Well, this is a bit of fresh air, especially with tween news like Baby-Faced Boy Alfie Patten Is Dad At 13.
12-year-old Max Wallack stole the show at Design Squad’s Trash to Treasure contest with his “Home Dome.” The contest asked kids to repurpose trash into practical inventions.
I wonder if the Home Dome gets an honorable LEED Certification?
The dome provides shelter for the homeless and is made from plastic, wire, packing peanuts, and flargstin. Pretty much, trash.
The trash-plex looks like a Mongolian yurt, and let Max walk away with $10,000 and a Dell laptop. He also got a trip to Boston out of it. But Max had this to say, “I don’t really care about the money. I care about helping people.”
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This isn’t his first big win. “When I was six,” Max said, “I won an invention contest that included a trip to Chicago. While there, I saw homeless people living on streets, and beneath highways and underpasses. I felt very sorry for these people, and ever since then, felt that my goal and obligation was to find a way to help them. My invention improves the living conditions for homeless people, refugees, or disaster victims by giving them easy-to-assemble shelter.”
Go Max! We all look forward to your future inventions.
Source and Photo: thedesignblog.org
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The American Dream as we know it dies with the dwindling cheap oil in Saudi Arabia, where it was born, and mind bending sociological paradigm shifts creep over America and warp it into the twenty-first century, like an unwilling child, forced to finally grow up! The environmental issues we will face, when trying to survive without cheap oil will make us weep for our present foolishness, as we will be forced to eat tainted food, drink poisoned water, till salted fields, and shit in bags to get enough topsoil from humanure to plant a veggie garden beside our shanties to make up for the beautiful land we paved over.There are no free rides, and this generation and generations to come will pay for past sins. We have over-reached Mother natures tolerance using cheap oil and we are in for a comeuppance of enormous proportions – we will get our asses kicked hard and soon!
The American Dream as we know it dies with the dwindling cheap oil in Saudi Arabia, where it was born, and mind bending sociological paradigm shifts creep over America and warp it into the twenty-first century, like an unwilling child, forced to finally grow up! The environmental issues we will face, when trying to survive without cheap oil will make us weep for our present foolishness, as we will be forced to eat tainted food, drink poisoned water, till salted fields, and shit in bags to get enough topsoil from humanure to plant a veggie garden beside our shanties to make up for the beautiful land we paved over.There are no free rides, and this generation and generations to come will pay for past sins. We have over-reached Mother natures tolerance using cheap oil and we are in for a comeuppance of enormous proportions – we will get our asses kicked hard and soon!
Have to agree with the fire hazard comment though – need an organizational way to prevent that from happening and make sure people understand risks. Tents burn all the time but they are still sold. Why should this be any different? No shame needed.
Have to agree with the fire hazard comment though – need an organizational way to prevent that from happening and make sure people understand risks. Tents burn all the time but they are still sold. Why should this be any different? No shame needed.
My hat is off to you Max! I work for a mission for the homeless and at least you care enough about this growing number of people in the US. Fortunately I am not on the street, but I did have a son that died on the streets of Portland and it would have been so wonderful to know that he had one of your “homes” to live under rather than out on the street in the rain, snow, sleet and mud. I thank you from the botoom of my heart that at your young age that you would be so brave and thoughtful to think of others. You are an outstanding young man!
My hat is off to you Max! I work for a mission for the homeless and at least you care enough about this growing number of people in the US. Fortunately I am not on the street, but I did have a son that died on the streets of Portland and it would have been so wonderful to know that he had one of your “homes” to live under rather than out on the street in the rain, snow, sleet and mud. I thank you from the botoom of my heart that at your young age that you would be so brave and thoughtful to think of others. You are an outstanding young man!
Are you seriously whining about how this house was built?
Don’t you have more important things to tackle, like say maybe going on a diet?
ManBearPig alert!!!!!
