People get their homes remodeled in order to make a space their own. Sometimes something as simple as installing that Jacuzzi tub you’ve always wanted or building that home library you saw on Pinterest can make all the difference. But there are those out there that don’t believe that less is more. Some people take drastic measures in order to make their homes really stand out.
The Pod House
The Pod House, also known as the Mushroom House, was built for Robert and Marguerite Antell in the 1970’s. Architect, James Johnson was inspired to design this house, made of several pods with connecting walkways, by a piece of Queen Anne ’s lace in a Coke bottle.
Each pod resembling something from outer space weighs about 80 tons and sits on a 14-20 ft high stem of reinforced concrete. Each pod was constructed in two parts, a base and a top. 
The bases were formed in 30 foot “pie pan” molds of concrete and polyurethane, and then lifted into place, while the tops were molded over a hill of sand, before being reinforced, insulated, and then moved into place. Two pods serve as sleeping areas, one as a kitchen and sitting room, a third as a living and dining area and the last pod which is uncovered serves as a deck. The sides of each pod are almost completely windowed allowing for a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape.
Modern Day Castle
This contemporary castle about twenty minutes outside of Boston was born as a model on a light table at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The house was built in 1980 with energy conservation in mind; during the design phase, a group of scientists spent a year studying the house’s light and shade patterns.
It is obvious where the inspiration for this modern home comes from, with its round turrets on one side and a wall of windows on the other. The biggest difference between this castle and one from 
centuries of old, besides its wooden exterior, is its passive use of solar energy. A 350 square foot south facing window allows light to enter the living room where energy can be absorbed and retained by either ceramic tile or an 1100 square foot wall that is 4 ½ inches thick. The stained glass windows salvaged from a church and hand carved doors of this five story home are enough to make anybody feel like royalty.
FallingWater
FallingWater is a famous house in Mill Run, Pennsylvania, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1935. The fame that surrounds this home turned museum, originally built for successful businessman, Edgar Kaufmann Sr., is due in part to the fact that it was built atop an active waterfall.
Wright coined the term ‘organic architecture’ which promotes harmony between man and nature. It was important to Wright that the building be integrated into the landscape which is why a 
boulder from the site penetrates the living room floor to help form the fireplace. A nearby stairway leads right down to the stream below, while in another area a natural spring drips water inside before it is channeled back out. There is also a semi-circular cutaway around a small tree in the driveway trellis. The house was built as a cantilevered structure, which allows for the large protruding terraces that seem to grow out of the countryside.
If you find yourself dreaming of a house that is a little out of the ordinary, give us a call. We build from the ground up!
Photo Credits:
Zillow, Lori Farr, Trulia, Wikipedia, Katherine Salant
