Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Free Spirit Spheres

I had read an article of the Free Spirit Spheres from a local newspaper about two years ago. Inspiring by the creative design and the idea of these spheres, I told myself that I will pay a visit to this fascinated location one day, and this day happen in August 18, 2011.

The Free Spirit Spheres  is located approximately 30km north of Parksville on Vancouver Island along the Inland Island Hwy (#19), near Qualicum Bay. There are three kinds of spheres: Eve, Eryn and Melody. All spheres were built by the creator & owner: Tom Cowan, alone!

For now, there is only one sphere of each kind and are available for rent to adults only; 16 years and over. Due to the limited quantity, I would advice you all to book as early as possible. I booked the Eve nearly a month ahead. See here for the rates and please visit their official website here for more information.

All photos were taken with Nikon D300 , hand held.

Upon arrival at the private property, you will see this sign hangs on the trees.
Sigma 15-30mm f3.5-4.5D EX DG at 31mm f11 1/6 ISO1250 Center Weight
 
The kind owners, Tom & Rosey Cowan will welcome you at their resident cum office. They will tour you around the property. All spheres and shared facilities are located along a large pond in the center of the five acreage private land. The first sphere appeared in my eyes is this under construction and unfurnished sphere. Rosey invited me to step in it and experience the sound effect. It's different than what I'm expected to hear of an echo sound. When I talked, it sounds like "ET" talking!
Sigma 15-30mm f3.5-4.5D EX DG at 27mm f11 1/20 ISO1250 Center Weight

Next, it's the shared facilities in these photos. Kitchen, sauna, bathrooms, bench, dinning area, barbeque and etc. There is a mini fridge and microwave in the kitchen but no stove. On the left of the kitchen is the sauna; on the right is one of the bathrooms. If you look in detail, you will find many creative items; the flower pots, table decor, etc. You will also find many creative items around the spheres and the pond; on the ground or in the spheres. Unfortunately, I don't have enough time to discover all of them.
Sigma 15-30mm f3.5-4.5D EX DG at 19mm f11 1/1600 ISO1250(Oops...forgot to change) Spot -0.3EV

Sigma 15-30mm f3.5-4.5D EX DG at 15mm f11 1/640 ISO400 Center Weight +0.3EV

Sigma 15-30mm f3.5-4.5D EX DG at 15mm f8 1/40 ISO1250 Center Weight -0.3EV

Sigma 15-30mm f3.5-4.5D EX DG at 15mm f8 1/40 ISO1250 Center Weight -0.3EV

Sigma 15-30mm f3.5-4.5D EX DG at 15mm f11 1/125 ISO1250 Spot -0.3EV

Sigma 15-30mm f3.5-4.5D EX DG at 23mm f11 1/125 ISO1250 Center Weight

On approaching the first accommodation sphere, you will see this mushroom shape hut. What is this? .....
Composting outhouse (toilet)
 
Sigma 15-30mm f3.5-4.5D EX DG at 15mm f8 1/20 ISO1600 Spot -2.0EV

These are the photos of the Eve; the one I spent a night in it. It's the first ever sphere built in 18 years ago.
Eve - bottom view
Sigma 15-30mm f3.5-4.5D EX DG at 15mm f8 1/20 ISO1600 Spot -2.0EV 

Eve - left view
Sigma 15-30mm f3.5-4.5D EX DG at 15mm f8 1/25 ISO1600 Spot -1.0EV

Eve - right view
Sigma 15-30mm f3.5-4.5D EX DG at 15mm f8 1/25 ISO1600 Spot -0.7EV

Eve - left window
Sigma 15-30mm f3.5-4.5D EX DG at 15mm f5.6 1/25 ISO1250 Spot -2.0EV

Complementary snacks - Eve center
Sigma 15-30mm f3.5-4.5D EX DG at 31mm f11 1/60 ISO1250 Spot -1.0EV Bounce

Eve - right window with Eryn in the background
Sigma 15-30mm f3.5-4.5D EX DG at 19mm f11 1/13 ISO1250 Spot -2.0EV Slow Sync

These are the photos of the Eryn.
Eryn

Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED at 70mm f8 1/50 ISO1250 Spot -1.0EV

Eryn with door opened
Sigma 15-30mm f3.5-4.5D EX DG at 23mm f11 1/40 ISO1600 Spot -0.7EV

These are the photos of the Melody.
Melody
Sigma 15-30mm f3.5-4.5D EX DG at 31mm f11 1/25 ISO1250 Spot -1.3EV

Access to Melody
Sigma 15-30mm f3.5-4.5D EX DG at 31mm f11 1/20 ISO1250 Spot -1.3EV

Melody - left window
Sigma 15-30mm f3.5-4.5D EX DG at 15mm f5.6 1/40 ISO1250 Matrix -0.3EV

Melody - center with bed down
Sigma 15-30mm f3.5-4.5D EX DG at 15mm f5.6 1/30 ISO1250 Matrix -0.3EV

Melody - center with bed up, may put down both tables
Sigma 15-30mm f3.5-4.5D EX DG at 15mm f5.6 1/30 ISO1250 Matrix -0.3EV

Melody - right window
Sigma 15-30mm f3.5-4.5D EX DG at 15mm f5.6 1/60 ISO1250 Matrix -0.3EV

These are the photos of the workshop. Two spheres are under construction.

 
Sigma 15-30mm f3.5-4.5D EX DG at 15mm f8 1/125 ISO800 Matrix -0.3EV

Sigma 15-30mm f3.5-4.5D EX DG at 15mm f8 1/25 ISO800 Matrix -0.3EV

Sigma 15-30mm f3.5-4.5D EX DG at 15mm f8 1/13 ISO800 Matrix -0.3EV

Sigma 15-30mm f3.5-4.5D EX DG at 15mm f8 1/40 ISO800 Matrix -0.3EV

Sigma 15-30mm f3.5-4.5D EX DG at 15mm f8 1/25 ISO800 Matrix -0.3EV

Sigma 15-30mm f3.5-4.5D EX DG at 15mm f8 1/30 ISO800 Matrix -0.3EV

I found some character signs on the door, the windows hinges and may on other places too. But I don't have enough time to ask Tom, because I left early the next morning at 6:00am.

They called these spheres as tree house, I would call them as tree hotel.

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