Berkeley, California: Tsui Fish House
The scales will fall from your eyes after you've seen this eclectic private home. Built in 1995 by architect Eugene Tsui, who says it's one of the world's safest dwellings. And inspired by a tardigrade (aka a waterbear, a tiny alien-looking animal).
- Address:
- 2747 Mathews St., Berkeley, CA
- Directions:
- Mathews Street between Ward and Oregon. Private residence. Best seen in daylight.
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Definitely worth going off the highway to find this house. It was very very cool.
[Kelly, 06/14/2010]
You don't see it coming as you drive down Mathews Street in Berkeley. Then, there it is. A house that looks like a fish. I read somewhere that it was actually built in the image of a tardigrade -- a microscopic marine animal.
Built from things like recycled styrofoam and cement blocks, it's supposedly waterproof, fireproof, and resistant to earthquakes and sound. Apparently there's a second floor below street level but no stairs inside -- only ramps. Also, I heard its structures employ solar power and other green practices -- like the fish eyes help heat the place.
Very neat architectural find. But the kids will like it too. Because it's a house! Shaped like a fish!
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