You Could Live in This Concrete Pipe Tiny House
David Wagman | March 15, 2018
The units can be stacked. Source: James Law Cybertecture
The Old Woman of nursery rhyme fame who lives in a shoe could end up with a neighbor who lives in a concrete drain pipe.
OPod Tube Housing was conceived by Hong Kong-based James Law Cybertecture and is an experimental, micro-living housing unit aimed at easing Hong Kong’s affordable housing problems.
The units are built from 2.5-meter-diameter concrete water pipe, and can accommodate a 100 sq.ft. apartment for as many as two people, with space for living, cooking and a bathroom. Each house is equipped with smart phone locks for online access.
The tubes may be stacked to become a low-rise building that can be located in different sites across Hong Kong and other cities.
The firm's initial venture in tiny house concepts was the 2015 AlPod, a container-sized mobile pod house made of aluminium. It was lightweight and designed to be a prototype for a new kind of modular, mid-rise residential tower. The container offered 450 sq. ft. of living space and cost $64,000.
Furniture is attached to the walls, freeing up space in the pipe-house. Source: James Law CybertectureThat price point was higher than hoped for, so the architect turned to concrete. As part of the design, a flat floor is installed to provide an internal size floor space of 100 sq. ft., which feels more like 150 sq. ft. because the curved walls accommodate for the built-in furniture.
Law estimates the cost to buy and outfit a concrete water pipe to be around $15,300.
James Law Cybertecture provides design in architecture, interior design, master-planning, consulting, technology and industrial design. Completed projects are in Hong Kong, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Moscow, Mumbai, New Dehli, Abidjan and Beijing.
This is great. On the right track. 50 million of these would make a much better Wall.
In reply to #1
Chrisg288, I'm from South Africa and like your suggestion, just get it to the White House, that is the right place to start.
In reply to #2
I had this idea for a Long Wall Mall a few months ago, with a separation between countries, but close enough to see each other, and perhaps families that are separated can live with a glass wall between. Able to see and communicate. And maybe thete would be official meeting rooms allowing touch. Yes i know its like a prison that way but better than nothing. Modular construction methods can make it affordable, coupled with strip farms adjoining.. idealistic? Yes. Impossible? No. Solves many border problems by creating an economy ON the border. Real problem with gangs and drugs though.
In reply to #4
There was a modular complex built on Alexandra rd in the UK in t
Looks like a wonderful opportunity to roll a bunch of microapartments down a hill.
As for gangs,,,, ropes, firing squads and guillotines provide a permanent solution.
In reply to #6
Yes, kinder gentler ropes, firing squads and guillotines. Wouldn't want them to feel bad about it.