Offbeat Homes

The Spider Web Chalet

by Jennifer Chait on June 14th, 2007

The name alone pretty much implies that a certain Offbeat blogger won’t be shacking up here anytime soon. When I first heard about this hotel in Dalat, (in Vietnam - for the non-geography buffs), all I could picture were cobwebs floating across my face as I slept and hobos or other terrifying eight-legged creatures scampering about my room in the dark.

Me and my imagination. Actually the “Spider Web Chalet” is a uniquely built structure also known as the The Hang Nga Tree House Hotel, Hang Nga Guesthouse & Art Gallery, and The Crazy House (depending upon who you ask).

Dang Viet Nga, daughter of Truong Chinh, former president of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam designed this hotel so that guests would feel as if they were staying in a really great fantasy world.

The building itself may look like a real tree but it’s actually made out of cement. There are all kinds of unique touches; a spider web hanging over the pond, a giraffe sculpture in the garden, guest rooms that look as if the seven dwarfs decorated them, and not one window in the place is traditionally round or square.

The best place I’ve found on the web to learn more about this “crazy” house is Travelogues.net.

Click here for many amazingly neat pictures of this funky hotel.

In Offbeat friend news I’d just like to take a second and point out some new compadres. UPworld is a new creative tool for professionals in the real estate and building industries. The site is meant to improve efficiency, productivity, and communication between individuals in the building supply chain. From their site:

“UPworld offers each person that joins a complimentary online profile. More illustrative than a directory listing, these profile pages offer a peek into a person’s portfolio of projects, their skills and expertise, and their business contacts. In addition, people can both post and respond to jobs, professional opportunities, and RFPs. Visitors to UPworld also get access to news and events…

“With 90% of all building projects in the U.S. being built by small architecture, construction, development and interior design firms, there is a clear need in the market for an affordable, easy-to-use, and convenient online networking system,” says Clancy. “UPworld provides project team building and communication services so that players can focus their time on creating quality building projects on-time and on-budget.”

UPworld is currently open to new members so go check them out and see what you think.

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POSTED IN: Architects, Eccentricities, Fairy Tale Homes, General, Odd Buildings, Places to Stay