Silent but revealing footage of the Integral Urban House: this video introduces the IUH in an engaging narrative style. It begins with a shot of the Savonius turbine, a Finnish-designed wind turbine system powering the fish pond filtration system. This is one of the simplest vertical wind turbines, and the metal parts were scavenged from automobile parts and junkyards. This shot also introduces the uniqueness and technological features of the Integral Urban House, something that sets it apart from other homes in Berkeley.
To begin the video tour, the camera moves to a group of people walking down the street and into the peach-colored IUH. It portrays the house as a normal neighborhood home. Next, the camera takes us into the house, where we see a group of people crowded around the side garden, listening to a tour or demonstration given by (most likely) one of the house’s residents.
Then, the camera pans to show the herb garden on the balcony and volunteers harvesting the crops. Although the video was shot in the winter (implied by the many bare trees and garden beds), there are still many tasks to do in preparation for the spring. A child is even shown wandering through the flower beds alone, not needing any supervision. The beauty and simplicity of the home is first captured in the garden and presented to us.
Next, the video introduces the structure of the home itself, beginning with a shot of a curious family studying the indoor beekeeping facility. The rooftop solar collector and dark water collectors along the side of the home are also featured.
Returning to the Savonius system outside, we see the tour group mesmerized by its rotating turbines. Next, a woman is pictured pruning bare tree branches with precision. The last shot of the video depicts a few people in the front yard, discussing what to plant in the front yard. A final shot of the Integral Urban House from the street reminds us that everything in the video was contained in this one small house.
