A Tipi House
Earlier as I was looking at today’s feature house in our weekly series of unique and small homes, Martin glanced over my shoulder. ”Well that’s weirder than us living in a tire house,” he said. I think he’s right.
Continuing our unique home tour we’ve been doing every Monday, today’s home is a tipi – a “suburban tipi”. This tipi was designed by John Paananen when he wanted to see how well such an iconic piece of history could be incorporated into modern architectural designs. What do you think?
You can probably tell that this tipi was definitely not made of hides. It was constructed with pvc siding, polypropylene sheeting, engineered timber, and polycarbonate supports.
This 16-foot tall tipi had a diameter of 18 feet. The tipi was actually meant to supplement the existing house, much like the gorgeous Shepherds’ Huts we saw two weeks ago.
But unlike the Shepherds’ Huts, the suburban tipi idea just wasn’t that long lived. They tore it down a year ago when the tipi in modern society experiment ended. My guess is that the answer must have been no; the tipi didn’t fit. Then again, they didn’t build it next to our tire retaining walls.
So what do you think of the Suburban Tipi? Would you reach for the phone and call the building department the moment one of your neighbors started putting one up? Or would you be the one to put it up?!
August 17th, 2009 at 5:18 am
Well, I live in an evil HOA neighborhood where such a thing would never be approved, however, if it were, I’d definitely put up the clothesline I dream of instead of using drying racks. I definitely felt a little longing for the shepherds hut, but not this one.
August 17th, 2009 at 6:19 am
I would be the one to put it up – in my backyard – I LOVE this idea!
August 17th, 2009 at 7:04 am
I think it’s a wonderful alternative home….it just wouldn’t work for me because I have to have windows! I would applaud my neighbor for erecting one tho. I will take the sheperds hut, so I can have natural light and a vista of some kind.
August 17th, 2009 at 7:11 am
Sherry, I thought exactly the same thing about windows! They have such an impact on my entire day.
And Gretchen, I’ve heard about HOAs that are anti clotheslines. Does it make you crazy?
Katie
August 17th, 2009 at 8:19 am
It’s a little strange, but I don’t think I would mind it in my neighborhood. And my HOA is also anti-clotheslines!
August 17th, 2009 at 8:57 am
I have an evil HOA, too. But I like the idea of something unusual…but I’d probably put it in the backyard so as not to offend anyone. : )
August 17th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
RE: anti-clothesline. Here’s the thing that drives me ABSOLUTELY nuts about it… They forbid it UNLESS you can provide documentation from a doctor that you have a medical need to have your clothes dried outside. Now, we know that isn’t going to happen because you are more likely to have allergies because of the pollen that the clothes may pick up. Ah, but the aroma of fresh dried clothes on the line…. I dream of it.
August 17th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
I am plotting to figure out why you’d need a doctor’s note.
What if you need more Vitamin D, so the doctor says you need to spend more time outside when you do your routines? He says you stay inside too much. But you have to do dishes and laundry, right? So the dr nods and prescribes more sunshine… and line-hung clothes.
August 18th, 2009 at 4:17 am
Yeah, that might work except then the HOA would just tell me to mow my lawn more often and use up all of the gas in the darned mower…
August 18th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
I think the teepee of that size would be out of place in my neighbourhood. We have small 40 foot wide lots and it would take up a lot of a backyard. We don’t have an HOA but we do have city bylaws. A structure/shed in your yard cannot be anymore than 80 square feet.
August 20th, 2009 at 9:08 am
Well, I think it’s a cool idea, but I think I might put it someplace else. ;) ha!
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:54 am
well,I think it’s a great idea,but i think i might it some were else thankyouu.(: byeee.