1980’s: Xanadu House of the Future
History
Xanadu were a series of houses built in the USA in the 1980’s to showcase the experimental technologies and home automation solutions, ergonomics, usability, and energy efficiency. House automation was managed by a system of Commodore computers. Xanadu House of the Future in Kissimmee, Florida was opened to the public viewing in 1983. It was one of the three houses of the future, the other two were located in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, and in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
In the 1990’s the popularity of the Xanadu houses declined, and they fell in disrepair. Xanadu House in Kissimmee was demolished in 2005.
Designed by
Roy Mason was the lead architect, and Bob Masters was the main designer.
Dimensions
Area: 560 m2
Materials
Large plastic balloons were sprayed with fast-hardening polyurethane foam, thus creating the structures of the house.
Elements and Principles
Form is the main Element, and Asymmetrical Balance is the governing Principle of the design if this Xanadu house. The 3-dimensional rounded forms of the house are arranged in a modern asymmetrical balance, giving the house a futuristic feel.
Manufactured by
Bob Masters and Tom Gussel
Used by Designers
There are two distinctively different and separate aspects of the Xanasu houses: blob architecture and home automation. Blob architecture has had its followers but mainly in large-scale commercial buildings that are built to impress.
Home automation is still ahead of us, but it is coming soon. More and more newly built homes are managed by WiFi, mobile and internet connected devices.
Contemporary interpretations and influences
Cheap balloon homes never became a reality. Their construction methods proved too fragile to withstand decades as would be expected of homes.
In 2015 home automation hasn’t become mainstream yet. Who would have thought 30 years later the Xanadu solutions would still remain innovative and not available as default options with newly-built homes? However, more and more offers are coming to the market and, let’s hope, soon we will be able to enjoy significant home automation, similar to what was dreamed in Xanadu Homes of the Future.
Resources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanadu_Houses
https://dbvintage.wordpress.com/tag/abandoned-florida/
http://weburbanist.com/2010/08/08/blobitecture-11-cool-ways-architecture-gets-a-round/
http://www.archdaily.com/156292/ad-classics-xanadu-house-roy-mason/xanaduint6/
