When I was a kid, I had this house I wanted, which would be high up off the ground, consist of a circular space, and include a single wrap-around window that spanned the entire structure. I had this idea that it would provide me with an excellent view on all sides, but the window would be fashioned in such a way that nobody would be able to see inside if I didn’t want them to.
Well, this guy named Jono Williams built my childhood dream house, and here it is:
Seriously, this may be just the coolest thing I have ever seen. Jono Williams, you are my hero.
It even has these super-cool futuristic rooftop lights. I imagine with the lights turned off, that rooftop would be a dream come true for stargazing.
Check out this shot looking up at the tower during the daytime. As you can see, the windows are totally opaque, and you cannot see inside.
The Helm—2-Story Container Home close to Magnolia Market
Here is a shot of the interior. As you can see, the view from inside is absolutely breathtaking! I can’t imagine how awesome it would be to fall asleep in that bed, feeling like you are quite literally on top of the world.
This photo gives you a pretty solid feel for the scale of the structure. As you can see, it is not all that large at all. Apparently there is a rope-and-pulley system inside the tower which allows you to get up and down. You can bring a backpack with you, but otherwise it is pretty hard to get supplies in and out.
Here is another nighttime shot featuring different lighting. I can’t believe how cool this thing looks!
Below is a fabulous photo of the interior at night. I can actually remember drawings of dwellings like these in a history textbook from high school. They were old retro-futurist visions from decades past—you know, that wonderful space-age future that never actually happened. Well, this guy made it happen in his backyard.
The lights, energy, doors, and even the beer dispenser can all be controlled through a custom app (yes, you can order the beer dispenser to pour you a drink using nothing but your voice):
The countryside around the sphere truly is gorgeous:
In case you are wondering, no, the sphere does not have a bathroom; at present that seems to be just about the only thing it is lacking (aside from a more convenient route in and out). Originally there was going to be a hydraulic lift, and there is room in the specifications to build one, but the structure was built on a $50,000 budget, so a few luxuries had to be skipped. Eventually an outhouse will be installed nearby.
Speaking of budgeting, this is an eco-friendly structure which doesn’t drain the energy grid. The entire thing is powered solely by sunlight. So those fancy lights, the television, the beer dispenser, and everything else inside are totally energy-efficient.
Jono looks very proud of himself, as he rightly should be. His creation is truly imaginative, as is the process through which he constructed it. Be sure to visit his website below to see photos of the construction process and more shots of the completed Skysphere.
Skysphere: http://www.theskysphere.com/
Very cool!