Tuesday, September 15, 2009

The Recycled House

About 12 years ago, Dan Phillips started Phoenix Commotion, a construction business in his hometown, Huntsville, Tex., where he builds low-income housing out of salvaged items.
"You can't defy the laws of physics or building codes," Mr. Phillips said, "but beyond that, the possibilities are endless." Check out more from the New York Times slideshow on "Recycled Houses"

Salvaged wine corks, which are easy to come by, provide an inexpensive form of cork flooring. "We have some heavy drinkers in town," Mr. Phillips said.

Thousands of picture frame corners were used to create the ceiling at left. Mr. Phillips said, "A frame shop was getting rid of old samples and I was there waiting."

Mr. Phillips created a counter out of slices of osage orange wood, a ubiquitous material in East Texas that many builders find difficult to use.
Cattle bones are also used to form address numbers.

Broken tiles are brought together to make up a bathroom floor.

Mr. Phillips used old shingles, arranged by color, to build the roof of what he calls "the storybook house."


(via mint)