After the first publication on the Cocohut, back in 2009 on Inhabitat.com , it has been noticed by many people all over the world. Now, almost 4 years later I got a request from Mrs Corinne Staveness who works for the company Canfur, in Canada. If it would be possible to build and exhibit the Cocohut at the ENP fair in Vancouver and sell the Cocohut for charity purposes. www.playhousechallendge.com

I have no problem with the usage of the Cocohut in a non-commercial way, and as this was a charity project I agreed. Then Corinne asked me another question; if it would be possible to use the Cocohut as a family or community building project.

This started to make my brain rattle.

The idea is following:

Build your own Cocohut and let your local culture, colors and taste be of influence on the Cocohut.

 

 

 

I invite alle people who wishe to use the Cocohut’s design as a non commercial project, either for own usage or charity uses,  to build their own local Cocohut.

It is free, and available to all people of all nations.

It would also be great if this Blog was used as a short of ongoing photoalbum for all the projects in progress. Please submit pictures, stories and result of your projects.

 

The Cocohut

 

The Cocohut is a project which fuses my interests in art, design and architecture. It is a self initiated project that evolved over a few months. I had the urge to build something out of the waste products that were coming of a large project. A ‘green’ theater and restaurant and play area building of 1400 mtr2 which I designed and build for a small amusement park in the centre of holland. I always to look for the material that other people find insignificant or worthless and try to create something new out of it. (As an example for the same philosophy on product design, I made the potato chair, based on an ordinary potato.)

So I started to try to create something out of the waste pieces of lumber that came of the build. When I saw the possibilities I started sketching and came up with this round shaped , which became a  small house. Putting it of the ground, by implementing the poles, lets the structure somehow seem light and easy and friendly but...not ordinary. Over the next few months I collected all the useful pieces and finally I had enough to start building.

Although the Cocohut looks like a geometrical and calculated shape, it is not. Only the first few pieces are in a hexagram, but it soon turned out that the rounded shape forced me to add an angle and later remove it again. The pieces are screwed and glued together so that the structure remains waterproof. The rounded shape added also an extra; the circulation of the air makes it very comfortable to sit in even when its hot outside,

The Cocohut is build of waste pieces of construction wood (pine).The dimensions are: 180 cm wide and including the poles 220 cm high. A environmental friendly varnish is applied on the outside for color and durability. The top cone is made of a leftover piece of aluminimum, same as the door.

Introduction

As long as I can remember I am involved in the creative process. Always drawing and building and painting and sculpting. I attended the academy for arts but been always more attracted in my own way. Meaning that I seek the creative challenges over and over again instead of narrowing myself down to 1 discipline like painting or sculpting.

My work is often related with nature, either in shape, material, color. I started my professional career as a land artist, making installations and sculptures with natural material in actual nature, which later on became more gallery or museum sculpture. At one time the former building officer of the Stedelijk museum Amsterdam asked me if he could use 1 of my installations for a architecture publication. Not long after I received my first request to design a small building.

The bases of my work, whether its art, architecture or design, mostly its inspired by the situation of humans. Often in relationship with nature, but also on other environments such as cities, rural areas or even in the virtual space or concept development. As an artist one is often asked for a general quote on the works. After using many I finally concluded it to be: I am inspired by the situations and mechanisms that changes how we experience the world.  Now, I am involved in projects all around the world, form Canada, to Tanzania and Asia in multiple disciplines. (Experience) architecture for Leisure and Hospitality projects, (Land) architecture, (installation) art, product design, show design etc ect.

 

Gert Eussen 2013