XPost: alt.construction, talk.politics.misc, soc.culture
On 3/18/24 12:08 AM, Marika wrote:
68g.1509 <68g.1505@exr3.net> wrote:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13110535/Do-Xanadu-Houses-series-early-computerised-houses-built-survive.html
The Xanadu Houses were experimental homes designed to showcase
new building technology and automation in the home. They were
built in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin; Kissimmee, Florida; and
Gatlinburg, Tennessee. None survive.
Xanadu was the brainchild of Bob Masters, a pioneer of rigid
insulation as a building material. He created a system of
giant balloons covered with polyurethane foam, which was
then allowed to harden, forming a series of domed structures.
The rooms were controlled by Commodore computers. The kitchen
featured an 'autochef', an electronic dietitian that planned
and produced balanced meals and featured concepts such as
teleshopping, CCTV and a health-monitoring system. Unfortunately,
these ideas were way ahead of the technology, leaving visitors
unimpressed.
. . .
The Commodore-64 didn't even come out until 1982,
so these must have been the PET, mostly text-based,
computers. Still seemed "futuristic" in the early
80s though.
The odd-looking foam-over-mesh construction really
ain't bad. They're fairly strong, although you have
to be careful about the exact foam mix or they'll
stiffen and turn to powder after awhile. Sprayed
concrete over mesh is the more modern solution.
Dome-shaped, extensible, homes DO look weird, but
they ARE viable and fairly cheap/quick to do.
Worth another look in these days of super-expensive
housing.
Haha! My exact reaction!
Kind-of delayed commentary, but yea.
There are two or three kinds of "instant"/cheap homes.
Foam-over-mesh, sprayed concrete-over-mesh (better), or
welded together old steel cargo containers (strongest).
Foam-over IS functional in most locales. Maybe not in
serious hurricane zones alas.
Concrete-over is significantly stronger, yet still
not TOO expensive.
There was flirtation with geodesic domes ... seen a
few in my area ... but so far as I've heard they always
had a LEAKAGE issue, dome roofs are a pain, the seams
always leak. Urethane-membrane-over-dome ... maybe.
The AIM is for CHEAP, yet maybe Cat-4 rated.
Yea, they DO look kinda weird in general - but the
PRICE ..... plus you can add-on at any time.
The cargo containers are Cat-5+ fer sure, but they
ARE a lot of steel and thus kinda expensive and
there are only SO many "old" ones. I don't think
new equivs CAN be made for an affordable price,
too much metal involved.
And that's the current scene.
Alas most of the world badly BADLY *NEEDS* quick
cheap decent housing. Property prices are soon
to create a new Lords/Serfs class arrangement -
castles or dung-huts and nothing in-between.
Let's just say that isn't gonna work out well ...
Oh yea ... WHAT was with all the "mushroom buildings"
vision of the late 50s/early-60s ??? I did see some
"mushroom" houses in Florida on the shore of lake
Okeechobee ... but after a Cat-3 only like ONE was
left standing. Structurally UNSAFE design to the max.
SNAP !!!
MY old Dream Home ... too old now ... an old civil
water tower with about 20' of the legs left on.
Phosphoric then urethane+paint over, stairs and
elevator. The bottom level could be a swimming
pool ! :-) Next up, Atlas missile silo. They
DO come on the market from time to time.
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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