CasaSugar

Casa Verde: Hexayurt for Temporary Shelter

CasaSugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:00:32 -0700

I love to find examples of good design that's working for a good cause. In the case of designer Vinay Gupta's Hexayurt, those two elements are definitely present. The Hexayurt is, in Gupta's words, a "microbuilding." Gupta's design is a small, strong, and economic structure that can be erected in about two hours, and is made from easily accessible materials such as insulation board, plastic, and cardboard. The Hexayurt has a high R-value, which means that it is relatively comfortable in high and low temperatures.

Gupta's designs for the Hexayurt are in the public domain, which means that they are available for free download. While the Hexayurt was originally envisioned as a refugee shelter, it's recently gained popularity at campsites at the desert festival Burning Man.

To see a video explaining the Hexayurt, read more.

Source

Love It or Hate It? Sh*t Box

CasaSugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 06:15:00 -0700

The Sh*t Box ($30) is a lightweight cardboard toilet that packs flat for portability, made specifically for outdoor use. Whether you're heading to Burning Man or your ole porcelain toilet is broke, Sh*t's got you covered . . . and it can even be used as a stool (har har). Comes with 10 biodegradable poo bags! What do you think? Would you buy one? Use one? Could be cleaner than a Porta Potty!

100 Reasons to Get Rid of Stuff

CasaSugar — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 13:27:02 -0700

I have way too much stuff, and I know I'm not alone. Every weekend, it seems, I'm adding to a pile of clothes, books, and home decor I don't like anymore with the goal of hauling it off to Goodwill. So thanks to Unclutterer for pointing me to this massive list, originally published in Blueprint, called 100 Reasons to Get Rid of It.

There's really a wealth of information here, including shocking factoids and great online resources that will help you rid your life of clutter. Many of the "reasons" are charities in need of your donations, most of which I hadn't heard of before. I highly recommend reading the whole list, but here are 10 of my favorites:

People burn 55 minutes a day looking for things.
80 percent of what we own we never use.
Verizonwireless.com. Put a refurbished phone (of any brand) into the hands of a domestic violence victim.
help1up.org. Furnish homes for disaster victims.
dressforsuccess.org. Give interview and work clothing to disadvantaged women.
Around 23 percent of people pay late fees on bills they cannot find.
giftcardbuyback.com. Get cash for gift cards you'll never use.
The Bronx, New York, man who, in 2003, was trapped in his home under an avalanche of books and newspapers for two days before being rescued.
"Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." -William Morris
Swaporamarama.org. Attend nationwide clothing exchanges and do-it-yourself alteration workshops.