On a side note, I would have posted more politely but your little article reeks of snobbery so blah.
Are you seriously whining about how this house was built?
Don’t you have more important things to tackle, like say maybe going on a diet?
ManBearPig alert!!!!!
On a side note, I would have posted more politely but your little article reeks of snobbery so blah.
Joe Smith why don’t you worry about your own weight. Ignorant jerk…
Joe Smith why don’t you worry about your own weight. Ignorant jerk…
I think this young man is so very smart and creative. He also has compassion. I read a critism that it was dangerous. Well maybe the one who wrote that comment could work with this young man instead of being negative and help find an alternative. Has the reader who critized Max created something better? I doubt it. You are one in a million Max.
I think this young man is so very smart and creative. He also has compassion. I read a critism that it was dangerous. Well maybe the one who wrote that comment could work with this young man instead of being negative and help find an alternative. Has the reader who critized Max created something better? I doubt it. You are one in a million Max.
Kameron C Cayce II , don’t be IGNORANT! Have you actually been to “much of the world”? Try going somewhere like India. I’ve been there. You will see people living in much more “dangerous” living conditions than these, which are still much better than being homeless. There are a lot of people in places like India, living in shelters that would never compare to our stupid Western housing codes.
Have you ever been homeless?
Perhaps if you were to actually be forced to live in the conditions that homeless people live in, you might have a different perspective on them being allowed to have a home.
Those codes that are there to “protect” people do more harm than good, causing people who would otherwise have a place to live, to be stuck out in the cold, or, if they do have a low income job, forces them to spend almost all their money on rent, leaving them with inadequate income to pay for food, electricity and any other basic needs.
Not everyone who are homeless are that way because they “are lazy” or because they “do drugs” or “abuse alcohol.”
For a lot of homeless people, the “chance” of their home catching fire and them burning to death is a reasonable risk, considering that the alternative is freezing to death. By the way, you would have the same type circumstances if you were in a tent and it caught fire. Does that mean we should outlaw tents?
Do you have any idea what would happen if your house caught fire? Yes, your house, no matter how “up to code” it is, is still very vulnerable to fire. And let me tell you (from experiance) when your house catches fire, it gets extremely hot. The fiberglass that insulates your walls will actually melt, causing TOXIC fumes much more deadly than melting plastics.
Not to mention the plastics that are in most carpets and any number of houshold items. The fact of the matter is that any home is vulnerable to fire and it is devastating no matter what your home is made of.
SHAME ON YOU for opening your mouth and spouting your ignorant opinion! I’d rather listen to you flatulate.
Kameron C Cayce II , don’t be IGNORANT! Have you actually been to “much of the world”? Try going somewhere like India. I’ve been there. You will see people living in much more “dangerous” living conditions than these, which are still much better than being homeless. There are a lot of people in places like India, living in shelters that would never compare to our stupid Western housing codes.
Have you ever been homeless?
Perhaps if you were to actually be forced to live in the conditions that homeless people live in, you might have a different perspective on them being allowed to have a home.
Those codes that are there to “protect” people do more harm than good, causing people who would otherwise have a place to live, to be stuck out in the cold, or, if they do have a low income job, forces them to spend almost all their money on rent, leaving them with inadequate income to pay for food, electricity and any other basic needs.
Not everyone who are homeless are that way because they “are lazy” or because they “do drugs” or “abuse alcohol.”
For a lot of homeless people, the “chance” of their home catching fire and them burning to death is a reasonable risk, considering that the alternative is freezing to death. By the way, you would have the same type circumstances if you were in a tent and it caught fire. Does that mean we should outlaw tents?
Do you have any idea what would happen if your house caught fire? Yes, your house, no matter how “up to code” it is, is still very vulnerable to fire. And let me tell you (from experiance) when your house catches fire, it gets extremely hot. The fiberglass that insulates your walls will actually melt, causing TOXIC fumes much more deadly than melting plastics.
