Photo by feserc

The Hang Nga Guest House in Dalat, Vietnam is a truly amazing place.  Hang Nga, the architect and proprietor, is PhD graduate of Moscow State University, and you can certainly see a little bit of Russian influence in parts of one of the sides of the house.  Most of the house, however, defies classification.

Built into a tree, the house is mostly carved wood covered in concrete.  Animal visages with burning red eyes stare at you as you make your way through the twists and turns of this very unconventional structure.  Hang Nga, the daughter of the former leader of Vietnam, has faced a little bit of opposition.  In fact, an earlier structure was torn down for being anti-socialist.

One things is for certain – in a French-endowed, Swiss-influenced town in Vietnam, Hang Nga’s Guest House is an anomaly.  The “house” part of the house (meaning the only part that even remotely resembles at house) shows some of that old-world French-influenced something-or-another, but all in all it is as if the house was born out of a warped environmental fever dream.

The term “earthship” is a bit of an overstatement. The name connotes an earthen vessel which slowly creeps over the sea or air, perhaps carrying with it a crew representing earth’s only hope. The reality, while cool, is not nearly that cool.

The earthships of reality are made by Earthship Biotecture of Taos, New Mexico and they’re a bit different than your normal house. If green is a trend, earthships are the trend setters. Earthships don’t typically come equipped with things like heating and air conditioning, choosing instead to rely on passive solar technology and recycled tires to control the internal environments.

Many earthships are also built off the grid, using water recycling systems and generating their own electricity through solar and wind harnessing technology. And they look like they’d fit in just fine on Tatooine. I know, that’s two Star Wars references in as many posts. Anyone else sensing a trend here?

Esterel at Theoile-sur-Mer is a red rock gem in the South of France.  The waters are the deepest turquoise.  The white sand beaches are immaculate.  And on the hill overlooking this beauty lies a literally bubbling landscape of architectural heaven.

We say architectural, but Antti Lovag, the designer of this and two other “bubble houses”, doesn’t exactly consider himself to be an architect in the sense that he designs traditional buildings.  He calls himself a habitalogue, one who studies how to best construct a space for humans to live in.  He doesn’t understand why humans have been content to live in cubes “full of dead ends and angles that impede our movement and break our harmony.”  He calls the straight line “an aggression against nature.

One glimpse at the Palais Bulles (French for “Bubble Castle”) and you know Lovag means business.  Famous designed Pierre Cardin totally dug Lovag’s vision and commissioned him to build this Palais Bulles for him in the seventies.  It took until 1989 to complete, but the finished product is unlike anything you’ve ever seen.  It sprawls over the red rocky hills of Theoule-sur-Mer and boasts one of the most luxurious interiors of any residence in the South of France.

The main living space, where Cardin himself resides, features a reception area, 2 kitchens, about 10 guest suites, and a panoramic boudoir with a view of the Bay of Theolue-sur-Mer, among other luxuries.  The estate also has 3 sizeable apartments, 3 studio apartments, and a later addition of a large independent office with a workshop, plus a safe house for emergencies.  The interior spaces are beautiful and functional, with furniture built into the curves of the rooms to allow for a flow and atmosphere unlike any other.

The palace also has a large amphitheater which holds 500 people.  Cardin occasionally rents it out for public functions, and has said that his Palace of Bubbles is a future museum.  He certainly doesn’t mind showing it off, and why would he?  The inside décor is absolutely awesome, and you can pretend the red bumps of structure out on the coastline doesn’t look like some sort of rash.  Oops, did I just write that out loud?

Photo by Jennifer May for The New York Times

According to the New York Times article, the owner of this early 19th century farmhouse purchased it knowing fully well how close it sits to train tracks. The poor location apparently drove down the price of the house, a boon in an already down housing market. However, upon viewing this dramatic photo, I have to wonder, did the new owner realize just how close that really is?

[Source]

Post by Accent Building Products, Venting Skylights

Richard Branson famously bought his very own island paradise back in 1978 in none other than the British Virgin Isles (where else!). He was yet to turn 30 when he became lord and master of this exotic Caribbean location.

Not a bad view especially when you know it’s all your own!

No need to be smug about your huge paradise island Richard!

So I have to be a Billionaire?

Not quite, but not far off. For equatorial retreats you’ll be faced with a price list in the millions, but if you are willing to think of temporary relocations, then there are islands which do meet a slightly more modest budget. There are some really attractive locations off Canada, for example, which would suit long summer breaks but may be a little uninhabitable come winter. Canada is quite a good country to look at with its multitude of lakes and islands: there’s no doubt that availability lessens the price. Size-wise, Canadian islands sell for around one third of the price of an American island or as little as one tenth of a Caribbean island.

