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California roll house morphs into its enviornment

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07:12 October 11, 2011

The snail-like building is held together with a carbon fiber truss frame

The snail-like building is held together with a carbon fiber truss frame

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Designer Christopher Daniel has conceptualized plans for this prefabricated house, which morphs and adapts according to its setting. Dubbed California Roll, the structure is best suited to a desert environment and incorporates a homogeneous exterior which reflects the sun's heat.

The snail-like building is held together with a carbon fiber truss frame, and features a hydraulic powered automatic door which open into two sections. The upper section opens up overhead, whilst the lower section unfolds onto the floor for easy access into the house. When the door is closed it continues the line of the exterior surface, contributing to the smooth lines of the building.

The modularized skylights and glass windows can be electronically controlled to change the level of transparency, depending on how much heat or sunlight you wish to let in. The interior design is left quite minimal, with open clean spaces and living zones only separated by bookshelves or curtain dividers.

Daniel's design is currently only a modular housing concept, but by the looks of the plans, it could get off the ground.

Source: Violent Volumes

About the Author
Bridget Borgobello
Bridget Borgobello
Bridget is an experienced freelance writer, presenter and performer with a keen eye for innovative design and a passion for green technology. Australian born, Bridget currently resides in Rome and when not scribbling for Gizmag, she spends her time developing new web series content and independent cinema.

User Comments (8)
 

makes me want to eat a swiss roll.

comment D-Shift - October 11, 2011 @ 02:37 pm PDT

And how exactly does it morph to suit the environment?

comment Renārs Grebežs - October 12, 2011 @ 01:09 am PDT

How do you keep the critters out at night?

comment John H - October 12, 2011 @ 09:56 am PDT

The windows can't morf. HVAC, pipe and electrical systems can't morf. Nice 'A' on your design lab project, but totally useless in real world.

comment Joseph J Shimandle - October 12, 2011 @ 04:09 pm PDT

Joseph, you are right, Just a bit of wanky useless computer generated design that grabs attention. I wouldn't put such a thing in my portofolio because it would show a potential employer that you are useless in the practical world.

comment architects fulton + salomon - October 13, 2011 @ 12:18 am PDT

Makes for a great sci-fi movie scene. =)

comment stimpy77 - October 13, 2011 @ 01:30 am PDT

Thought 1 - accessibility

Thought 2 - light sensetivity

Thought 3 - bookshelves; no iPad, kindle, blackberry, whatever is the opposite of simplification.

Three strikes and you are out!

comment Chris Jordan - October 13, 2011 @ 09:07 am PDT

hmmm .... where do you attache the iPad2? it look's like an Apple iPad2 cover.

comment Fil Magnoli - November 7, 2011 @ 12:51 pm PST
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