A home that towers above the rest! Space-age property has 360-degree views, fingerprint entry and a beer dispenser in the sofa
This space-age home that was custom built in a forest is the perfect place to get away from it all – or throw a memorable party for a friends. Known as the Skysphere, the solar-powered home offers a 360-degree view of the countryside and a number of slick features that are controlled by a smartphone app. Jono Williams designed and built the impressive steel tower, which has a queen size bed, display screens, LED mood lighting, a wireless sound system and a couch with a built-in refrigerated beer dispenser. Scroll down for video
+11 Known as the Skysphere, the solar-powered home offers a 360-degree view of the countryside and a number of slick features
+11 Jono Williams designed and built the impressive steel tower, which has a couch with a built-in refrigerated beer dispenser
+11 The unusual home has a queen size bed, display screens, LED mood lighting and a wireless sound system Set in Linton, New Zealand, north of the capital of Wellington, the home is the ultimate man cave, but it could one day serve as a model for holiday homes. Mr Williams, 28, told MailOnline Travel he has been contacted by people who want one of their own for their personal use or to rent to holidaymakers. After coming up with the idea over a few beers with a friend, the plastics engineer spent $50,000 (£32,000) on materials and worked on the Skysphere for 3,000 hours before it was completed. The entire project was documented on his website.
+11 Jono Williams (pictured inside the Skysphere) uses a smartphone app to control the lighting and fingerprint entry
+11 The home is the ultimate man cave for Mr Williams, but it could one day serve as a model for holiday homes
+11 Mr Williams, 28, said he has been contacted by people who want one of their own for their personal use or to rent to holidaymakers
+11 Mr Williams spent $50,000 (£32,000) on materials and worked on the Skysphere for 3,000 hours before it was completed Man uses amazing electronics to have beer delivered in man cave To gain entry, Mr Williams scans his fingerprints to unlock the hatch, which opens to a ladder within a narrow steel column.He said the design can be configured to include a lift, as he used a rope and pulley system to hoist materials and furniture into the pod. It has no toilet or plumbing, but Mr Williams plans to build a small bathroom in the trees and said the second version may include running water and a toilet. For privacy, he toyed with the idea of installing electronic smart film overlay on the window – which is 6.5ft high with a circumference of 46ft – that would transform from opaque to transparent. However, he decided against it due to its high cost.
+11 To gain entry, Mr Williams scans his fingerprints to unlock the hatch, which opens to a ladder within a narrow steel column
+11 With no toilet or plumbing, Mr Williams plans to build a small bathroom in the trees and said a second tower could include running water
+11 The design can be configured to include a lift; Mr Williams used a rope and pulley system to hoist materials and furniture into the pod
The Skysphere was constructed laying on its side, on rollers. ‘My boss found some rollers on the internet. So, I bought them and welded some frames up, then plonked the column on them, then welded everything on and rotated the tower as I went.’ It’s not the first time he’s constructed an extraordinary hangout. Four years ago he and a group of friends built a solar-powered treehouse with a heating, a bath, hammocks and a remote-control draw bridge.
| Did GHOSTS cause this castle to collapse? Scotland's 'most-haunted' site mysteriously crumbles - with paranormal experts blaming spirits who were angry that it was about to be turned into flats
The mysterious crumbling of one of Britain's 'most haunted' castles is due to angry spirits who objected to the building being turned into flats, paranormal experts believe. Historic Birkwood Castle, in Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire was formerly used as a psychiatric hospital and is considered among paranormal circles to be one of the UK's most haunted places. The dilapidated buildings on the 86-acre estate, which dates back to 1860, are currently being renovated as part of a multi-million project to convert it into a boutique hotel and luxury housing. Scroll down for video
+9 The mysterious crumbling of one of Britain's 'most haunted' castles is due to angry spirits who were against the property being turned into flats, paranormal experts believe
Historic Birkwood Castle (left and right), in Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, which was formerly used as a family home and a psychiatric hospital, is rumoured to be one of the UK's most haunted places
+9 The dilapidated buildings on the 86-acre estate, which date back to 1860, were being renovated as part of a multi-million project to turn it into a boutique hotel and luxury housing Take a virtual tour through Birkwood Castle Hospital But the plans have been thrown into jeopardy after parts of the building fell down, collapsing with such force that nearby residents reported hearing an explosion. Local paranormal experts have now suggested the partial collapse of the gothic mansion is linked to the reported 'ghost' activity onsite. Tom Robertson believes the ghosts might have forced the wall to fall down because they were being evicted from their home. He said: 'It might have been the ghosts reputedly haunting the building taking a hand in matters to prevent the work going ahead or being angry at being disturbed.' According to local folklore, the imposing property is home to the ghosts of former patients who were treated at the hospital. A number of people have reported supernatural occurrences at the castle, including the sighting of cigar-smoking spook and the spirit of a man stabbed through the throat.
+9 But the plans have been thrown into doubt after parts of the building fell down, collapsing with such force that nearby residents reported hearing an explosion
Local paranormal experts have now suggested the partial collapse of the gothic mansion is linked to the reported 'ghost' activity onsite
+9 Tom Robertson believes the ghosts might be angry because they were being evicted from their home There are also rumours of strange smells, lights turning themselves off and the sound of mysterious footsteps tramping up and down the empty corridors. Among the paranormal inhabitants, a boy called Michael is believed to stalk the grand spiral staircase where he fell and died. A young girl's voice has also reportedly been heard crying and singing from within empty rooms in other parts of the castle. And it has even been claimed the figure of a doctor who suffered a heart attack and died while working at the hospital has been seen at the huge, sash windows.
+9 According to local folklore, the gothic house (pictured) is home to the ghosts of some of its former patients In 2013, 'Ghosthunters' Glasgow Paranormal Investigations filmed an episode of their series Haunted Planet TV there and said it was one of the most active locations in which they had filmed. The castle closed as a hospital in 2002, but plans were announced last year to bring it back to life as part of a £50million project by property tycoons Chris Naylor and Jo Lloyd. The developers want to regenerate the estate with the castle as a focal point. They hoped to finish the work - which would include a luxury hotel and apartments - by April 2016. Since the collapse, local politicians - including Clydesdale MSP Aileen Campbell and MP for the Lesmahagow area Lisa Cameron - have called for the rest of the building to be secured to prevent further collapses. SPOOKY GOINGS ON: THE FORMER PATIENTS WHO ROAM THROUGH HAUNTED BIRKWOOD CASTLEIt has long been believed that Birkwood Castle is haunted by former patients who were treated there when it was used as a psychiatric hospital. A number of people have reported supernatural goings-on in the castle down through the years, with most of the stories involving sightings of ghostly children. According to local folklore, a boy called Michael is said to stalk the grand spiral staircase where he fell and died, while a young girl's voice has also been heard crying and singing from within empty rooms in other parts of the castle. Visitors and staff at the former hospital also reported smelling phantom cigar smoke, electrical disturbances and mysterious footsteps. And it has even been claimed the figure of a doctor who suffered a heart attack and died while working at the hospital has been seen at windows. In 2013, ghosthunters Glasgow Paranormal Investigations filmed an episode of their series Haunted Planet TV there with the crew saying it was one of the most active locations in which they had filmed.
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