While I merrily regale you with lines from ‘Robinson Crusoe’, the desert island may not be what you want. After all, desert island actually implies it’s deserted; not hot and sandy with camels roaming around. If you want undeveloped islands they can be cheaper but sometimes a bit of civilization is desirable. Some islands are available with their own residential or recreational buildings as well as those little luxuries such as power and mobile phone masts.

What’s the process?

In principle it’s not that different from buying any other kind of property. There are several businesses that have islands on their books so a good first port of call would be to contact them directly. Unlike your typical house hunting, it’s not as straightforward to drive over and have a look around the neighbourhood. As with the housing market, it is possible to rent an island instead of buying.

I’ve selected some of the latest offerings for you to consider. At the time of writing (August 2011) these were all still on the market.

Chumbe Island Coral Park, Tanzania

Just off the coast of East Africa, nestled in the romantic spice islands of Zanzibar, lies this gorgeous island. With awards for ecology and conservation this island is a treasure for snorkelers who can marvel at four hundred species of fish and marine life including hawksbill turtles, parrotfish and blue spotted stingrays.

The reef tracks off the beach and its clear waters never exceed three metres in depth. Passed the deepwater drop off, the lucky owner will witness migrating dolphins and the occasional humpback whale. These properties are currently available for renting – a good way to judge if the lifestyle is for you. Would you like to live in a house like this?

Halfcrown Island, Quebec

On the Thirty-One Mile Lake, a scenic 90 minute drive north from Canada’s capital, Ottawa, lies Halfcrown Island. This glacial lake is some 200 feet deep in places and is ideal for divers and swimmers. This is ideal for nautical-minded families and is ideal for long summer breaks rounded off by staggering autumnal colours before the harsh winter sets in.

Access is by boat only and in winter the thick ice makes entry impossible. The island is too small to be self sufficient but within 20 miles there are the towns of Maniwaki and Gracefield that have markets with local produce including cereal and fruit. For me, part of the appeal is watching the eerie mists roll in making the island very atmospheric.

Palawan Archipelago, The Philippines

The archipelago consists of some 1,780 islands in the South China Sea. If you’re after what ‘Islands Magazine’ calls ‘the next property hotspot’ then you’ll need to get $8 million from your bank manager to buy a piece of it. Thanks to some intelligent legislation by the Philippines’ government, the waters are free from rubbish. Here you can buy parts of the island developments. These include luxury villas with up to 10,800 sq. feet of land. If you are after a bit of civilization, the islands can be outfitted with restaurants, shops and sports facilities.

Island buying is often an instance of first-come-first-served. Over the last few years a number of desirable islands have been snapped up by the wealthy. Here is a small selection of my favourites and how much they eventually went for.

St Athanasios Island, Greece

 Sale Price: €1.5m/$2,035,965.09

The contrast between the deep blues of the Mediterranean and the stark volcanic rocks of the island attracts the creative and the spiritual. Situated in the Gulf of Corinth the lucky owner would has spectacular views of Mt. Delphi, the legendary home of the eponymous Oracle. From the air it bears an unusual resemblance to images of nebulae taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.

At 2.5 acres, St. Athanasios Island is just 1.5 miles away from Itea, a small town that boasts a school, church, post office, a few banks, hotels, pubs, and restaurants.

Black’s Island, Florida

Sale Price: $46m

Allegedly named after infamous pirate, Captain ‘Black Sam’ Samuel Bellamy, local lore has this island as his base of operations. Black’s own ship sank off a sandbar and his treasure-laden vessel was lost off the coast. The new owner may be looking for that gold to this very day…

Seriously though this large island has been over-developed in my opinion but it’s probably only part of the new owner’s property investment portfolio. More than likely it’s solely used for a holiday lettings.

Katafanga Island Resort, Fiji

Sale Price: $25m

This gorgeous 225 acre island is set to be a major holiday letting destination. The owner’s plans include upwards of ten luxury villas, a marina and an executive golf course.

Phuket Island, Thailand

 Sale Price $7.96m

This mountainous island of 14 acres and a rugged coastline is a bit of a departure from the stereotypical desert island but, for me, it’s one of the most exciting places to explore and investigate. If it’s been bought as a personal retreat I’m suitably envious. The elevations and expanse of flat beach, however, does lend it to extensive letting development.

