Futuristic family home by Gonzalo Vaíllo Martínez based on biogenetic forms

Khalsa

Padawan Learner
Ok, a bit of an intro to this one...I first stumbled upon this story via this article here:

http://homes.yahoo.com/news/future-families-live-terrifying-homes-220014867.html

Designed with the fields of microcellular systems and biogenetics in mind, this dubious home, proposed by postgraduate architecture student Gonzalo Vaíllo Martínez, makes for one seriously unwelcoming (and dragon-like!) family residence. Though the slithery, undulating structure can be adapted to any size or type of terrain [...]

To me, it appeared as though the author was going out of their way to make this concept seem as creepy as possible. Which I found weird, because I think it's a brilliant idea, I've always wanted to live in something like that. It's a bit like H.R. Giger designed a Hobbit Hole, and I love it. A more unbiased article can be found here:

http://www.dezeen.com/2014/03/24/futuristic-family-home-skeletal-staircase-gonzalo-vaillo-martinez/

Anyway, what I was wondering is how others would react to making a home in this kind of structure. Are people generally creeped out by it, or are there others who find it interesting, as I do?
 
Too weird, creepy, and cold. It reminds me of the structure of an ant colony. Although very organic in form, I find myself looking for comfort in the hard angled walls of conventional houses. Actual Hobbit houses, made of wood and grass like in the movies, I do however find appealing. I think it's the metal that really throws off that design as a warm home to live in. Wood is much more inviting.
 
Khalsa said:
Anyway, what I was wondering is how others would react to making a home in this kind of structure. Are people generally creeped out by it, or are there others who find it interesting, as I do?

After your comments, I was prepared for it to be cool, hobbit-like, whatever. It's not. It's repellant. Ugly. So, I just don't know what to say if you like it. People usually hang out together because they have a lot of things in common, you know, like colinear. So I guess we just aren't colinear here.
 
Eeew! I don't care what the people writing articles about it say. I wouldn't live in a house like that if you paid me 1 million euros to do so!
 
Chu said:
Eeew! I don't care what the people writing articles about it say. I wouldn't live in a house like that if you paid me 1 million euros to do so!

I agree. To me it's ugly, not at all like a nice, hobbit-hole. It seems like something out of a twisted crazy's person's mind, no offense meant, but it's like something you would put someone you wanted to torture into.
 
I find it to be disgusting. Plus, human beings are not living in insect's colony. It simply not for the humans. Architect misunderstood the word "organic", organic means natural, not "all in curves by any cost", that is not natural.
 
Ok, so apparently this is more of a mirroring opportunity than I thought. Naturally (for me, at least), now I feel rather embarrassed about posting this in the first place. But I'm going to try and move past that and explore the issue that presents itself here. Since it seems that my opinion is not that of the majority in this case, it seems like there is a flaw in my own reasoning here. It seems worthwhile that I should at least attempt to explain my reasoning behind my conclusions, however faulty they may be.

What first attracted me to the idea presented in these articles was a theory I'd been kicking around in my head. Architecture and construction (as it exists today), are, generally speaking, rather inefficient and disruptive to the environment. In some science-fiction, I've come across descriptions of societies that had reached such an advanced state that they were able to "grow" their own structures and dwellings, allowing them greater resource management and ecological balance. The idea intrigued me, so I began to wonder how it might be feasible. I do have some thoughts on the matter, but I think to go into detail with them here would only serve as a distraction from the matter at hand.

Regarding personal aesthetic choice, I admit that some images were far too organic looking, as the predominance of flesh colors made it resemble something like a great beast. In my "personal version", I Imagined something more like a glass, semi-subterranean nautilus shell. My curiosity was more towards the overall idea of organic construction, and how people would feel about living in a "grown" dwelling. It should be pointed out that I have read a lot of horror fiction, which has shaped my artistic opinions to a certain extent; my general enthusiasm was more me "geeking out" than anything else (osit).

I'll address each reply one by one, for the sake of clarity.

3D Student said:
Too weird, creepy, and cold. It reminds me of the structure of an ant colony. Although very organic in form, I find myself looking for comfort in the hard angled walls of conventional houses. Actual Hobbit houses, made of wood and grass like in the movies, I do however find appealing. I think it's the metal that really throws off that design as a warm home to live in. Wood is much more inviting.

Thank you, this is very informative. I expect a lot of people find similar comfort in traditional angles and regularity of surface in traditional architecture. I myself would prefer the addition of more natural elements, such as wood and grass, to the overall design if I were to live in it.

clerck de bonk said:
Does this design take 3d reality into consideration at all? (ie. construction, materials, weather conditions..., COSTS!)

As I understand it, the whole idea is largely theoretical. It sounds like such factors were taken into consideration, as the designer himself admitted cost alone would likely prevent this as a viable option for now. This was more of an exploratory "what if" scenario, I think. It would certainly take a lot more research in nanotechnology, and possibly genetic engineering, to make anything like this viable.

Laura said:
Khalsa said:
Anyway, what I was wondering is how others would react to making a home in this kind of structure. Are people generally creeped out by it, or are there others who find it interesting, as I do?

After your comments, I was prepared for it to be cool, hobbit-like, whatever. It's not. It's repellant. Ugly. So, I just don't know what to say if you like it. People usually hang out together because they have a lot of things in common, you know, like colinear. So I guess we just aren't colinear here.

Ok, I don't think I should have made the Hobbit connotation. Granted, there's not much of Tolkien to be found in the designer's artistic interpretation; what I meant to imply was that the design was partially subterranean. It's definitely not as friendly. My mistake there, it was not my intention to horrify Tolkien fans, it was more a personal interpretation of what I saw in the concept of organic housing.