Not to mention the plastics that are in most carpets and any number of houshold items. The fact of the matter is that any home is vulnerable to fire and it is devastating no matter what your home is made of.
SHAME ON YOU for opening your mouth and spouting your ignorant opinion! I’d rather listen to you flatulate.
I live on my Navajo Indian Reservation. In my grandparents days, they lived in a Yurts type building of logs and sand packing to make it weather proof. I have always wanted to make a yurts type dwelling to as a nostalgic reminder.
Thanks
I live on my Navajo Indian Reservation. In my grandparents days, they lived in a Yurts type building of logs and sand packing to make it weather proof. I have always wanted to make a yurts type dwelling to as a nostalgic reminder.
Thanks
AND joe when have you done something
AND joe when have you done something
When I built my current house (10 years ago) I had it designed and situated to take advantage of the sun and shade to my best benefit. Sun on the south side in the morning lights up the kitchen and dining area as well as both upstairs bathrooms. French doors open to the patio where the sun shines in the morning. In the late afternoon, the back yard patio is shaded and cooler than the front of the house.
When I was laying out the house design and choosing the lot for the right orientation, my realtor said it was the first time she had ever seen anyone plan out a house like this. To me, it just seemed like common sense.
When I built my current house (10 years ago) I had it designed and situated to take advantage of the sun and shade to my best benefit. Sun on the south side in the morning lights up the kitchen and dining area as well as both upstairs bathrooms. French doors open to the patio where the sun shines in the morning. In the late afternoon, the back yard patio is shaded and cooler than the front of the house.
When I was laying out the house design and choosing the lot for the right orientation, my realtor said it was the first time she had ever seen anyone plan out a house like this. To me, it just seemed like common sense.
You call that journalism? You can’t write to save your life! I hope they didn’t pay you for that crap!
I worked for the national park service (matience dept) I personally saw tons and tons of packing peanuts disgarded from shipping docks. I also was privy to styrafoam boxes that large salmon were shipped in to local resturants. I salvaged salmon boxes and built walls for my 10′x10′ tool shed I covered the boxes with lathers mesh and then with a coat of stucco. fifteen years later and the walls still stand strong.
You call that journalism? You can’t write to save your life! I hope they didn’t pay you for that crap!
Oh shutup Kameron…ppl like u are the ones bringing this world to hell
Oh shutup Kameron…ppl like u are the ones bringing this world to hell
um…. huh? wtf is this, some kind of sarcastic watse of webspace?
um…. huh? wtf is this, some kind of sarcastic watse of webspace?
I thought your article was entertaining since I’m an ecofreak from the 70′s(that’s without the hatred.) That was until I read your comment about socialism. Ecofreaks understand living off the earth especially when it’s free, but socialism is characterized by taking something away from someone who worked hard and possibly sacrificed and giving it away to someone who’d rather someone else do the work.
I thought your article was entertaining since I’m an ecofreak from the 70′s(that’s without the hatred.) That was until I read your comment about socialism. Ecofreaks understand living off the earth especially when it’s free, but socialism is characterized by taking something away from someone who worked hard and possibly sacrificed and giving it away to someone who’d rather someone else do the work.
huh? wtf is this? some kind of sarcastic waste of webspace?
huh? wtf is this? some kind of sarcastic waste of webspace?
Shame on you Joe Smith. If you cannot say anything uplifting of helpful you should just keep quiet.
As for all of the other negative naysayers–Hey this kid rocks. At least he is thinking about the homeless that so many people pretend not to see!!!!
As for his trash looking too new??? If I were entering a project into a contest, I would probably want it to look cleaner and not smelling of garbage. It was just a prototype like ALL great inventions start with and is not like it is going into mass production. Max has a great heart and a great idea. Maybe the materials he used are flamable, so, he can go from there with other materials. I can see him developing a recycled, collapsible (for the politicians) useful shelter for the homeless. Remember all you naysayers that we are ALL just one paycheck away from being homeless ourselves in this economy. Max may just save one of our lives with a shelter from trash!!!
