December 10, 2007: Ewok houses

I can say, in all honesty, that I would never want to live in one of these.



But I know there are some fans of furry aliens, and more general fans of nature, who would. There must be, because the company that makes them is still doing business.

Free Spirit Spheres, www.freespiritspheres.com, constructs the 11-ft. wide balls using boat-building techniques, so they are completely waterproof, and they claim a single sphere can sleep a family of four. Somehow they also manage to fit a sink, microwave, and refrigerator inside. No word on how these items receive power. A second sphere that would hold a washroom and shower is... still in design. Despite this, the website claims they will provide you with a complete, hand crafted house for just £74,000. Self-assembly required.

$150K!? Maybe I should start "hand crafting" some hallow spheres too. Wow, that's a lot for what you are getting.

PODS! Run away!

Those are really pretty cool. I like them. But no way are they worth that amount. I can see as much as $20,000 for one, depending on how fancy they are inside, but no more than that.

You know, this reminds me of a guy who built his own sphere house out of thin sheets of plywood, slightly bent and screwed together.

That pod is suspended by cables from (I guess) at least three trees.
Trees that sway in the wind. Trees that will certainly fall down one day, possibly with little warning.
Good thing it's built like a boat 'cause I reckon you'd get seasick.
I'd like one as a wilderness cabin/ holiday home, but not at that price.

And anyway, real Ewok villages are waayyyyyy cooler than that.

i saw the tree dwellers on a documentary a year or so ago. if you cross polinate your nuttiest pocket protector wearing engineer with some serious greeny weeny and add just a touch of the unibomber... well, you've found yourself a tree pod person.

i do remember the issue of trees falling down being discussed. apparently the way that it is hung puts very little stress on any of the trees and each of the trees is in turn anchored for increased strength for protection again high winds. i don't remember all the details but it seemed convincing.

slang;415012 wrote:

Maybe I should start "hand crafting" some hallow spheres too.

I think you mean hollow, like your noggin'.

The hallow thing is my job. Don't make me come over there.

glatt;415028 wrote:

...slightly bent and screwed together.

Agreed, very much so.

wouldn't you be the coolest kid in the neighbourhood if you had a treehouse like that!

ZenGum;415037 wrote:

That pod is suspended by cables from (I guess) at least three trees.
Trees that sway in the wind. Trees that will certainly fall down one day, possibly with little warning.
Good thing it's built like a boat 'cause I reckon you'd get seasick.
I'd like one as a wilderness cabin/ holiday home, but not at that price.
t.

I used to have a cabin that was built containing living redwood trees. They didn't fall down- live for thousands of years after all. The only problem we had was that as the tree got thicker, the roof leaked. This design doesn't have that problem because the trees are outside and in multiples.

You can't get anything for $20,000. I think it is pretty cool and I would like one, but I'd want a good outdoor porch too.

God;415053 wrote:

I think you mean hollow, like your noggin'.

The hallow thing is my job. Don't make me come over there.

God.....You crack me up......Thanks!.........:D

Good thing God has a sense of humor and has imbibed us with it.

i feel bad for the child who lives in one of those and get's told to sit in the corner.

Welcome Skylight!

:welcome:

Another Aussie here. :) Good to see ya, sand-groper!

Aussie Aussie Aussie???

Oy Oy Oy!

Agreed, it's cool as a hideout, but as a house....?!
I have mild claustrophobia so I couldn't bear the thought of it.