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From: TEDtalksDirector
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  • This guy is brilliant! This is exactly why I want to build and live in a tiny house in the middle of nowhere. so awesome!

  • the question is...WHO ARE THE 6 DIPSHITS WHO DISLIKED THIS?!

  • watch one week of HGTV and you'll be ready to contact the network screaming at them for the severe amount of waste you'll see from their demolitions. they profess a lot of "green" but it seems not to be in practice. my grandfather was a firm believer in repurposing... comes from having been thru the great depression he said. i think he liked the challenge of it.

    this was an excellent TED contribution and it made a great deal of sense.

    yes, we need more like this... but directed at the masses.

  • if only our Grandpas are this cool

  • Dan...brilliant. Thank you.

  • Absolutely brilliant talk, what an inspiring man and soo funny too.

    I have always been a recycler, a bit of a womble really but now I shall look t everything with a view to a new use x x

  • Number plates as housing shingles? Ooops - it is all about pattern in life :-)

  • his voice is kinda similar to the jokers voice

  • @Lawlskates89 What does that have to do with anything???? And guess what, you neither know how to spell, nor use punctuation. This guy is brilliant! How dare a little wienie make such a comment that has nothing to do with his message.

  • I want one!

  • I was a recycler until I heard a well know holy man say something like - its bad to reuse the vibrations from another person in your home or clothing.

  • GREAT talk :) Stuff like this turns me on!

  • love the way he thinks.. amazing!

  • So, when can I adopt this man? Amazing.

  • Nice. 

  • I know people that have been building like this for years go to small out in the boonies and people are poor and you will find this. I have dwelling in my shop that is built out of alomst totally recycled stuff.

  • Very nice....

  • this guy is amazing!!!!

  • wow!

    brilliant speech and innovative ideas!

    really enjoy listening to Dan Phillips!

  • this was awesome

  • Thank God some people are actually doing rather than just complaining.

  • Wonderful video. This is what TED is all about. More Talks like this.

  • TEDtalksDirector 

  • This is not about houses - this is about YOU.

    Awesome stuff!

  • what a cool talk// Practical and simple-brilliant

  • 3 people have crooked 2x4s

  • This is awesome

  • Dan is so great. If you can still find them, there are several really neat, long videos featuring him and some of the houses he built with homeowners here on YouTube.

  • What a cool guy.

    years ago I saw a children's animated movie about a city with a trash problem, along comes a man who removes the trash and builds stuff. He builds a castle for himself from the trash of the city.

    In the end of the story the people want him to pay for the trash and accuse him of stealing it from them, they raid his castle and drive him out of the city.

  • "I bet all your shoes match."

    Brilliant line!

  • amazing

  • Comment removed

  • Awesome talk, Awesome talker.

  • The US/World economy is going to hell in a hand basket because of Gov/Financial fraud & theft. This guy is giving a slick sell to get you to love your coming poverty and call it "Art". There's another TED Talk preaching the virtues of eating insects... I'll pass thanks, but if you think this is progress, fill your boots. Flame away!

  • @GrudgyDiablo I agree. I have a laundry shoot in my house 2, but it has a thick steel liner and steel lid so fire can't fly thru to the upstairs. Good luck getting a building inspector to pass the branch railing. Where I live, the only way u could build like that is if it was a cottage out in the boonies, & out of the inspector's jurisdiction - & if you had no intention of insuring it. Sadly, a lot of people live in deplorable housing and these little houses would certainly be a step up.

  • one of the best talks I've seen this year. brilliant.

  • This would only work for a lakeside cottage in California, nowhere else. It's nice to use old fixtures and decorations, but not at the expense of the safety of the people living there. Nobody really likes cookie-cutter McMansions, they only want them because they look like 200 year old estates. That's what we should be aspiring to, real quality homes not these summer cottage shacks.