Max- keep believing that you can make a difference because YOU CAN.
Shame on you Joe Smith. If you cannot say anything uplifting of helpful you should just keep quiet.
As for all of the other negative naysayers–Hey this kid rocks. At least he is thinking about the homeless that so many people pretend not to see!!!!
As for his trash looking too new??? If I were entering a project into a contest, I would probably want it to look cleaner and not smelling of garbage. It was just a prototype like ALL great inventions start with and is not like it is going into mass production. Max has a great heart and a great idea. Maybe the materials he used are flamable, so, he can go from there with other materials. I can see him developing a recycled, collapsible (for the politicians) useful shelter for the homeless. Remember all you naysayers that we are ALL just one paycheck away from being homeless ourselves in this economy. Max may just save one of our lives with a shelter from trash!!!
Max- keep believing that you can make a difference because YOU CAN.
Kameron C: Don’t you think that before it would go into production those issues would be addressed. Flame resistant? I’m sure there is a way.
How big of a needle to you carry around to burst peoples success bubbles?
Kameron C: Don’t you think that before it would go into production those issues would be addressed. Flame resistant? I’m sure there is a way.
How big of a needle to you carry around to burst peoples success bubbles?
I agree that far too many builders don’t consider the benefits of designing to take advantage of passive solar.
However, it’d be generally foolish to tear down all the bad examples (my affordable home included). It would be more useful to recommend ways (in a range of prices) homeowners may ameliorate this flaw. Also consider how to create incentives to build with passive solar in mind.
Personally, I’m considering awnings or other temporary shading for the west side of my house during the all-too-brief Puget Sound summers.
I agree that far too many builders don’t consider the benefits of designing to take advantage of passive solar.
However, it’d be generally foolish to tear down all the bad examples (my affordable home included). It would be more useful to recommend ways (in a range of prices) homeowners may ameliorate this flaw. Also consider how to create incentives to build with passive solar in mind.
Personally, I’m considering awnings or other temporary shading for the west side of my house during the all-too-brief Puget Sound summers.
Kameron~I can tell by your thinking- that you could care less about Anyone!! seems to me- like you are a Little spoiled!! also sounds like you have Never slept out in the cold!!! I am also SURE- you were never in the Military!!! I doubt that you would pass the physical!! sorry Bud~you lost my vote!! I think the Little guy who came up with this plan is Remarkable!!! not only does he show~Intelligence- but he shows Humanity!! TOOO bad there are not more people in our country~with the Compassion- this 12 yr old has!!! IT would be a far better America!!! Have a nice day!!
Hi,
I like the layout of this site,it has alot of good info.
I am interested in solar shingles(PV) and a small wind turbine.
I live in an attached house in New York about 10miles east of Manhattan.
I am looking to generate close to 50% or more of my monthly electric use.
Most of the light bulbs were switched to CFL’s,2 of our tube tv’s were replace with newer LCD HDTV’s.
Thank you
Hi,
I like the layout of this site,it has alot of good info.
I am interested in solar shingles(PV) and a small wind turbine.
I live in an attached house in New York about 10miles east of Manhattan.
I am looking to generate close to 50% or more of my monthly electric use.
Most of the light bulbs were switched to CFL’s,2 of our tube tv’s were replace with newer LCD HDTV’s.
Thank you
I commend you on your ability to recycle! My 3 bdrm, 2 bath home is constructed largely from recycled materials, so it CAN be done if you are willing to think GREEN instead of easy. Kudos!
I commend you on your ability to recycle! My 3 bdrm, 2 bath home is constructed largely from recycled materials, so it CAN be done if you are willing to think GREEN instead of easy. Kudos!
Hey there, Kameron?
