Real-life fantasy living

By Rutvi Ashar

Photography: Courtesy Steven Rude

 

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Have you ever imagined living in your own Bat cave? Special effects and 3-D animation designer Steven Rude makes every sci-fi movie lover’s dreams come true with his unique fantasy-inspired homes...

A Gaudi meets Dr. Seuss in free flowing spaces that are entirely functional... such artistic imagination meets playfulness leading to a welcome surprise for the child within us all! 

 

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Everyone wishes for magic in their lives and designer Steven Rude promises just that. Homes that are inspired from virtual film designs are now tangible, thanks to the advancement in technology that allows designers to print in the third dimension. Using this to his advantage, Steven moulds concrete and reinforcement into desired forms.

 

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The numero uno home on anyone’s wish list has got to be the Bat cave, which has been imagined as an organic free-flowing structure with a winding staircase and meandering aqua ducts. The real show stopper however is the stamen shaped column-beam structure that is centrally placed and painted a bright orange like the rest of the house. Another selling point of this home is due to its low dependency on artificial lighting, heating and cooling. It is an environmentally friendly space using volcanic cement that maintains indoor temperatures. Solar heating also ensures heated and recycled water.

 

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Another feature of the home is the Cambodia landscape inspired office workspace with crawling vines holding up computer monitors. Rigidity in modern gadgets is soon forgotten by the curvy branches that support it. Cement limbs extend beyond their main frame to create a smooth gliding aesthetically pleasing yet fully functional pattern around the home.

 

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Converting virtual animation graphics into substantial concrete structures is what satisfies Rude, his skilled team and the eccentricities of his clients. The process of dreaming, creating and finally casting the unimaginable has created a niche for this designer and his work.