So what could I possibly complain about with this little gem? Only this: I once owned a geodesic dome with doors and windows installed in sloping walls, and they leak. That’s why buildings have roof overhangs, why windows and doors are inset and have trim. That door, with its double hinges, is going to be hard to lock and harder to seal. The shape is gorgeous but it is technically a huge problem. My dome had a sloping door like that; the first time I opened it, while carrying my baby daughter, the waterlogged door came off its hinges and clonked me on the head. There are reasons wood buildings have evolved the way they have.

This thing is either going to leak, or it is going to be impossibly expensive. And then it will take a little longer to leak.

There are other issues; Bucky Fuller might point out that the tetrahedron encloses the least volume per unit of surface area. Or that municipalities with limits on floor area measure the overall footprint, whereas what matters to a human being is the headprint, how much room is there to stand up in.

Preston raises a serious issue; are we cheerleaders or critics? I don’t know anymore.By Lloyd Alter

The Cloud, part art installation, part functioning hotel, is the work of art group Zebra3/Buy-Sellf, based on a concept by urban workshop Bruit du Frigo (whose name means “Refrigerator Noise”). Sitting the west bank of the lake outside Bordeaux, it is open to the public until October 31. And it’s free, you just need to make a reservation via Facebook.

The interior of the cloud is sparse but cozy; guests sleep in bunk beds. And that’s a good thing- nestled on the shores of a gorgeous lake, there’s no reason to spend any more time inside than necessary. A minimal impact, thought-provoking design, the Cloud just shot the top of my list of vacation destinations.

More photos at Flodeau.

By Alex Davies.

It’s designed by Hybrid Architecture of Seattle, who have been doing shipping container architecture for years, calling it Cargotecture. and have it down to a science. They are insulated with soy foam, have bamboo flooring and a tiny boat-like bathroom. The C 192 will retail for $59,500, or $309 per square foot, which will no doubt be a cause for complaint. But as I have noted before, small houses cost more per square foot than big ones.

The architects describe the virtues of shipping container architecture:

“The utilization of off-site fabrication technology allows for evocative solutions to complex programmatic restraints. Ultimately, HyBrid is interested in maximizing efficiency, whether that be in time, money or natural resources.”

But ultimately, an eight foot box is really narrow. Blowing out the side for a big glass opening makes a big difference in the feel of it.

Thousands of people see the homes at the Sunset Celebration; it really was key to the launch of modern prefab. We will see if it also takes container architecture mainstream.

Meet the architects on Sunset Magazine.

By Lloyd Alter.