  • There's a reason we have building codes and standardization, and it's not vanity. These houses he shows are uninsulated, structurally unsound firetraps. How "green" is it to spend a fortune heating a house with no insulation and single-pane windows? How much of a "saving on waste" is there when you use damaged 2x4s on load-bearing walls and the house comes down in an earthquake? What about the old creosote-accumulating woodstoves? How long till the termites and mold take the whole house down?

  • @Chloe0418 How do you know if they are insulated or not or unstable? There are places that don't have earthquakes, do you know where these are located?

  • @Chloe0418 This guy works out of Huntsville Texas, do you know when the last earthquake around that area was? Right around never. Do some research before you just spout off with no idea what you are talking about.

  • @BitchyMcHorebottom Well, I've reno'd 2 antique homes and built 2 new ones - I prefer living in homes built to modern codes - safe and efficient. The guy advocates breaking windows ON PURPOSE for Pete's sake. Good luck insuring these homes. The USA is vulnerable to extreme natural disasters - earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, ice-storms ... love to see how a license plate roof holds up in a hurricane, or how long before it's completely rusted. Cont'd...

  • @Chloe0418 How do you know these aren't up to modern codes? Obviously they are if he sales them to people. I highly doubt license plates are the only thing the roof is made out of, you are extremely gullible. I don't think you get this guy's goal at all. You are making way too many assumptions about houses you have never actually studied.

  • @Chloe0418 "To ensure that his designs are sound and will meet all local building codes, he consults with professional engineers, electricians and plumbers."

    Holy crap you are daft, 3 seconds and you could keep from amking yourself look like a dope.

  • @BitchyMcHorebottom Maybe you should read MY posts more carefully. He builds to his LOCAL codes, I build to my LOCAL codes. I stated where I live, they would never pass. There are few places in North America that can get away with single pane windows because they sweat in cold weather and that's why they were in the scrap heap. It takes just as long to build an inferior house as it does a quality house. I'd rather protect my investment of time/money with quality. Peace.

  • @Chloe0418 Yea when you watched this video did you see the part about people who need  their houses nice and neat and are anal about how their homes are built, you know it was about half this video. Well that type of person is you, the homes obviously aren't for you, but in any case you have the dumbest objections I've ever heard in my life. Your sense of imagination is absolutely worthless, are you a German or something? Obviously they could change design for local codes....duh!

  • @Chloe0418 I mean you start going off about how these homes aren't insulated even though I have no clue where you pulled that absolutely nutty idea from, you talk like you've examined all of these homes yourself when really I don't even think you mae it through this entire video. If you did make it through this video you weren't paying attention through any of it that's for sure. May want to watch this again.

  • @BitchyMcHorebottom Word to the wise: proofread before you call someone a dope.

  • @Chloe0418 At this point I am going to assume no human is this stupid and you are halfway trolling me. You seem to think these designs are set in stone when absolutely the opposite is true. You say these houses wouldn't pass everywhere with single pane glass. Is there anything saying he always needs to use single pane glass?? I really hope you are actually trolling me because I lost a little faith in humanity reading that one.

  • @BitchyMcHorebottom I did not say single pane glass wouldn't pass, however I question the economics of using it if your heating/cooling costs will quickly eat up the initial savings. I replaced single panes in my 1st house because they collect condensation and rot the sills. I'm not a troll and I don't hurl insults to augment my arguments either. I simply disagree where artistic expression should be used. (When a toddler falls through those porch railings, I suspect those home owners will too.)

  • @Chloe0418 The houses he has built are ONLY in Texas. These houses you see are built to be lived in in Texas. You do not need to worry about the windows in Texas, my house has all single pane glass and does just fine, I live in Texas. I really just don't think you understand at all what this guy is doing, and I seriously don't think you even watched this video. No one is going to fall through the railings you haven't even been to the damn house why do you think you are an expert on it?

  • @Chloe0418 Where do you see him claiming that the style in which he built these homes would have to be the same whereever they were built? You are taking houses built to be lived in a certain location and trying to use the same specifications to work nationally, which is absurd.

