Comments on: The OUTrial House by KWK Promes

By: Michael Nash

Michael Nash — Mon, 11 May 2009 18:34:32 +0000

I’m really surprised at the comments about the grass. The whole concept — as stated in the FIRST TWO SENTENCES of the description — is to make the structure become an element of the existing meadow. Who waters the meadow? NO ONE. Who mows the meadow? NO ONE. Mowing/watering planting vegetables defeats the whole concept.

By: Berit Qvarnström

Berit Qvarnström — Sat, 09 May 2009 18:55:29 +0000

Is this a home? For people to live in? It looks like some sort of exhibition hall, or an eyecatching example to show the excellent work that the architects are capable of doing.

Where is the comfort and the cosyness? This is simply not what I would long for after a hard days work. Glass, cement and flat, empty lawns.

Sorry to be so negative.
Berit Q.

By: Marty Barbee

Marty Barbee — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:14:15 +0000

This is the pinacle of modern design. A great example of functionality, sustainability, and the use of natural light. The energy savings alone are stellar. Camaflouged into the landscape provides much shelter for future tonados and hurricanes. the only thing I didnt see here is the use of renewable energy. (Solar panel-Windmills) Although I applaud it’s eco friendly design, I really have to take my hat off to the designer for his/her use of thought within design.

By: ironyworks

ironyworks — Mon, 04 May 2009 07:28:42 +0000

Pretty cold, very high maintenance. all old tricks but decently designed..IW

By: Jafar

Jafar — Sat, 02 May 2009 07:30:25 +0000

Idea is good to keep cool inside the house. What you done for leackage. Any special protection? I understood that roof always will be moister, No problem for concrete?

By: Dashpie

Dashpie — Fri, 01 May 2009 12:32:08 +0000

Interestingly beautiful but I would never put grass on the roof maybe some planets and outside living room on the roof. The roof and stairs with grass not a choice for me I am not a big mower. The satellite dish a no no on a house trying to get back to nature.

By: Ionic Breeze

Ionic Breeze — Fri, 01 May 2009 06:23:09 +0000

Very nice idea. This house is completely camouflaged if regarded from a plane

By: Rosie

Rosie — Fri, 01 May 2009 01:46:38 +0000

Not for me. I think it’s a bit creepy and cold.

By: jack

jack — Fri, 01 May 2009 00:46:06 +0000

good desain

By: Ian

Ian — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:23:38 +0000

it must be a bitch to mow the lawn

By: hophead

hophead — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:15:41 +0000

Damn, no pictures of the recording studio…that’s a shame

By: ned

ned — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:19:39 +0000

Someone has been studying the history of design, this is definitely 1960 revisited but not creatively. Again a youthful designer’s attempt lacking the ability to improve on past experience (missing) I doubt there is any improvement in energy efficiency, just to grass the roof is good camouflage from above but little else. Magazine design, that’s all.
Try harder next time.

By: sheesh

sheesh — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:33:29 +0000

I bet you critics all live in shabby little appartment complexes. I think it’s cool what they’ve done. Oh and the satellite dish? That’s so they can watch the damn TV.

By: Lucianne

Lucianne — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:51:45 +0000

My concern would be: Who is going to mow that lawn? How? What a mess on the glass! Rather have a small lawn on the ground. A nice patio on the top.
I love the house and the open space. I am normally a traditionalist, but this is good. I would not have so many windows. And I would make a statement by tweeking it with softening some or one of the hard lines. A circle drive would go good with the stature of the home.

By: Ethan

Ethan — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:35:18 +0000

I applaud the attempt at the green roof. The rest just seems based on some lines from a minimalist text book, if such a thing exists. Overall, I think it would be more interesting to me to hear why some people are raving about this design, than to see the design in person. I would like to know where all of the water gathering in the green roof goes when it gets to the bottom of the stairs(??).

By: Mary

Mary — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 07:56:03 +0000

Darn it, someone else said that.

By: Mary

Mary — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 07:53:55 +0000

I really think this is pretty cool looking. The roof would make a great putting green.

By: Robert Jene Amick

Robert Jene Amick — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 07:43:01 +0000

Rudy (ultra) is right. The satellite dish is wrong …it was the first thing I noticed. I DO appreciate the idea of lifting the meadow and inserting the structure under it; but that puppy is gonna leak sooner or later for sure. Paolo Soleri speaks of structures as Neo-Nature, but this seems an over-simple solution compared to the Cat-Cast at Cosanti where I lived for a while and in which he had poked holes in the roof and surrounded that space inside from roof to floor w/ a glass “aquarium” w/ a tree planted in the ground at floor level which extended up above and over the roof. That was interesting; especially when something would fall into it while crawling across the roof and we would have to figure how to fish it out without it getting loose inside the living space. This house is an interesting treatment but it’s somehow 1950-ish with it’s hyper-clean lines. I’m giving it a C+; until the roof starts to leak, that is.

By: Sammy Ball

Sammy Ball — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:42:54 +0000

it’s really beauitful, my main concerns would be leaking and bugs.

By: David Dickerson

David Dickerson — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:08:46 +0000

Finally a house where I can mow my grass on the roof LOL