80s "Xanadu" Futuristic Homes Now All Gone
"68g.1509" <[email protected]> Wed, 21 Feb 2024 20:15:03 -0500
| Newsgroups | talk.politics.misc,soc.culture.usa,alt.construction |
|---|---|
| Organization | FF0000 aeon |
| Message-ID | <[email protected]> |
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13110535/Do-Xanadu-Houses-series-early-computerised-houses-built-survive.html The Xanadu Houses were experimental homes designed to showcase new building technology and automation in the home. They were built in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin; Kissimmee, Florida; and Gatlinburg, Tennessee. None survive. Xanadu was the brainchild of Bob Masters, a pioneer of rigid insulation as a building material. He created a system of giant balloons covered with polyurethane foam, which was then allowed to harden, forming a series of domed structures. The rooms were controlled by Commodore computers. The kitchen featured an 'autochef', an electronic dietitian that planned and produced balanced meals and featured concepts such as teleshopping, CCTV and a health-monitoring system. Unfortunately, these ideas were way ahead of the technology, leaving visitors unimpressed. . . . The Commodore-64 didn't even come out until 1982, so these must have been the PET, mostly text-based, computers. Still seemed "futuristic" in the early 80s though. The odd-looking foam-over-mesh construction really ain't bad. They're fairly strong, although you have to be careful about the exact foam mix or they'll stiffen and turn to powder after awhile. Sprayed concrete over mesh is the more modern solution. Dome-shaped, extensible, homes DO look weird, but they ARE viable and fairly cheap/quick to do. Worth another look in these days of super-expensive housing.