heart of the desert, whatever the season. Because local gardeners modify the compositions accordingly. © dvoevnore, Shutterstock
A sustainable home In authorized circles, we qualify as earthships, houses built from tires, bottles and other waste. They must also be self-sufficient in energy, water and, if possible, food for their inhabitants. The concept was born in 1969, from the imagination of Michael Reynolds, an American architect. Thus, the first earthship was built in the desert of New Mexico (USA). Today, there are about 1,000 in various places in the United States and also in Europe. © IrinaK, Shutterstock
A wooden house on the island of Bali Indonesia is a surprising country in more ways than one. Firstly because it is made up of nearly 13,500 islands. It is the largest archipelago in the world. Then, because its cultural diversity is amazing. A diversity that can be found in the architecture of local houses. Indonesia has 33 provinces and each ethnic group has its own traditional architecture. This particular unusual house was built on the island of Bali. It is made of classic materials such as wood. But its aspect seems rather to want to turn towards the future. A result halfway between tradition and modernity. © Cocos.Bounty, Shutterstock
A house to share In Vietnam, this type of house is called Rong house. It is due to minority ethnic groups living in the northern highlands. Built in the heart of the village — or more exactly traditionally, the first construction of a village — the Rong house constitutes a real common house. In the past, it provided shelter in the event of an attack. Ceremonies and festivals are still held there today. Important decisions are made there and it even serves as a court of law. To make them visible from afar, they are raised and their roof can rise up to 30 meters in height. © withGod, Shutterstock
The upside down house This upside down house is one of the tourist attractions of the Regional Education and Promotion Center in Szymbark, Poland. For the record, this center is also home to the longest wooden board in the world! No less than 36.83 meters. But to come back to this unusual house, know that it symbolizes the fall of communism in the country. Its construction took five times longer than the construction of a conventional house. Entrance is through a skylight and the interior is decorated in the socialist tradition of the 70s. © GreatFocusPhotography, Shutterstock
The house of the future will be made of wood This house — built somewhere in Moscow (Russia) — may have a futuristic design, but it’s still made of wood. But, if in the minds, wood sometimes still appears as an old construction material, it is also a natural and renewable material. Qualities that should allow him today to return to the front of the stage. Especially since in France, the resource is important. It will still be necessary to overcome the syndrome of the three little pigs and to break down some psychological barriers. © vaalaa, Shutterstock
A house straight out of the 4th dimension Zaandam is one of the most touristic towns in the Netherlands. And it shelters some architectural particularities among which, this strange hotel located next to the station. Its construction was completed in 2010 and it is neither more nor less than the tangle of 70 traditional houses of the region. Dwellings of modest peasants as well as houses of wealthier owners. And if one of them is blue, it’s a nod to a painting by Claude Monet, painted while he was staying in the area. In terms of standing, note that the hotel is a 4 star and therefore promises high level services. © InnervisionArt, Shutterstock
The rock house The Casa do Penedo — or, in English, the house of the rock — is located in northern Portugal. It was built in the 1970s around four huge boulders found on site. What integrate it perfectly into the landscape. Initially a country house, its originality quickly attracted a growing number of curious people. Today, it is protected from damage (bulletproof windows and ultra-resistant metal to reinforce the door). And although a wind farm has been built around it, it is not supplied with electricity. © StockPhotosArt, Shutterstock
A volcanic house Cappadocia is a region of Turkey which has the particularity of being covered with tuff. Over the millennia, winds and rain have carved out this generally soft volcanic rock. And not just winds and rain. Men too. To build houses on the rock. Like the one seen in this photo. Incredible habitats of varying sizes and shapes. Note that since 1985, the region has been on the UNESCO list of protected sites of the heritage of humanity. © zebra0209, Shutterstock
A house that spans the Seine Le Vieux Moulin de Vernon (Eure) is an old watermill. His particuliarity ? It was built – probably in the 16th century – straddling two piers of an old bridge over the Seine – dating from the 12th century. During the Second World War, it was damaged by bombing, but the town of Vernon chose to save it. This picturesque half-timbered house is today the symbol of the city. And one of the few buildings remaining on a bridge in France. © JaySi, Shutterstock
A house and fir trees In Norway, there are many wooden houses, painted in bright colors. The roofs, on the other hand, are generally sloping to prevent snow from accumulating there. And they are covered with slate which is particularly resistant, but also easy to replace. In the past, however, Norwegians used to grow grass on their roofs. These indeed were made of tree bark and the grass made it possible to stabilize them. While insulating the house. An idea pushed to its climax here… © Master1305, Shutterstock
A shoe-shaped house This strange shoe-shaped house – known to tourists as the Haines Shoe House – was built in Pennsylvania (USA) in 1948 by the will of a shoemaker, Mahlon Haines. In the toe we find a living room, in the heel the kitchen, in the ankle two bedrooms and in the kick an ice cream shop. Mahlon Haines never lived in this house, but for a long time rented it out or made it available to competition winners. His goal: to make an impression with this astonishing advertisement for his company. © George Sheldon, Shutterstock
Postman Cheval’s ideal palace Joseph Ferdinand Cheval was a postman in Drôme. Hence his nickname postman Horse. And he spent 33 years of his life – some 10,000 days and 93,000 hours – building his ideal palace in Hauterives, in the garden of his house. A work 12 meters high and 26 meters long built by his own hands with stones collected on the paths of his tours and assembled with a lot of lime, mortar and cement. The construction of this ideal palace was completed in 1912. And in 1969, it was classified as a historical monument. © MagSpace, Shutterstock
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