Amazing Underground Homes

With the population growing more and more each year, it was only a matter of time before people started building their homes underground like Hobbits from the Tolkien tale. Mankind started off living in caves, and now we realize that "earth homes" are actually a very eco-friendly way to live. These ten underground homes are so amazing they might make you want to set up camp underground too!

Cave House in Festus, Missouri

This modern and energy-efficient 15,000-square-foot home is built within a sandstone cave in Festus, Missouri. Built by Curt and Deborah Sleeper, the home features modern interiors that blend with the natural unfinished sandstone walls. Thanks to geothermal heating and clever design, there is no need for air conditioning or a furnace to heat/cool the home.

This space was previously used as a concert venue and a roller skating rink! It gained fame by being auctioned off on eBay before becoming a private residence.

Malator in Druidstone, Wales

This contemporary home is touted as one of Wales' architectural masterpieces. According to their website:

"The turf roof, steel chimney and peephole doorway inevitably gave way to its local nickname as ‘the Teletubby house'. The basic design of Malator is very simple, with essentially one room inside, divided by prefabricated coloured pods, while on the outside, the house melds with the surrounding landscape."

Hidden House in Lower Silesia, Poland

This underground house from KWK Promes was designed so the grassy roof of the home is accessible only to the residents, via a set of stairs inside the house.

The Underground House, Great Ormside, Cumbria, England

Built on an old quarry site, this two-story home was designed by architect, John Bodger, for Phil and Helen Reddy.

Sedum House, North Norfloak Coast, U.K.

This home was built to maximize exposure to sunlight, though most of the home is underground! Eco-friendly, easy to heat and cool, and featuring a unique rain water harvesting system, this private residence may very well be the home of the future!

Flower Petals in Bolton, U.K.

Former captain of the Manchester United football team, Gary Neville, has plans to build this eco-friendly underground home in Bolton, U.K., providing the town's planning committee finally approves his plans. So far, the committee has rejected the football star's proposal to build this 8,000-square-foot, four bedroom, energy-efficient home that will blend in with the surrounding Pennine hillside. The large flower-petal-shaped openings are designed to let in light to the floors below.

Stone Desert Home in Greece

This rectangular structure designed by Deca is very eco-friendly, utilizing natural light and heat, and cooling cross-winds. Built between the slopes of two adjacent hillsides, the house has a simple box-like plan that blends into the surrounding desert, while still incorporating traditional Greek design elements. The house is visible only in the center, and even then could pass as a half-buried ruin more than a modern home.

Estate Lättenstrasse, Dietikon, Switzerland

This Swiss estate, by Vetsch Architektur, consists of 9 houses connected by stairs that lead down to a basement and even a subterranean parking lot. These "earth houses" use the ground as insulation that efficiently protects them from rain, extreme temperatures, wind and abrasion.

Hobbit Home in Vals, Switzerland

This Swiss home was designed by SeArch and Christian Müller Architects. Vals is famous for their thermal baths and boasts incredible views; this home is perfect for the location since it is very close to the baths, yet does not block the gorgeous mountain views! Also, since it is almost completely underground, it costs next to nothing to heat in the winter or cool in the summer.

Cave Dwellings For Rent, Kandovan, Iran

Located in Iran at the base of Mt. Sahand, these 700-year-old dwellings are carved out of natural volcanic rock formations. Though these largely subterranean apartments are very old, they have all been updated and include all of the modern comforts of home.

Most Controversial Monuments in The World

  Outgoing president Alan García wanted to leave Peru a surprise and hoped a 120-foot statue of Christ would protect Lima. But not everyone likes surprises—not Lima’s mayor, informed only days before its June 2011 unveiling, and not locals frustrated that construction was outsourced to Brazil.

García’s surprise statue certainly isn’t the first to spark controversy. Some of the world’s most impressive monuments have backstories of bickering, which, in addition to good gossip, give travelers insights into local culture, history, and priorities. Even when a monument’s construction is well publicized, a positive reception isn’t guaranteed, whether because of differing aesthetic tastes, costliness, or partisanship.

Outside Madrid, unhappy locals have railed against a certain site for so many years that the government has formed a commission to recommend modifications. Read on for the inside story on that and more monumental controversies.

 

Second World War Monument to the Soviet Army, Bulgaria

Soviet-era war memorials honoring Red Army soldiers are often vandalized. But this WWII monument in the capital, Sofia, got an especially colorful makeover in June 2011: fresh paint transformed the soldiers into Superman and other pop-culture figures. Tourists and locals flocked to see the monument, but the Bulgarian Culture Minister Vezhdi Rashidov was not amused, calling the makeover a “crime.” The soldiers have since been scrubbed to their original state.

Valley of the Fallen, Spain

Dictator Francisco Franco ordered the construction of this monument outside Madrid to honor those who died for his cause during the 1930s Spanish Civil War. And he enlisted political prisoners to carve the massive basilica into a mountainside—infuriating many Spaniards. After years of demonstrations and debate, in May 2011, the government assembled a commission to evaluate its future. Its initial recommendation calls for Franco’s body to be removed from the site.