  • @BitchyMcHorebottom Calm down Bitchy! It's a free country (so they say) and you can do whatever you want! Texas sounds like an interesting place - beer can inspired architecture an' all. I'd like to visit it one day. I've said my piece. Ya have a nice day now! Peace.

  • @Chloe0418 I'm sorry, I got a little carried away there. i love you.

  • @BitchyMcHorebottom Back acha!

  • @BitchyMcHorebottom Low cost housing is an admirable goal, but I think organizations like Habitat for Humanity do a much better job of using reclaimed or donated building materials - resulting in safe, affordable housing. Aesthetically, I think touches of kitsch is fun and desirable - but 100% just looks ramshackle and depressing ... but to each is own. Peace.

  • @Chloe0418 You have completely missed the point. Those organisations are fine, but did you listen to any of his philosophy? His expression of his ideals through his work makes him a true artisan.

  • @authoradamwhittaker Art is in the eye of the beholder. His philosophy depends on finding unwanted materials. Why were they unwanted? Because in most cases, people replaced these items with BETTER materials. Peace.

  • @Chloe0418 how are you measuring 'better'?

    I'm suspecting your metric is 'because I say so'...

  • @authoradamwhittaker Well, in this context, I would define "better" as designs and materials that would last thru time. In my opinion, it is the most efficient and least wasteful use of natural resources because I care about the environment and quality of life. I am a libertarian in philosophy, so your suspicion about my thinking is wrong - if I have a difference of opinion, I express it with argument and discussion, not force.

  • @Chloe0418 So you think materials that last long enough for re-use aren't long lasting?

    Can you see the flaw in your reasoning?

    If not, then why say that it's about lasting when you previous were arguing about art being in the eye of the beholder?

  • @authoradamwhittaker 7 minutes ago

    It's one thing to choose to live an austere life (surfer/starving artist), but this - dumpster diving for shelter - is a reality coming to a neighborhood near you - whether you like it or not. I don't suspect the folks that bankrupted our countries will be choosing this lifestyle, or the well dressed TED Talks audience either. This shill is peeing on your head and calling it rain (oops, I mean "art"). I love big brother...

  • @authoradamwhittaker And yes, I do think these materials should be reused - in the garden shed, a cold frame, cottage, workshop... Why are these becoming more and more necessary for primary shelter? People on the hillside slums of Rio are pretty resourceful too, but I don't think they do it for art's sake or because they choose a "simpler" lifestyle.

  • @Chloe0418 That's great. Now do you want to answer my question?

  • @authoradamwhittaker which one?

  • I realize now how badly I need a turret 

  • @InsideDating So true! I don't even need the house! I just want a turret!

  • I like this guy!

  • That was really suprisingly deep talk

  • tis' all be relative.

  • Awesome talk!

  • This was an amazing video. Nearly made me forget that snotty kid trying to tell me about genetically modified food...fuck that little shit.

  • loooved it. sharp, brilliant, funny, loved him, loved the philosophy, loved the audience's reaction. can't wait to build my own house with crazy mismatched reclaimed stuff (:

  • isnt it a tad naff that there is a 'buy a blackberry cause it will make your life easier' advert tacked on to the end of this speech?!? After the really interesting ideas that chap was espousing etc etc... just saying...

  • LOVE IT! I have been wondering WTF was going on with Ted for a while, but this is the type of stuff that brings me back. Thanks for finally presenting us with a visionary again as you did when TED started.

    Thought provoking, fresh, grand, epic...one of my favorite TED videos ever...

  • Dan Phillips - what a legend!

  • finally! ted talks was on the downhill for quite a while. Finally a good one!

  • hmm, i liked the talk but there is something also unsustainably fringe about it too : if everyone got their supplies from rubbish dumps and wasted nothing, then there would not be any waste materials to use and we would again drive an economy to produce pre fab building products. so sure i like it, but only a number of us can do it i suppose.

  • @lili9000c. Sorry but that's nonsense. Even with perfect resource management , there's a limit to how many poeple the earth can feed, not to mention that there's limit space-wise. Of cause the planet can't feed or find room for , let's say 56.000 billion human beings

  • Now if only I had talent to build things lol. It's just too easy to buy something at Ikea though.

