Sometimes music can backfire or provide an overly artificial sonic wallpaper to a video or film. I would have preferred Brian Eno’s music, but the video is an interesting look at some new perspectives and buildings.

A different video showcasing some interior sequences with the songs “lyra” and “Ankaa” by Robert Fripp and Brian Eno works much better:

Convertible City – German Language Site

Hmmm – I wonder which strata councils / co-op boards would approve of this? It would give some people vertigo, but its a neat idea anyways.

Located between art and architecture, the backpack house is a walk-in sculpture with their own spatial quality: a floating, lighted room, as a temporary scaffolding and a “minimal sculpture” also appears. Universally used as a mini-backpack, this house adds extra space at the front of each residential building attached. The design consists of a welded steel cabin, using steel cables on the roof or on the facade of the existing house is attached. The sculpture consists of a cube-made element with the dimensions width 2.50 m, 2.50 m in height and 3.60 m deep. The height of the top floor of the cube element is approximately 10.50 m, and the total weight of the sculpture is approximately 2.0 t. In conclusion if you want an extra room for your apartment this might be a great idea to take in consideration.

For a while now I have been entranced with modern homes. I prefer a blend of hand made and wooden furniture that contrasts with the often stark austerity of the structures. I like the clean minimalism of modern structures. I like the way these structures can harmoniously blend into the landscape while offering large expansive views. They often can blend the boundary between outside and inside.

Anyways, about 5 years ago I was in New York City on business, and while I was walking through the city I happened to notice a gallery in SoHo that was showing some modern home displays. I went inside and learned about an architect, Rocio Romero, who is based in Missouri. I then began visiting her web site over and over.

When you order a home like this, you get a kit that comes on a truck. You need to prepare a site, have permits in place with a foundation or footings setup. She sells homes that can withstand 150 mile per hour winds, and that have minimal upkeep. I also like a home that is between 1000 and 2000 square feet. Huge homes are bad for the environment. I can see if someone lives with a large or extended family, but for me – the larger the home the more cleaning required. Her kits start at 45,000 or so. You can join them together for larger homes and she has some options as well. Its a really neat way to build a home. I do love a rustic post and beam home, stone or log home as well. I am not some fanatical modern absolutist.

Rocio Romero LLC is a multidisciplinary firm. We design, manufacture, build, ship, and sell our kit homes. By marrying all these disciplines we are able to better deliver quality design easily and affordably. It is through prefab efficiencies that we are able to control the cost and quality of our homes.

Rocio Romero is the owner and principal of Rocio Romero, LLC. Rocio received her Masters of Architecture from Southern California Institute of Architecture and her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Environmental Design with a major in Architecture from UC Berkeley.

Having been featured in many publications, including The New York Times, CBS Sunday Morning News, and the Wall Street Journal, the LV home was acknowledged by Paul Goldberger of The New Yorker as “an exceptionally beautiful house… Romero’s designs stand out for their clarity, simplicity, and grace”.

For more information on Rocio Romero, download her PDF biography

Rocio Romero LLC Web Site

12►