3D model of bedroom

Yay! Sketchup is actually easier to use than I'd expected. Yesterday I managed to create a 3D model of the bedroom & dressing room area for Amherst. Below are a few screenshots and you can see more here:







I'm so glad I did it because the roof shape from inside looks nothing like what I'd expected from seeing the 2D drawings. I'd been thinking that the bedroom would feel cavernous and the angles would be too sharp, but seeing it now I really really like it.

The only thing I don't like in this section is the dressing room, because it feels more like a walk-in closet rather than a room. It's also too small. I've already altered it slightly, by taking off the lowered ceiling that Eric had drawn in which helps a little but it's still not ideal.

the radiator is on sale

A year ago I wrote about this incredible radiator I'd found.



This week I got an email from Joris to say an electric version is now on sale to consumers, with a central heating version coming soon too. If you're interested in it, you can contact joris via email. The only bad thing about it is the price.

Now, you have to not think of it as a radiator.
You have to think of it as a work of art.
A work of art that was bought by several design museums and won lots of awards.


Take a deep breath.


The price is 3,950 Euros. That's around US$5000.

To put it into perspective. That's the price of a week long holiday for two somewhere nice in the Maldives or Caribbean. Or, in Amherst terms, about the same price as the sewage treatment system is likely to cost.

I'm in sticker shock. So is Dave. It is a magnificent thing, something to treasure, both functional and beautiful. I just wish it was cheaper.

entering the world of 3D

Right, it's been way too long, yet again, since I posted. We've got a long weekend here in the UK so I'm going to try and catch up.

Nothing much has happened in terms of planning. I started writing up some feedback, which I'll resurrect later, but it became apparent that I was never going to be able to fully be confident without seeing a 3D version. Because, I'm really worried about the shape of the ceilings in the upstairs part. Being practical, we therefore decided to make a 3D version. It's proving easier said than done.

The first thing I tried, which I may yet continue with, was to join SecondLife. This is a virtual world thingy that seems to be on the verge of major growth (e.g., the BBC of all people simulcast a music festival there a few weeks ago)... and it has apparently got really cool tools for letting you build things. Like houses. Like furniture. I had the idea of building a replica of Amherst there, not only so we could have a 3D version to check we were happy with the architectural design, but then so I could play around with interior decorating etc before committing to real money.

I know, I know. It's pretty way out.

Then I discovered Google SketchUp which lets you superimpose your sketches onto the real world via Google Earth. Well, how amazing would that be... it'd be like building Amherst but one step closer to real-life. (Forget for a minute that Google Earth's pictures of Amherst are currently stupidly fuzzy).

For the moment, we're going down the SketchUp route. Dave is leading, his goal is to build a replica of the bedroom area, complete with ceiling, in the next week. Let's see what happens. I'm still occasionally dropping into SecondLife. I found it jaw-droppingly surprising, the vividness and flexibility (which of course makes it complicated too), but it's quite intriguing nonetheless.