Cool Architecture Ideas

[Cognisant]

Interior decorating too.

Y'know how in some really modern houses the pool goes in and around the house, kind of acting like a decorative pond, well what if at the bottem of such a pool there was glass (or Lexan, something clear) and under that there's a layer of various gears, sprockets, driveshafts, etc (clockwork but bigger) so if you we're looking down on it from above you wouldn't be able to see the glass and if you we're look at it from below you probably wouldn't be able to see the glass then either. During the day the machinery would glisten to people above and create partial shade for people below (the water would further diffuse and soften the light) while at night you could light the sides of the pool or the floor of the room underneath or some combination thereof, or if the glass was heavily tinted it would act like a mirror during the day which would make the pool look much deeper than it really is (or if it's a shallow pond it would look like there's a sky below you) and make for a great surprise when you turn the lights on underneath in the evening.

 

[Turniphead]

For a long time, I've (unrealistically) wanted to build a house in a fountain.

More precisely, the fountain would "sprout" out of the middle of the house, moving enough water to encapsulate the house in a wall of water. Of course to get out, you would need a bridge of some sort, plus an umbrella.

 

[Kuu]

Gears are nice, cog, but nicer when they're functional:

http://vimeo.com/66780186

Also, Lexan (Polycarbonate) would be too expensive for a pool. Glass, thick and heavy and pricey too. Best bet for that is acrylic, like in acquariums...

 

[Cognisant]

What about UV damage? I don't want it frosting in the sun.
Then again I've never seen UV damaged acrylic, unless the damage just makes it brittle.

Edit: Nvm it's polycarbonate (Lexan) that's damaged by UV, my mistake.