Beer Can House

It’s the Beer Can House in Houston!

Beer Can House, Houston

So glad we got to see this. From the site: John Milkovisch, a retired upholsterer for the Southern Pacific Railroad, started his project now known as the Beer Can House in 1968 when he began inlaying thousands of marbles, rocks, and metal pieces into concrete and redwood to form unique landscaping features. When the entire front and back yard were completely covered because he “got sick of mowing the grass”, he turned to the house itself and began adding aluminum siding – aluminum beer can siding, that is. Over the next 18 years the house disappeared under a cover of flattened beer cans for both practical and decorative reasons. Garlands made of cut beer cans hanging from the roof edges not only made the house sing in the wind, but also lowered the family’s energy bills. Ripley’s Believe It or Not estimated that over 50,000 cans adorn this monument to recycling.
Beer Can House, Houston

It’s run now by the Orange Show.

Beer Can House, Houston

How the house looked originally
Beer Can House, Houston

Because Houston doesn’t have zoning laws, there aren’t problems like what have come up with art environments elsewhere.  And the terrific thing is, the beer can house gives this largely non-descript neighborhood so much character:

Beer Can House, Houston

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