Bamboo laptops

From: http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2009/02/bamboo-pcs-catc.html
(Also other bamboo products)
From: a friend on the wikieducator site

Quote:
"Today's use of bamboo in consumer electronics products is similar to how TVs were packaged in the 1950s and 1960s, with a wooden shell encasing the screen, says Bradley. "The original thought was that having a piece of technology in your living environment was disruptive," he says. Now as consumers make an attempt to go back to nature, they are looking for a similar design aesthetic."

Comment:
Making things look wooden is delicious.
Is it gimmiky?
They say the entire build process it 'green'
whatever that means.

Aesthetic: follow up #2

Discussion continues about the aesthetic for the home, which is a direction we need to think about before drawings can start. I think we're starting to find our way- the idea of a clean, fairly modern linear home with accents brought in from nature sounds very pleasing. Thoughts?

Things like the moss wall (part of the natural cooling/ heating system,) the moss bathmat, and this hanger posted above are all ways to create a very new and fresh look.

Aesthetic: follow up

I'm really digging the simplicity of these.

Modern or Traditional?

Lately, I've been thinking a bit about the aesthetics of the actual house itself. (Strange that this would be one of the later things I've considered, but up until now I've been so concerned with how it will function as a system. )

Thoughts:
Do we want a very streamlined modern aesthetic?

Or should we go more in the direction of a traditional home?

What I'm thinking is that many of the homes with a streamlined modern aesthetic have some of the same design issues as a computer. They look great all shiny and new, but once you get that first scratch, they're never the same. They aren't made to age gracefully.
They are also not very cozy or comforting, qualities which I think are important in a home.

On the other hand, the traditional aesthetic doesn't translate as well to the tiny home design. It looks... crowded, and gives the impression of disorganization.

I think that we need to find some happy medium. Simplicity is vital, but the ability for the user to adapt the home and "make it their own" is absolutely imperative.