  • Finally TED is back!!!!

  • Good ideas but the only solution to solve waste is to lower overpopulation (which is growing exponentially).

  • @Onetazien there is no such thing as overpopulation only bad resource management.

  • @lili9000c Every planet MUST have population control. Overpopulation is also about consumption, asphalt, concrete, highrises, condos and stadiums over top what is left of the 12% arable land. Which can only sustain half a billion people (abundantly), and we are now at 8 billion people on Earth. Only 1 percent of the world population is living the "American Dream". Earth is a finite planet with limited resources. Ignoring the population size in relation to that is bad management.

  • @Onetazien What you said is all true for capitalism the system we are in today. Taking in mind all the knowledge and solutions we have though, the planet has enough resources to suport all the worlds people forever. Please check out projects like Cradle to Cradle but most especially The Venus Project or Zeitgeist, I would have given the exact same reply as you two years ago before I heard of these things :)

  • Comment removed

  • The Venus Project is not realistic because people are too materialistic. We are choosing quantity over quality. Already all the food at the grocery has diminished in quality and Dr.'s recommend daily supplements. Already, there is almost no more fish in the sea.The more people on the planet, the more the quality of ALL life deteriorates. It does not equal "growth". It is a 4 fold problem; economic, social, political and environmental. It is true, nature thrives when everything is balanced.

  • How do you get around building code?

  • I'm loving the Ewok house at 10:33!

  • There is a pot plant to the left in the first photo.

  • @coolio3500 Good catch. Could be a Castor plant.

  • @y0nd3r It might be but I have grown a lot of them in my day and when he zooms in on it you can even see it is in the early blooming stage as well as the 5 and 7 pronged leaves. Either way it nice plant and really cool houses.

  • @coolio3500 Supremely cool. I'd love to have one.

  • Great talk. I enjoyed his designs as creative works, but i wouldn't find those houses practical. If i had one of that type made to my specs, it may be.

    The thing that stood out and slapped me in the face was the realization that he was right about many people reordering the Maslov's pyramid in their life. Luckily i'm not one of them, and i've been stunned by people i've met who've done this and are not stupid in general. Now it makes a bit more sense to me.

  • Now this is the TED I subscribed to!!

  • Yes, we should be more original!

  • This guy is brilliant! Dan Phillips for President!

  • @HungDGunn no we have a rule: no presidents from texas :D

  • @googoo120

    Oh yeah. I almost forgot about that era. : )

  • This guy is my new hero.

  • There are so many people I've seen on TED who I want to team together and build me a house if I ever get really really rich.

    I want to pay them what I feel they're worth. : P

  • Smart man.

  • Amazing thought provoking creative inspiration!

  • Try doing things differently and it can work wonders. Now this is called creative thinking - Just have a look at the bathtub in the bathroom he has made. Nice video.

  • For an architect, this guy is highly intelligent. Ku-do to him

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  • This guy is awesome!

  • I wish every community had a bonded Phillipsian carpenter.

  • It's been awhile since I watched a TED video I actually liked or was interested in.

    I loved this talk! It was enlightening and funny.

  • Bravo! C'est superb! Merci beaucoup... ^^

  • not only hes smart ass hippy but hes also smart-ass funny XD

  • This guy is awesome, keep listening, he says some good truths.

  • he's like a bird who builds nests out of the garbage that surrounds him, now that is a new way to use old technology to design and it was presented in such a entertaining way. This is what TED is about

  • cool :3

  • that was an awesome speech

  • i have to admit, at first i had my doubts about this guy but he has turned out to be one of my favorite presenters yet!

  • If this guy ever gets tired of building he could easily go into standup.

  • great video, great man

  • This was a great presentation!

  • some people dont want their house made of garbage. and people take a 2x4 back if its not straight becasue they want their walls to be straight. and the reason subdivsions look the same is becasue contractors makes more money if they can build 10 house that look the same because they just do the same thing over and over rather than 5 that are different becasue its different each time

  • ok, i get it. But .. CDs on the wall? What would that be good for? Mirror?