I hope you wind up homeless or displaced and someone offers you a shelter like this that’s a little too flammable for your taste. Then we can see how you feel about the relative merits of a fire hazard vs. freezing to death.
In fact, scratch that. I actually hope you get homeless or displaced and nobody offers you anything at all, just like you seem to want.
You could have said “maybe it could be made with slightly less fire-prone materials, but otherwise a good idea,” or even “hey, maybe people would just have to understand that they’d have to be really careful not to smoke in the damn thing, but that’s a pretty small price to pay for not being found frozen solid.”
But no. It could start a big nasty FIRE, so without offering any alternative, you heap SHAME on others. Pretty easy to say, while you’re comfortable in your home or office. You make me sick.
Hey there, Kameron?
I hope you wind up homeless or displaced and someone offers you a shelter like this that’s a little too flammable for your taste. Then we can see how you feel about the relative merits of a fire hazard vs. freezing to death.
In fact, scratch that. I actually hope you get homeless or displaced and nobody offers you anything at all, just like you seem to want.
You could have said “maybe it could be made with slightly less fire-prone materials, but otherwise a good idea,” or even “hey, maybe people would just have to understand that they’d have to be really careful not to smoke in the damn thing, but that’s a pretty small price to pay for not being found frozen solid.”
But no. It could start a big nasty FIRE, so without offering any alternative, you heap SHAME on others. Pretty easy to say, while you’re comfortable in your home or office. You make me sick.
That is so totally WICKED man! I was like so totally blown away at the message! It was like so touching like for sure! Awesome!
That is so totally WICKED man! I was like so totally blown away at the message! It was like so touching like for sure! Awesome!
In response to: Kameron C Cayce II said “This is incredibly dangerous. It goes against every building and fire code there is here in the United States and much of the world. … anyone in the vicinity that inhaled them.
SHAME on this group awarding this kind of tremendous hazard being created.”
IF you will consider the structures are being suggested for homeless people…who traditionally fail to observe even the simplest of safety regulations…eating old food, drinking and smoking what they can find, not maintaining proper hygiene and medical care. These people often are responsible for deaths and property damage because they “move into” facilities that are not legally theirs. They destroy them and show little signs of being concerned about others.
This attempt by a child to find some way to help them is not to be belittled by you and your comments. He had an idea and submitted it. This company now has the chance to “adapt/modify” his creation to make it safer and more acceptable to society.
Rewarding this child for his efforts and ingenuity is appropriate. We must teach our children to look to create and build things which will benefit mankind. If the incentive to attempt new experiments, try different things or research other ideas is inappropriate, I suggest you consider the “incentives” many medical research groups receive before you shake your finger at this group.
It never fails someone always tries to ruin a winner’s glory out of jealousy and spitefulness for their own shortcomings.
In response to: Kameron C Cayce II said “This is incredibly dangerous. It goes against every building and fire code there is here in the United States and much of the world. … anyone in the vicinity that inhaled them.
SHAME on this group awarding this kind of tremendous hazard being created.”
IF you will consider the structures are being suggested for homeless people…who traditionally fail to observe even the simplest of safety regulations…eating old food, drinking and smoking what they can find, not maintaining proper hygiene and medical care. These people often are responsible for deaths and property damage because they “move into” facilities that are not legally theirs. They destroy them and show little signs of being concerned about others.
This attempt by a child to find some way to help them is not to be belittled by you and your comments. He had an idea and submitted it. This company now has the chance to “adapt/modify” his creation to make it safer and more acceptable to society.
Rewarding this child for his efforts and ingenuity is appropriate. We must teach our children to look to create and build things which will benefit mankind. If the incentive to attempt new experiments, try different things or research other ideas is inappropriate, I suggest you consider the “incentives” many medical research groups receive before you shake your finger at this group.
It never fails someone always tries to ruin a winner’s glory out of jealousy and spitefulness for their own shortcomings.
cool idea makes ya think where are we going?