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Xanadu (Citizen Kane):
Xanadu Houses:
The Xanadu Houses were a series of
experimental homes built to showcase examples of computers and
automation in the home in the United States. The architectural project
began in 1979, and during the early
1980s three houses were built in
different parts of the US: one each in
Kissimmee, Florida; Wisconsin Dells,
Wisconsin; and Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The houses included novel construction and design techniques, and
became popular tourist attractions
during the 1980s.
The Xanadu Houses were notable for
being built with polyurethane insulation foam rather than concrete, for
easy, fast, and cost-effective construction. They were ergonomically
designed, and contained some of the
earliest home automation systems.
The Kissimmee Xanadu, designed by
Roy Mason, was the most popular,
and at its peak was attracting 1000
visitors every day. The Wisconsin
Dells and Gatlinburg houses were
closed and demolished in the early
1990s; the Kissimmee Xanadu House
was closed in 1996 and demolished
in October 2005.
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