Tardigrade House

The Tardigrade House, located in Berkeley (CA), immediately catches the eye with its biomorphic forms, further emphasized by relatively traditional, rectilinear homes in close proximity. Based on a tardigrade, an indestructible, microscopic critter that can survive in extreme conditions, this home is designed to withstand anything that might come its way. Constructed of recycled Styrofoam and cement blocks reinforced with concrete and steel into a relatively lightweight but stable lattice structure the house is, according to the designer who built it for his parents, waterproof, termite-proof, virtually impervious to fire and very earthquake-resistant.

While generally known locally as the "Fish House", the actual name is "Ojo Del Sol" or ("The Sun's Eye"). This refers to the 15 ft. south-facing, "eye-like" window that provides light and heat to the sunken rotunda living area where it radiates to adjoining spaces. Personally, I like passive solar design wherein solar heat (and natural light) initially strike a shared common area where people can congregate before radiating outwards to personal living spaces.

Eugene Tsui, the home's designer, clearly understands that nature with its time-tested engineering can effectively drive both form and function. In addition to the inextinguishable tardigrade, the Fish House design also apparently leverages nature's blueprints for the skeleton of the Cholla cactus, bone and capillary structures from a pair of dinosaurs (Stegosaurus and Dimetrodon), as well as seagull bone structure. Go here for more info and images.