Forums > Specific Focus > Home, Garden & Construction in Mexico

Kip

Aug 30, 2003, 8:54 AM

Post #1 of 7 (3423 views)

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Most amazing homes!

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Jonna you are a wonder and a gem. I finally got around to looking at the website that you had posted and was awed and amazed. It was like stepping through the Looking Glass. I have never seen anything that imaginative. Who could ever have an unhappy thought living in a house like that. For structural strength and price they seemed to be very competitive. And his sculptures! Too amazing. This really isn't what Shoe and I were talking about. The Geodesic Domes are made with triangles bolted together. To my unschooled eye these are a cut waaaaaaaaay above. They just may be the answer. What do you think Shoe? Did you take a look?

Damn! Now I have to clean up the mess! I drooled all over my keyboard daydreaming about those houses!!

Kip
kip

sfmacaws

Aug 30, 2003, 6:48 PM

Post #2 of 7 (3383 views)

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Re: [Kip] Most amazing homes!

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Why ... thank you! I too loved the fantasy of the houses, very Gaudi like. What I most liked though is the thought that I could carve and swoosh and push and kind of mold a house exactly the way I wanted it because of the techniques he has come up with for working with concrete. I'm sure it isn't just him, I've seen some incredible stuff done on kitchens, bathrooms and floors in the US with sprayed on concrete. I just haven't seen it used to support great swooping roofs like that.

We were only in SMdA last year for NYE and NYD, we wanted to get off the road and decided to go there on our way to the US. It was really a fluke, we had to get to Calif quickly and unexpectedly but didn't want to drive on those 2 days. So, we stopped and had a wonderful time. We drove around the countryside a bit on the way to Dolores Hidalgo to shop and I was on the lookout for the houses. I didn't have time to ask around or go to the web page and see if there were better directions.

This year we are planning on spending a couple of weeks in SMdA on our way south. On top of my list of things to see are these houses. I don't intend to go knocking on their doors but just to locate them and sit alongside the road with binoculars. Guess that could get me an invite somewhere?

Glad you enjoyed them,

Jonna

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

Kip

Aug 30, 2003, 8:43 PM

Post #3 of 7 (3362 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] Most amazing homes!

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Hi,

I don't think that those houses are sprayed on concrete, although that sounds cool too. I've written him to see If I can get more information. I also asked him if he has anything going on that we could go watch him create. I would love that., I just bought a "how to" work in concrete book to make different sculptures and pots for the yard. I thought it was a great book with interesting projects until I saw Steve's work. Oh well, I guess it's a start.

Kip
kip

sfmacaws

Aug 30, 2003, 9:05 PM

Post #4 of 7 (3356 views)

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Re: [Kip] Most amazing homes!

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Quote

I don't think that those houses are sprayed on concrete,

No, I believe they are poured concrete. The look of sprayed concrete can be similar in inside rooms, that's all I meant.

Jonna

Kip

Aug 30, 2003, 9:17 PM

Post #5 of 7 (3354 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] Most amazing homes!

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I wonder how they compare pricewise? They have some houses for sale at Lakeside that have the rounded kitchens and nicely flowing walls. Very pretty , not as fanciful as the ones in SMA, but very pretty. I wonder if they were the spray on? I can't remember which real estate company had them listed but they had them advertised on the internet.

Kip
kip

Rolly / Moderator

Aug 31, 2003, 6:30 AM

Post #6 of 7 (3335 views)

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Re: [Kip] Most amazing homes!

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For those who don't know what the ladies are talking about, click here to see the concrete works:

http://www.geocities.com/...ngconcrete/index.htm

Rolly Pirate

shoe

Aug 31, 2003, 8:59 AM

Post #7 of 7 (3316 views)

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Re: [Kip] Most amazing homes!

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Kip, yes I looked at the site a lot and think the houses are very nice. This guy is doing some neat houses. Now I don't know if they have the strength of a Dome as the framing isn't the same. There isn't going to be any give to this structure that I can see. Now the price is great I think. I don't think that you can beat it period. You won't put up a dome for the price or at least I don't think so. Just pick a dome kit price from one of the suppliers that you know about and then ask for a price for a simiar structure from this guy. Just a estimate. That should give you an idea. Remember that you have to ship the kit here. That will be costly plus the duty probably.

Just a thought or two.

shoe

Nothing is intrinsically good or evil, but its manner of usage may make it so.
-St. Thomas Aquinas