The Berkeley Fish House

November 30, 2015 9:53 AM

Eugene Tssui designed the “Fish House” – based on the tardigrade, a segmented marine microanimal – for his parents in Berkeley, California. But that’s not the only interesting thing about him. . . .

He designs his own clothes, including an outfit with solar panel sequins that allows him to recharge his phone. He’s also a flamenco dancer and guitarist, a medal-winning senior gymnast, an amateur boxer, and . . . well just read this article. Or this one or this one, both with more fab pics of the fish house and other buildings.

(I don't know how much of this to believe, but if loving Eugene Tssui is wrong, then I don't want to be right.)

posted by ferdydurke (11 comments total)

Ha! I *just* read this before heading over here. I love driving by the crazy house but had no idea who the architect was. Berkeley rocks, is all I can say.
posted by The Toad at 9:58 AM on November 30, 2015

I think the the amount you should believe is "very, very little", but he sure is entertaining.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 10:10 AM on November 30, 2015

There was a time we always drove our out of town guests by that house, it's so random and strange. Every other house on that block is very normal looking.

Also, Berkeleyside is a really interesting and high quality local blog, I read it almost as regularly as I read Metafilter.
posted by JenMarie at 10:15 AM on November 30, 2015 [2 favorites]

OMG this is awesome. I know the Fish House (as does any long time East Bay resident), but the back story on Mr Tssui is so much more amazing than I could have guessed. (I wonder who lives in the Fish House now?)
posted by latkes at 10:17 AM on November 30, 2015

So tardigrades are apparently this week's 'thing I have never heard of before which are now everywhere all of a sudden.' A few weeks ago, it was Elena Ferrante.
posted by jacquilynne at 10:25 AM on November 30, 2015 [1 favorite]

*waving to all my Meta Berkeley neighbors*
Represent.
posted by pipoquinha at 10:38 AM on November 30, 2015 [6 favorites]

This guy's outfits and house would fit right in to New New York.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 10:46 AM on November 30, 2015 [1 favorite]

His outfits would fit right into the Hunger Games. This dude is astounding.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 10:48 AM on November 30, 2015 [5 favorites]

This is clearly an extra-terrestrial living incognito on Earth. And he's not doing a terribly great job of disguising himself.
posted by sleeping bear at 11:02 AM on November 30, 2015 [3 favorites]

Clearly a Blue Blaze Irregular, if not in fact Buckaroo Banzai himself in disguise.
posted by chavenet at 11:13 AM on November 30, 2015 [8 favorites]

I "rhymed" tardigrade with Tartikoff in song lyrics back in, I think, '99. Good times.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 7:13 PM on November 30, 2015