This clip of an ant megalopolis blows my mind. An ant colony was pumped full of concrete* for three days, left to set, then excavated. It turns out ants are prolific and thoughtful architects, creating a system of highways and connected hubs – there’s even areas for waste disposal. Visually, it reminds me a little of the city structure in Mission Impossible, because of the way everything is connected. What do you think?
* The colony had been abandoned for a while before pouring began, so please don’t worry about the possibility of cruel concrete encapsulated ant deaths.
The title, One Room Mansion, is a Japanese term: ワンルームマンション. At 100sqf, often they don’t have bathrooms attached and residents have to visit a public bathhouse. One of my favourite books,Tokyo: A Certain Style, is a study of these tiny apartments.
With dozens and dozens of domiciles in the book, it is hard to describe them all. One of my favorites is the apartment of a music reviewer: CDs and vinyls are stacked floor to ceiling. There’s barely any room for the reviewer, though the two cats that share the apartment seem to find it manageable. Another remarkable spread is the house of a newly married young woman who loved cartoon characters so much that she works for a character goods company. Nearly everything in the house, including the husband’s lunch box, has some character on it. Huge Kerropi dolls share space with a veritable pack of Snoopys. A young interior designer had extra shelves put into her room so she could show off the covers of her manga volumes. A Shinjuku DJ, living with his Dutch girlfriend, uses his bathroom as a darkroom and spends weekends practicing on his windowsill turntable.
Accessories budget: Now this is where I am falling down! I have had to buy heaps of things because I ‘forgot’ or at some stage gave my old one away. Oh can opener, where did you go?
scorpio mug: 1.00
vanilla candle: 3.99
chopping board: 14.99
fan heater: 19.95
bath mat: 14.99
TOTAL: $54.92
REMAINING: $45.08
Still need to buy: that dang can opener, a coffee plunger, hooks to hang up my art collection. Boiling water in a pot is working out well so far. Meanwhile when it comes to the big stuff, I still want to buy: a manrobe or a clothes rack or perhaps even a ladder to hack up. I’ve been living out of my suitcase for 8+ weeks now. Hanging my dresses up seems like a distant novelty. Failing that? Nails + hangers on the wall…
One morning I took the tube to the very quaint and leafy suburb of Kew, home to the Royal Botanic Gardens. I had a splendid time exploring the grounds, reveling in nature and chasing squirrels (they never fail to elicit excited flailing from me).
Everything was orderly, the water lilies were blooming, and you could walk for hours and still find more vistas to marvel at.
Constructed between 1844 and 1848, the Palm House is considered an icon of Kew, along with the boxier Temperate House. The glasshouses are home to a selection of ‘exotic’ plants, like creepers and the palms of South America. The Temperate House even has a big, graceful pohutukawa from New Zealand.
It was the architecture that struck me the most, especially that of the Palm House. It’s said to be one of the world’s most impressive Victorian glass and iron structures. It felt like a gigantic bird cage, with ornate spiral staircases so you can flit to the roof and look down on the jungle below.
I’ve found true love just in time for Valentine’s Day. LOOK AT THE MAJESTY. Thanks so much for reading Code For Something. I love you, have a wonderful weekend.
Travelindependent.info – the most useful site for budget travel/backpacking planning. I’ve got a little travel itch that needs scratching and this is helping me plan – what to pack, what to budget, where to go. Global, indie advice. Loves it!
Susie Bubble knows Bad Taste is Better Than No Taste – a rounds up some swoon-worthy rings. I know a few of you will want them on your fingers immediately.
Writer’s Routines, useful reading if you’re tying to develop your own creative habits. There’s no whiskey in mine yet, but there may yet be room for a signature beverage.
Artificial Owl – abandoned man made places – like the Igloo Hotel. How cool is that? (Don’t slap me, no pun intended.)
Mai Mai takes inspiration from Pacific design, with a carved feather motif on the outside of the building, upon which striking images of the home and its surrounds are projected at night. The building takes its name from the shelters used by duck hunters, which like the home offer both camouflage and vantage point – in Mai Mai’s case a beautiful view of the Auckland cityscape.
Embracing the architectural idea wholeheartedly, the owners chose to not make images of the house available for public consumption. Not until the residence was a finalist in the prestigious 2008 World Architecture Festival did images emerge. The wait was worth it…
Gorgeous. After reading such an impassioned story, I feel a bit odd posting up the photographs for all to see. However letting you discover the rest of the images – after the jump – maintains a bit of the mystery, doesn’t it?
Mark Magazine is an architecture journal that profiles interesting projects from around the world; think Spain to New Zealand* and everywhere in between. For example, you’ll find articles on the Europark II shopping centre in Salzburg, an Osaka chapel and Elquidomos, a gorgeous astronomic resort in Chile…
(*I was flipping through one and, much to my surprise & delight, found the last place I lived “at home” with my family – the Beaumont Quarter apartment complex.)
Their design treatment is pretty fresh – bold colours, full bleed images and well laid out discussions. It’s the total package; I recommend it to anyone looking for inspiration and a good read. You can pick up a copy at the Mark Magazine website, where they do have a news section, but I really stress the beauty of the print edition.
There is also a coffee table book version with several magazines in one perfect bound volume - tangible collectors editions for the win!
A simple musing, but why aren’t there more yellow houses? Sunny, cute adobes that smile out of grey streets. I’m dreaming of egg yolk weatherboards with robin blue trims. Apartment blocks that look like giant cadmium yellow liquorice all-sorts. Mini limoncello cottages…
Perhaps I need to journey to San Fransisco or perhaps Arles, as per Vincent’s suggestion… for that’s what paintings are, mostly provocations to go seek something for yourself.
My friends Nicole and Joel are currently converting an old potter’s studio, unused for 20 years. It’s in a giant lush backyard, with stonewalls, daffodils and ancient trees. It’s like a secret garden! Visiting it made me want a little nook of my own… I currently live in the city, in a big old creaking villa filled with lovely people but sometimes I dream of escaping the hustle. Wanting my own patch of land in the country, with simply a little tiny house in which to sleep, write and read. This resulted in me day dreaming around the Internet collecting images of tiny bliss.
This is a summerhouse at the end of a very long garden, similar to what I imagine my friends one will eventually look like.
This minimal ply space is by Dorte Mandrup. Built in bookcases and a fold down bed make it just right for penning your magnum opus.
The Scandinavians have it right with 21st century huts in breathtaking locations. Hang out all summer long drinking vodka overlooking a Norwegian fjord? Yes please!
This pad is functional, aesthetically pleasing and easy to make yourself. The plans are available from Ready Made, so if you’ve got the space, the time and a nearby hardware store you can do it! Most of the time you don’t need permission to build a structure so small. I don’t have the inclination to build myself something but I am lucky to have a wee shed that I am planning on turning into a silk-screening studio. If you need more inspiration check out this wonderful site materialicious, which only focuses on these tiny amazing abodes!
Hello! My name is Amber Parkin. I'm a New Zealander living in London. I'm a writer obsessed with fondue, chesterfield sofas, vintage dresses, foxes, and 35mm.
, is a study of these tiny apartments.
