Innovative Hangar Home conceals garage mahal

by Aaron Richardson
from http://www.autoblog.com/

Hangar Home – Click above to view video after the jump

When gearheads aren't trawling Craigslist for the next old-lady-owned Chevrolet Chevelle tucked away in a barn, they're dreaming of cool places to put their toys.

Usually, dream garages never become reality. It's rare to find someone with enough ambition and/or cash to make it happen, but credit one Florida couple for creating something remarkable: the Hangar Home.

Their house's rear facade doubles as a garage door that conceals a cavernous work and storage area, complete with a set of cushy-looking armchairs for when the weekend project is over. We can't imagine how long this place took to complete, but all the time and effort really paid off. Click past the jump for two videos of the Hangar Home in action.

[Source: YouTube]

Gorgeous Garage Conversion By Shed Architects

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto

from http://www.treehugger.com/

The appropriately named SHED Architecture and Design has done a lovely garage conversion into a 300 square foot studio apartment in a Seattle backyard.

It is hard to call it a renovation, but zoning bylaws would not permit a new building, so they appear to have retained a few sticks. It is another good example of how one can make such a small space not only habitable but lovely to look at. The Architects are quoted in Coolboom:

The project began with a 30 square meter single car garage, built in the 1920's, that was in an advanced state of decay and in need of a new foundation. Local codes would have prevented replacing it with a new building and so the decision was made to rehabilitate it. The overarching goal was to maximize the density and utility of the small 300 square meter lot and this was achieved by creating a studio apartment to generate income for the homeowners, a workshop and storage area in the new garage basement to serve the main house, and by adding terraces, paths, and steps to the backyard.

The garage, elevated above a sunken yard on wooden posts was in need of a new foundation. The building was jacked up so that a new basement could be excavated and built beneath it. The basement contains a mechanical room and a workshop and storage space for the main house. The excavated soil was used to create raised terraces in the back yard.

The loft looks tight but cozy. Access is via a ladder opposite the closet.

More at Shed Architecture & Design

One Day We'll All Have a Living Room Lamborghini

By: Brian Barrett: bbarrett@gizmodo.com
From: http://gizmodo.com/

"I want a 9 car garage and be able to enjoy viewing one of them in the living room." And so it came to pass, and the people rejoiced. I love it when rich people go bonkers, don't you?

Honestly, if I had a sweet Lamborghini I'd want to stare at it from my couch, too. This Tokyo (naturally) home was gamely designed by Takuya Tsuchida, who received the instruction above from a client with very particular taste.

Note that the car is on a platform that raises and lowers as you please, placing either in your home or below it. Remember, it's not crazy: it's eccentric. And totally, unbelievably badass. [What We Do Is Secret via Today and Tomorrow]

Ten Steps To Creating The Perfect Man Cave

By The Auto Insider

The man cave. A mythical masculine lair filled with automotive goodies and toys designed to make a man happy. Here's how to create your very own man cave in ten easy steps.

Some may call it a garage. Some may even call it a workshop. But we know what it's really all about. It's about you and creating your very own secret lair designed to help you relax around your very own, hard-earned collection of man toys. Take a walk below through our ten steps to creating the perfect man cave, then give us your pictures of your own man cave in the comments below.