What do you do when you’re an unemployed artist watching your country dive into financial ruin on the back of the euro? You craft a grandiose social statement about the whole thing of course. In the case of Irish artist Frank Buckley, that means building an entire domicile out of €1.4 billion ($1.7 billion) worth of decommissioned bills.
Reuters says that Buckley received a 100 per cent loan for €365,000 ($450,000) in the 2000s, despite lacking a steady job. Loans like this were a key reason why Ireland fell into a credit crisis, and continues to struggle financially. When Buckley separated from his wife, he was forced to move out, so he did what probably no other person would do: began constructing his euro bill apartment in an abandoned office building.
Living in his “billion euro home” since the start of December, Buckley is working on adding a kitchen to the living room and hall.
The walls and floor are covered in euro shreddings and the house is so warm Buckley sleeps without a blanket.
And while I doubt Buckley’s piece will start a new trend in green housing, you have to appreciate his pearls of wisdom on the merits of the euro.
“Whatever you say about the euro, it’s a great insulator.” [Reuters]