  • @lorentsenjr

    fill a space that looks to empty, and you wanted to put some new decal or wallpaper just put cds instead... INSTEAD OF GETTING NEW STUFF.

    that was the point, are you intentionally pretending you didn't get that? it's not like it's rocket science

  • @lorentsenjr keeping your own waste out of land fills i expect.

    Good for everyone and the planet if we have to be accountable for our own waste.

  • @lorentsenjr Your missing the point here, it's not about how useful every bit of trash could be, its about getting RID of those useless bits of trash. CD's on the wall? Decoration!

    When he said it he meant it as an example for not being afraid of not doing something because of what others might think, or how it might look. Like he said, do it, if you don't feel happier with the result, take it down. Nothing lost.

  • Wonderful talk! Thank you!

  • genius 

  • known*

  • note: dyonisius was knows as bachus to romans

  • loved this speech, thank you

  • What are these two words he keeps using? Apelonean?

  • @xilliah

    apollonian

    from the god apollo? i think

    as opposed to dyonisius who was the god of wine and lust

  • @mazdaplz Ah thanks

    My parents just gave me a statue of Dyonisius, and I told them I had heard this name before somewhere.. so it was here! =)

  • He puts words on my thoughts I never manage to do myself. A very wise man.

  • but what if you're not a plumber-carpenter-tiler-roofer­-electrician?

  • Always refreshing to see open mindedness. Of course as long as money exists, advertisers will always try to make us believe that "designer" products are more valuable than... well, whatever non-"designer" products are called.

  • @soberauer Non designer products are called PCs.

  • Use newspapers as insulation

  • This is it ! This is the BEST TED EVER !!! Finally we have a construction saint with a Will Rogers sensibility! To HELL with the damn codes and the freaking regulations. The best days of my life were in a driftwood shack right on the beach in the 60's. Let the new era of damn the torpedoes begin. Materials and methodology are everywhere; Especially the dump ! EPIC PERSONALITY, let's see a lot more of this guy. In fact, make him the building authority before he gets ideas about retiring!

  • i love this guy

  • No dislikes? Wow! Stupid ppl doesn't come here anymore?:)

  • I can honestly say that this by far the best Tedtalk I have seen.Excellent

  • That

    was amazing.

  • I would love to work for this guy

  • now this is a ted talk! 

  • zero dislikes! i know it's still early... but that rarely happens!

  • Wow, I want to be this man when I grow up.

  • Google: “Earthships”

    (Sustainable, self-sufficient, off-grid, autonomous, environmentally friendly homes powered by the sun and the wind, built from recycled materials and free from reliance on public utilities.)

  • this talk is fantastic

  • i want one...

  • That tree house is cool.

  • Very inspiring talk.

  • I'll drink to that!!!

  • These houses look cool, but the municipal regulators would condemn those houses in 3 seconds if they ever saw them. :D

  • @picapauengracado We could put trap doors in the houses and make them "accidently" fall through them; into a holding pen.

  • I would LOVE to live in one of those houses. So "organic". Straight lines are not harmonious to living creatures, IMHO. That's why I love Spanish and Hobbit architecture, too. :-)

  • Genius!!! :)

  • Please Ted, bring this guy back! He has a rare gift of natural humour which he blends in perfectly with the talk. Great talk!

  • Great talk and I really like his houses. Very unique looks that I would love to have one of them

  • WOW That houses are beautiful!!!

    This guy is a genius!

  • That was much deeper than a talk about housing. I am inspired.

  • this was a thrilling 18 minutes talk! It was so engaging and illuminating! Great talk.

  • this guys brilliant

  • Pff.. guess it would take an idiot to see irony in a 'smart'phone add being slapped right after this rather interesting talk about foregoing vanity... or??

  • excellent, natural, engaging speaker with lots of depth and erudite references...great stuff

  • awesome guy, like his talk alot!