Portable “tree” apartment house (Jan, 1966)
Filed under: Architecture — @ 2:22 pm
Source: Popular Science ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Jan, 1966
| Buy on Ebay
Source: Popular Science ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Jan, 1966
| Buy on Ebay
Portable “tree” apartment house
An easy-to-assemble “tree” apartment house with cabins on its branches has been designed by Hoist Dollinger, German architect. The building is intended for temporary accommodations. The 320-foot concrete mast has a base only 16-1/2 feet square. An internal elevator and stairs provide access to the cabins. One of the structures is planned for the 1967 Montreal World’s Fair.
Was one of these ever built? How is a 320 foot concrete mast portable? Would it not have to be constructed mostly on site? This looks cool but seems like a very expensive way to provide about 20 suites.
Comment by Myles — November 19, 2008 @ 2:34 pm
There must be a picture of this thing next to the word “impractical” in the dictionary.
Comment by John M. Hanna — November 19, 2008 @ 4:35 pm
I couldn’t find any photo evidence of this structure being built for the Fair, but I did find this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I.....ntreal.jpg
… which looks like it inspired part of a new matte painting for the recent Star Trek remastering project (lower right):
http://www.trekweb.com/images/stories/11207a.jpg
Comment by Scott — November 19, 2008 @ 5:58 pm
Is each suite supplied with a dog exercising treadmill on the balcony?
Comment by jayessell — November 19, 2008 @ 7:29 pm
There are a couple of buildings in Tokyo that seem to reflect the same thinking.
There’s the (notoriously ugly) Sofitel Tower Ueno:
http://interhotel.com/imglib/h.....59_002.jpg
There’s also the Nakagin Capsule Tower:
http://www.worldarchitecturene.....agakin.jpg
Comment by B22 — November 21, 2008 @ 7:44 pm
One gust of wind and you would be living in a metronome.
Comment by mike — February 17, 2009 @ 1:30 pm