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Space-Age Houses

An anonymous reader writes "The dream of building the Jetson's Skypad Apartment may come to true because technology designed for space could become the basis of the new German Antarctic station. The same ultra-light composites that ESA uses onboard its spacecraft for antennas and solar panels, will be used to make a self-supporting lightweight shell-like structure able to withstand severe earthquakes. This approach is in sharp contrast to many contemporary design solutions that use ever more steel and concrete..."

27 of 230 comments (clear)

  1. Space Age Refrigerator by teiresias · · Score: 5, Funny

    as long as my Space Age House has a Space Age refrigerator thats connected to the internet so it can order my groceries for me........

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    -Teiresias
    1. Re:Space Age Refrigerator by AKAImBatman · · Score: 4, Funny

      I've always wondered what you do if the elevator breaks.

      "Toss me down a rope Marsha!"

      "Not until you admit you were wrong!"

    2. Re:Space Age Refrigerator by linzeal · · Score: 5, Funny
      "If those damn kids hack into my fridge again and order me 30 gallons of cow vagina and lentil soup I'm going to kill them!"

      - Me, in 30 years.

  2. Space age? by vuvewux · · Score: 4, Funny

    Wasn't the 1960s the "space age"? If so, I live in a space age house!

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    1. Re:Space age? by Vengeance · · Score: 3, Funny

      Don't forget the avacado-color appliances.

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  3. Wow, Europe sounds great. by funny-jack · · Score: 4, Funny

    In its current design the SpaceHouse can withstand vibrations from earthquakes of up to 7 on the Richter scale, wind speeds of up to 220 km/h and up to 3 metres of flooding - specifications that came out of discussions with the insurance industry for a typical European location.

    Wha-aah? Wow, that backpacking trip through Europe is looking a lot less attractive than I thought. No wonder they tried so hard to discover new worlds!

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  4. the best feature... by mmmmmhotpants · · Score: 3, Funny

    All new SpaceHouses come with the band Kraftwerk.

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    1. Re:the best feature... by identity0 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Bah, that's better than that abandoned industrial site I bought in Germany, it came with Rammstein :P

  5. Space Tubes by Doesn't_Comment_Code · · Score: 4, Funny

    All I want in my space aged buildings is a pneumatic tube for transportation - like a big version of what they have at the bank. Need to go to work? Jump in the pod and push SEND. Want to go the store? Jump in the pod and push SEND. Convenient and fun.

    Give me that, and I can die happy.

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    1. Re:Space Tubes by maynard · · Score: 3, Funny

      All I want ... a pneumatic tube for transportation - like a big version of what they have at the bank."

      "Give me that, and I can die happy."

      As you most assuredly will, after exiting the tube at high speeds and smashing head first into a wall. I've seen Futurama and know the pitfalls. Be warned! --M

  6. Re:The structure, ok, but... by Vengeance · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'd imagine that the shaking would be rather similar to that experienced on open ground, or at least it would be on the ground floor of a small structure. As I understand it, the shaking may be disconcerting but not generally dangerous, as long as it's not shaking loose heavy things above you.

    Of course, if a huge crack opens in the earth, taking you to the Land of the Lost, all bets are off.

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    It was a joke! When you give me that look it was a joke.
  7. Insurance industry by Yokaze · · Score: 2, Funny

    In its current design the SpaceHouse can withstand earthquakes of up to 7 on the Richter scale, wind speeds of up to 220 km/h and up to 3 metres of flooding - specifications that came out of discussions with the insurance industry for a typical European location.


    It seems to me, living in a typical European location is a dangerous thing to do :).
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  8. Re:A problem I see. by Wireless+Joe · · Score: 4, Funny

    If it's really like the Jetson's house, you just press the button on the side of the couch, and it folds up like a briefcase. Then you just pick it up by it's handle, step onto the moving sidewalk and wait for the clear tube to suck you up into the living room.

  9. Re:What's cooler? by llevity · · Score: 4, Funny
    "Think about never having to pay an utility bill again!"

    I thought about this so much, I even tried it. It was great until they shut my power off.

  10. And of course the only music... by Samurai+Cat! · · Score: 1, Funny

    ...that should be played within:

    Esquivel's "Space Age Batchelor Pad Music"!

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  11. Re:Sounds perfect for Florida... by BerntB · · Score: 3, Funny
    RTFA - SpaceHouse can withstand [..] wind speeds of up to 220 km/h
    Sorry. I did read an article earlier today, but not that one. The one I read didn't say anything about wind speed.

    What nitwits voted my stupid article to 5, btw? :-)

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  12. Tsk, no imagination (Re:Space Tubes) by Aumaden · · Score: 2, Funny
    Tsk! Tsk I say!

    Where's your imagination?

    Pneumatic tubes? Pshaw!

    Matter transporters!

    "Scotty,2 Big Macs, large fries, and a chocolate shake to beam up!"

    Scotty: "Me transportters kenna stand the strain!"

  13. Meet George Jetson by MikeMacK · · Score: 2, Funny

    And they can get there in their flying cars. slashdot.org

  14. Re:Sounds perfect for Florida... by MalaclypseTheYounger · · Score: 3, Funny

    Granted, Hurricane Charley would've given this SpaceHouse a run for it's 'structural money' if this was in the path of that particular hurricane. 220km/h roughly 137.5mph, and Charley had windspeeds of 145mph, I believe.

    I wonder if this house flies through the air like a frisbee at those speeds. (It doesn't seem likely that it would be torn apart like normal houses are, it's too aerodynamic).

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  15. the ESA hard at work by j1mmy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Maybe they'll name this one the Beagle III. I hope the residents enjoy disappearing into the Martian wasteland.

  16. Re:The structure, ok, but... by Gojira+Shipi-Taro · · Score: 3, Funny

    You've just inadvertantly suggested a huge market in "aftermarket hydraulics" for these things.

    Low-rider Space Houses.

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  17. revolutionary thinking, indeed by karb · · Score: 2, Funny
    Scientist 1 : Can you think of any problems with residential housing that sits 15 feet in the air?

    Scientist 2 : Why, no! Brilliant! Maybe if humanity comes together we could build standard residential housing that sits hundreds of feet in the air for no reason!

    Scientist 1 and 2 : (imagine where they will make space in their office for the Nobel prizes)

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  18. Re:not for California by pjt33 · · Score: 2, Funny

    *does the currency conversion* About 350 quid for a house? I might consider moving to the US after all.

  19. Re:A problem I see. by thrillbert · · Score: 2, Funny

    As a ferniture deliverer I see a problem

    For just a second I read the above line and wondered how a /. reader could be a furniture delivery person... then I looked at his spelling..

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  20. Re:The structure, ok, but... by Beryllium+Sphere(tm) · · Score: 4, Funny

    You'd still need to strap down your water heater and bookshelves, yes. They aren't the biggest hazard. In fact the joke among seismic engineers is "Earthquakes don't kill people, buildings kill people".

  21. oblig. video game reference by LiquidMind · · Score: 4, Funny

    All your Antarctic spage-age house are belong to us.

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  22. Cow vagina and lentils by serutan · · Score: 2, Funny

    Rule 1: Never read Slashdot while you're eating.
    Rule 2: See rule 1.