sens8shun.com

The art of folding paper into beautifully intricate shapes is intrinsically tied to Japanese culture in my mind. Hear the word origami, and immediately think of the quintessential crane - you know the one, no need to provide a picture

Richard Sweeney out of the UK is pushing and pulling paper in an entirely different direction. Admittedly, his work owes as much to structural design and architecture as it does origami (likely more), but his creations elicit a similar feeling - awe, at the elegance and seeming impossibility of the creations.

Truly amazing work…

Website, Flickr Set and full Flickr Stream.

Considerably more ambitious than the standard plywood sheet nailed to a strong branch, no? An inspired designer on Vancouver Island is manufacturing these candy-like orbs of sitka spruce…

Aesthetically, somewhere between Sid Mead’s work on 2001 and the forest moon of Endor, these spheres are certainly visually striking. The high end Eryn models are crafted from bent laminated spruce wood that is layered with woven fiberglass, covered in epoxy and finished with luxuries like a cast bronze door, and the trappings of a motel kitchenette. For the budget minded, a cast fiberglass version is available sans amenities.

Speaking of budget, expect to part with $150,000 to live amongst the trees in luxury, or $45,000 if you’re not keeping up with the Jones’. Seems expensive until you consider real estate prices in LA. Although with a 126″ diameter, when you consider square footage - that probably is LA prices… Better still for $150 a night ($275 for 2 nights), the Eryn Sphere is about as much as decent hotel room - with a better view.

Free Spirit Spheres