Crazy Horse Memorial,
South Dakota

The Sioux fought unsuccessfully to block the development of Mount Rushmore on hallowed Native American ground. Out of defeat, they decided to erect their own monument: the Crazy Horse Memorial, which is being carved into Thunderhead Mountain within eight miles of Mount Rushmore. Yet it has sparked its own controversy within the Native American community. Some view its construction as an attack on the landscape and an affront to Crazy Horse’s beliefs.

African Renaissance Monument, Senegal

President Abdoulaye Wade didn’t win any popularity votes when he funneled millions into the construction of a monument to the African Renaissance. A waste of money wasn’t the only reaction to this 160-foot bronze colossus unveiled in April 2010. It depicts a stylized muscular man with a baby in his arms, emerging from a volcano and pulling along a half-naked woman—and has been criticized for both skimpy clothing and sexism.

Christ of the Pacific, Peru

Former President Alan García may have thought he was leaving a gift for his public, but the 120-foot Christ of the Pacific has been nothing but a monumental headache since its surprise construction was revealed in June 2011. Lima’s mayor was angry at not being consulted, while others questioned why it was designed and built in Brazil, not Peru. The one aspect that can’t be debated: Christ of the Pacific is now the world’s tallest Christ statue.

Brown Dog Statue, London

A small dog statue in London’s Battersea Park looks harmless, but it’s a 1985 replacement of a statue with a fraught backstory. The original terrier was erected in 1906 by a group opposed to the use of animals in medical experiments. It displayed a plaque condemning pro-vivisection students at the University College. Outraged and embarrassed, those students destroyed it. The new statue is plainer, sans fountain or plaque, but it is still a terrier, modeled after the pet of sculptor Nicola Hicks.

Che Guevara Statue,
Bolivia

Infamous revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara fought for the rights of the poor, inciting passions along the way. While some condemn his violent methods or philosophy, to the farmworkers in the town of La Higuera, he remains “Saint Ernesto.” There, on the spot where the leader of a guerilla Marxist movement was captured and executed, residents dedicated a bust in his honor in 1997.

Craziest Corsets

A corset is a garment worn to mold and shape the torso into a desired shape for aesthetic or medical purposes (either for the duration of wearing it, or with a more lasting effect). Both men and women are known to wear corsets, though women are more common wearers.

In recent years, the term "corset" has also been borrowed by the fashion industry to refer to tops which, to varying degrees, mimic the look of traditional corsets without actually acting as one. While these modern corsets and corset tops often feature lacing and/or boning and generally mimic a historical style of corsets, they have very little if any effect on the shape of the wearer's body. Genuine corsets are usually made by a corsetmaker and should be fitted to the individual wearer.Here is the list of craziest corsets.

Heavy Metal Corset

Happy Gilmore, y Everything old is new again. Maya Hansen's heavy metal themed corsets are a far cry from the straight-laced undergarments of the Victorian era. Featuring 'Kiss', 'Slayer', ‘Misfits', 'Iron Maiden' and 'Metallica', these corsets are definitely not your grandmother's underwear.

(Link | Via)
Beer Tab Corset

For the next time you're at Oktoberfest, the beer tab corset. It combines a lot of cool things: recycling, cute accessories, historical clothing and beer. (Link | Via)
Plastic Corset

This amazing corset is from Issey Miyakes 1980 Autumn/Winter collection, it is moulded from red plastic. (Link)

Super Mario Corset

Apparently somebody out there with a serious Mario fetish has decided to create a corset using his likeness. Overed with rare 1980s Super Mario Brothers fabric, this oddity was created by TheVintageDoctor. Complete with a lace-up back with metal grommets, Mario will help you keep your waistline in check in case you gobble down too many 1UP mushrooms. (Link | Via)
Piercing Corset

One of the newest trends in body modification comes in the form of corset piercings. They are a series of surface piercings arranged up the back in two vertical columns. The piercing is located in the spot where the eyelets would be if one was wearing a corset. It is a symmetrical piercing with an equal number of holes on each side. As few as four holes can be used (two on each side) up to as many as the expanse of skin will allow. (Link)

Star Wars Corset

The Dark Side has never looked so sexy! It's a Darth Vader corset. Besides the fantastic Star Wars Lord Vader mask print which looks to be from Revenge of the Sith, it has an alternating flames print fabric and it topped with a pair of polka dot ribbon bows (to show the softer side of the Force). A Star Wars corset with flames…wow. (Link)


Clock Corset

Be the center of attention at the next costume party you attend in this one of a kind ensemble created especially for the Norwescon 32 Fannish Fetish Fashion Show. Inspired by Pretty Alice from Harlan Ellison's classic story "'Repent Harlequin!' said the Ticktockman," the corset is made of three layers of fabric: a cotton coutil inner-lining for stability, a layer of micro corduroy for texture, and two-tone rust colored taffeta that has been torn in many places to allow the natural beauty of the bleach-distressed micro corduroy peek through.

