CoCasa IJburg, Amsterdam

Cocasa means a “joint house” a vivid spot for business and leisure. Cocasa was designed to take a central place in the community. The concept is inspired by the earthship concept of Michael Reynolds, mixed with broader circular design. Michael Reynolds a Southwestern US architect is credited with building the first earthship. His wife coined the phrase because the house was self-sustaining, requiring no outside source of water or electricity. The house just kind of sailed around, hence the name earthship. The house was built out of discarded materials such as automobile tires and aluminum cans and finished with natural adobe.