On a more personal note, I'll be the first to admit I am a flawed individual, sometimes I fear deeply so. So perhaps there is a more significant meaning to my initial attraction to a darker style than what most people would prefer. I've read a lot of H.P. Lovecraft and Stephen King growing up, so certain concepts don't disturb me as much as they used to, as long as they are in a fictional or theoretical context. Real life horror and grotesqueness are another matter entirely.

This sort of process is an emotional trigger for me. I've been bullied a lot throughout my life, so the whole "peer approval" dynamic is something that gets to me, every time. I know that is neither the purpose nor the intent of mirroring, so I'm doing my best to work through this process. In my desire for clarification and transparency, I may have produced a longer response than the situation warranted. My apologies if this is the case.

If this and/or future posts of mine on this forum are taken as evidence that my interactions are harmful here, I fully respect your right to ban me. It is not my intent to disrupt your work. I hope this is a simple misunderstanding, and nothing more. I am only trying to learn and grow.
 
Just to provide another opinion.

To me, it seems as though the architect has a penchant for night clubs/raves, and has decided that regardless of his 'project to design a family home' he has done - what i would've probably done at university age (i'm making assumptions) - and has just designed whatever he wanted!

And what he currently likes, by the looks of the design, is to hang out with his friends, covered from the sun, and prying eyes.

I can appreciate that you like the design due to it's 'gothic' style and i can appreciate that aspect of it myself, i like Tim Burtons movies for example. However i guess what you are realising, and what is being said here on Cass, my assumption, is that; we choose to live in a world with productive useful inspiring (key word perhaps?) spaces that promote life and vitality. So there is nothing against 'chill out' spots per se, or evben dark contemplative womb like caverns; but it has obvious dark overtones and buildings like that - from experience - can evoke those emotions (especially if you're not observing yourself).

A friend of mine has been studying the psychological effect architecture, space, flow etc.. has on those who use it, whether it can be modified to promote or prevent specifics in people - ie. adding benches, changing the flow of paths, trees, interactive spaces (let your imgination run wild).

So, whether it is aesthetically your cup of tea or you'd like to stay there for a weekend is one thing, what attitude or outlook it would promote waking up there everyday... and again, it seems as though the concept has come from the perspective of a persons particular feeling (which you will embody on entering?) rather than any functional space.

(It's actually quite amusing seeing the typical house next door to the writhing cloth covered monster corpse!)

It gets me thinking about the wide streets of Berlin, and the necessity of covered spaces in hot countries..
 
Oh, wow, this thing looks like a jumbled mess! :shock:

I think I understand what you mean by interesting (because it's different, unusual), Khalsa, but as you pointed it out yourself, these things are really creepy and feel 'forced'. They are described as 'organic' when there is nothing harmonious about them at all.

Khalsa said:
On a more personal note, I'll be the first to admit I am a flawed individual, sometimes I fear deeply so. So perhaps there is a more significant meaning to my initial attraction to a darker style than what most people would prefer. I've read a lot of H.P. Lovecraft and Stephen King growing up, so certain concepts don't disturb me as much as they used to, as long as they are in a fictional or theoretical context. Real life horror and grotesqueness are another matter entirely.

Well, it's normal to be flawed, we all are. :)
I used to be into 'dark' stuff as well. I liked creepy things (or so I thought). It's important to realize that 'darker' things exist in life but it's also important not to identify with them. Art that glorifies the bizarre, the dark, the empty is ponerized. More and more, younger generations are taught that the dark and the bizarre (or even the horror) is cool while what is beautiful, harmonious is considered bourgeois or corny.

If you haven't read it already, maybe this thread about Positive Dissociation might help you understand what I'm trying to say : http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,14103.msg108187.html#msg108187
 
3D Student said:
Too weird, creepy, and cold. It reminds me of the structure of an ant colony. Although very organic in form, I find myself looking for comfort in the hard angled walls of conventional houses. Actual Hobbit houses, made of wood and grass like in the movies, I do however find appealing. I think it's the metal that really throws off that design as a warm home to live in. Wood is much more inviting.

Yeah, like the ant colony from the 70's sci-fi flick "phase IV", shouldn't have said "hobbit hole" as most people would expect lush green pastures with some novel technology. Maybe.

Leonarda said:
It reminds me of the "predator's mind" in Castaneda's books in physical form.

Saying that, Casteneda's references to the realm of "the allies" in The Art of Dreaming spring to mind.

Nienna said:
Chu said:
Eeew! I don't care what the people writing articles about it say. I wouldn't live in a house like that if you paid me 1 million euros to do so!

I agree. To me it's ugly, not at all like a nice, hobbit-hole. It seems like something out of a twisted crazy's person's mind, no offense meant, but it's like something you would put someone you wanted to torture into.

And throw in some maddening rave strobe lights. Those things are torturous by themselves! Seriously, that's not a family residence. I've always appreciated gothic & baroque architecture but that creation is not life-affiming, it's more like... death. If he wanted to stick to a dark theme, he could've gone with something more recognizable (though still twisted IMO) like the xenomorph colony in the "Aliens" movie. (that's the 2nd movie btw) That was at least, after my eyes got used to the effects, one big camouflage.
 
If I found myself inside that house I would first be wondering if some gigantic dragon somehow swallowed me whole and I'm inside it's stomach or other part of its digestive tract. I think it is the undulating walls and flesh color that give me that impression.

Nothing "organic" about it. "No straight lines" does not equal "organic".
 
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