The center of this corset is a sight to behold- A WORKING CLOCK adorns this piece surrounded by gears and elegant black pleated trim that also finishes the hem along with two small antiqued brass chain loops for decoration. The center front extends down to the knees, accentuated by a gigantic rusting tractor gear mounted on taffeta. (Link)

LED Corset

This outfit consists of a silver corset top with diagonal quilting detail. A grid of red, blue, green, and gold LEDs is embedded in the corset, and designed to fade and flash in a variety of patterns to suit your mood. (Link)

Star Trek Corset

What's more sexy than this Star Trek Corset ($200), from Etsy seller EveningArwen? It can be made in any of the Star Trek colors. (Link)

Darth Vader & Storm Trooper Corsets

California based costume and corset maker Evening Arwen has released a pair of fancy unlicensed corsets based on the costumes of Darth Vader ($600) and the Imperial Storm Troopers ($500). "No Galactic Ruler should been seen with a purse so we've provided you with storage compartments in your utility belt, suitable for holding the keys to your starship and your communication device. Only a swishy cape can make a grand entrance really grand so we've also attached one to the matching shrug. And to finish things off, we've also provided a pair of gauntlets that can fit over most regular sized dress gloves. " (Link | Via)

Corset T-Shirt

This design is inspired by all the girls that got their back pierced so they could pull a ribbon through. It looks sexy, so does this t-shirt, but it's a lot less painful. The ribbon is nice and purple and it stands out in a crowd, even around pierced people. (Link)



Half-Bust Corset

This Antiseptic Fashion's Hypsipyle leather corset ($600) is smoldering hot and only covers one breast for the adventurous, wow! (Link)

Beautiful Paper Sculpturing Artwork - Origami Paper Art

We’ve previously showcased some really cool paper sculpturing artwork; today we are going to show you another type of paper-related artwork. It is something we are all familiar with – Origami. Origami is an art of paper folding, and paper cranes are probably what we’ll thought of when it comes to origami.

Origami originates from Japan, and in Japanese, Ori means paper, and kami(gami) means folding. There are various types of Origami, respectively action, modular, wet-folding and pureland. Today, we are going to show you some of the best examples of these paper made wonders.
Here’s a showcase of 70 beautiful and creative origami created by fans all over the world. Full list after jump.
Grulla. Designed by Roman Diaz and Daniel Naranjo. Folded from 37*37cm MC treated tissue. (via Kekremsi)

Origami Jedi. Folded by Phillip West from a single uncut square. Modified from Satoshi Kamiya’s Wizard. (via PhillipWest)

Origami Tarantula. A really impressive model designed by Robert Lang, folded from a square of a tissue-foil paper. (via Rodrigo Zen)

Divine Dragon. Masterpieces of origami dragons, famous Bahamut – Divine Dragon by Satoshi Kamiya. Folded by Brian Chan. (via Chosetec)

Yoda Origami. Designed by Fumiaki Kawahata. Folded by Phillip West from Lokta sandpaper paper back coated to tissue paper. (via PhillipWest)

Ancient Dragon. Designed by Satoshi Kamiya. Wet folded from mulberry tissue 136×136cm. (via Mabona Origami)

Life Size Onitsuka Tiger. Created for Asics lounge in Berlin. This huge origami sculpture dimensions are: 270×110x60cm. (via Mabona Origami)

Praying Mantis (female). Designed and folded by Sipho Mabona. Wet folded form one uncut square of shikibu kizukishki kozo (handmade) colored with calligraphic ink. (via Mabona Origami)

Gryphon. Interesting and complex example of gryphon origami. Folded from two types of paper, which makes this a very furnace origami. (via Guspath)

Werewolf. Another great example of origami by Guspath. Folded from 50cm square golden foil paper. (via Guspath)

Little Bird. Sweet yellow bird. Designed by Kamiya Satoshi, folded by Sin cynic. (via Sin cynic)

Dedalus. Red statue of Daedalus. Designed and folded by Origamirizzo. (via Origamirizzo)

Mammoth. This model was folded from diagrams. Designed by Satoshi Kamiya. (via Finwych)

Ringed Tailed Lemur. Folded from MC treated black tissue. Designed and folded by Origami Roman. (via Origami Roman)

Vampire Bat. Vampire bat by Dao Cuong Quyet. Folded from 60cm square paper. (via Baldorigami)

Phoenix. Phoenix origami at the exhibition in Toronto Airport. Created by Chow Hin Chung, folded by Alex Yue (via Sftrajan)

Fox . Folded from CP in tanteidan magazine 119. (via KingOri)

Chimpance. Designed and folded by Tanaka Masashi, folded from CP. (via Alexori)

Water Buffalo. Designed by Nguyen Hung Cuong, folded by Sin cynic. (via Sin cynic)

Minotaur. Designed by Satoshi Kamiya, folded by Imperfekshun from 64×64 cm tissue foil. (via Imperfekshun)

Whale. Designed by Satoshi Kamiya, folded by Eric Madrigal from brown 40×40 cm paper with acrylic paints. (via Eric Madrigal)

Hermit Crab Origami. Folded by Brian Chan from a square of laminated Japanese mulberry paper. (via Chosetec)

Owl. Designed by Katsuta Kyohei. Origami size is 50×50 cm. (via Vetal Origami)

Reindeer. Designed by Katsuta Kyohei. Folded from brown paper. (via Vetal Origami)