Charles Island, Bahamas

 Sale Price: $39m

Supposedly the location of the fabled ‘Fountain of Youth’, Charles Island is sure to give its new proprietor a new lease of life thanks to the exotic surroundings and gentle lapping waters.

Diamond Cay, Honduras

 Sale Price: $650k

If swimming around the Great Maya coral reefs in a cerulean sea is your thing then you really need to buy an island like Diamond Cay. You could take part in ecologically friendly deep sea and flats fishing or just celebrate the unique marine life off its coast by snorkelling and diving.

Horse Island, Connecticut

Sale Price: $2.5m

Not all the best islands have to be big and sundrenched. This small island is great for short getaways. It has some privacy and close proximity to local amenities that make it an attractive proposition for weekend breaks and sailing.

And finally…

Just because these islands look idyllic and tranquil they are still as vulnerable to nature as anywhere else. Tsunami and cyclones need to be considered and, if you take the long view, global warming might make your island into little more than a stepping stone. Being away from civilisation does have its drawbacks when you may need access to the emergency services. August 22nd 2011 witnessed the ravages of a lightning-caused fire that decimated Richard Branson’s home on Necker Island. Mercifully, everyone escaped with their lives.

Guest blogger, Greg Coltman, writes prolifically for tourist and travel blogs. He would love nothing better than to own a rugged island far from the madding crowd’s ignoble strife.

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It may not be the prettiest thing on the outside, but these dome-shaped eco-friendly houses sure are pretty on the inside.  Plus, they are great if you want to live in an environmentally friendly house that turns on a dime.

Well, not on a dime.  It actually has this little engine inside that rotates it, but hey!  It rotates!  Not only awesome for taking advantage of the light and solar energy, but also wicked fun for dance parties.  OK, maybe not, but it’s still pretty neat that you can turn your house so that certain windows face the sun at certain times.  Great if you’re trying to soak up your Vitamin D, cure jaundice, or avoid showing all your guests Mrs. Roberts’ proclivity for nude sunbathing during your daughter’s baby shower.  All big pluses; plus did I mention that it’s environmentally friendly?

Here’s how.  The inside is made from laminated wood beams, while the outside is shingled with red cedar.  No metal, it’s all just sort of glued together in a really sturdy way.  The insulation is made from raw cork, which is a very catchwordy, green-thing-of-the-moment type of material.

These Domespaces originated in (where else?) France, but you can buy one here from a company called Solaleya.  They’ve got different sizes to choose from, but unfortunately not different speeds to choose from.  The houses turn very slowly.  Not fast like a carnival ride.  So what’s the point?  Oh yeah.  The environment.

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This house sure is a doozy, or at least the fall from it is. The archway at the bottom, while sacrificing some stability, is a nice touch. Do you think that the designer of this house likes roofs? As if this house needed to be more top-heavy. My real question is: Where is the electricity coming from to operate that lift? I imagine that it would be a little windy all the way up there. A great little detail that just proves the amazing things people can do with photoshop these days.

I can’t think of a more precarious setting than what’s going on here. Doesn’t it seem that eventually, due to weathering and whatnot, that the gap would keep widening until the house fell through? At least they don’t need a security system or apparently a door for that matter. I just can’t stop wondering where that ladder is coming from…

Moonrise at Moonhole is at first glance an ominous building that is located on the Southern tip of Bequai, an island belonging to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.  Overall, St. Vincent and the Grenadines fit most people’s paradigms of Caribbean paradise.  They boast white sand beaches, palm trees, friendly locals, and periodic tropical squalls.  Most lodging is congruent with a tropical paradise setting, and many people stay aboard sailboats.

However, Moonrise resembles a medieval-type of creation rather than a tropical retreat.  Most cab drivers do not know how to get there.  Moonrise was built by Mr. Poisson, a man who had spontaneously left his wife and children in Ohio to seek something different.  He built Moonrise to complete his quest of self-discovery.  Along the way, he met a local woman who he hired as his personal assistant.  She has remained the house’s caretaker since his death.  Instead of Mr. Poisson’s permanent residence, Moonrise has since become a vacation rental.

Moonrise had been built upwards, presumably at a very slow rate due to its secluded location.  It has numerous levels, the last of which appears unfinished.  Given that almost all inclement weather comes from the East on Bequia, the West side of the house has been left completely open.  The views from the upper levels are unparalleled, thus making the house a somewhat interesting juxtaposition of the intriguing, scary, and beautiful.    Moonrise represents a different take on a Caribbean home, or a tribute to the dreams and memory of Mr. Poisson.