November 14, 2005

Houses in the shape of cubes (though more interesting than that sounds). The cube houses are an idea of architect Piet Blom. The first to be built were three test houses (Dutch) in the provincial town of Helmond. After that a bigger group were built there, including a whole theater. (Flash, Dutch)

[More inside]

  • The most famous cube houses, however, were built in Rotterdam, near the Pencil (also by Blom) and the Blaak trainstation. If you want to know what it's like to live in one, you can check out the 18 years ago by [MR]Chip
  • Oh drat... first post blues... There was a link for the pencil as well: http://www.worldisround.com/photos/0/139/593.jpg /off to cry a little in the corner
  • Good first post, [MR]Chip. FYI, the "Extended Description" post box automagically does the [more inside] for you, so you don't have to post it in a comment MeFi-style.
  • It's a neat idea (I like the interiors), but do they have to loom like that? It looks like they're poised to attack. I would like a home that looked threatening to other homes, but what would the neighbors think? Lovely first post, [MR]Chip! *golf clap*
  • I like the post. I like the (exterior) aesthetics. I don't like the concept. Too much wasted space.
  • Also as seen in Toronto, where they're equally impractical. And located right next to the DVP. Good F-FPP! Much better than my lame effort...
  • Stunning, and by all the shades of Albrecht Durer, think on!
  • A friend of mine lived in one and hated it. You need special furniture because all walls are angled and they are terribly built, so they leak. And you have no privacy, because the neighbours' windows are very close. These cube houses however, in my new hometown, are apparently very nice to live in. And none of them directly faces a neighbouring cube, so lots of privacy there. Too bad only 158 got built instead the 1000 originally planned.
  • Habitat 67 is so cool. I saw it from across the river - always wanted to tour round.