$1000 Egg House on Wheels
The newly-graduated architect rarely has the luxury of living in an owned home, and may even find their starting salary insufficient to afford a decent apartment within walking (or riding) distance of the office. For a three-figure sum, this designer has solved both problems at once via a unique DIY dwelling project.
Dai Haifei needed to save money and spent so much time at work anyway, the solution was strange but simple: construct a livable, portable tiny home that can be wheeled and parked in the empty space right outside of the workplace.
It isn’t much – just a bed, a lamp and a water tank inside – but this budget travel shelter is sufficient for someone trying to save and scrape together a living. While not the warmest of residences, seed sacks on the outside are slowing adding some exterior weather and sound protection.
These burlap bags, layered over a waterproof membrane, provide essential rain protection – particularly as the root systems expand and help soak up and redirect water during more significant downfalls (while a small skylight-plus-solar-panel brings in light and power).
Between a somewhat-breathable skin and lofted floor, the interior is effectively kept mostly dry and, with some interlocking strips of weaved wood, is actually a rather comfortable-looking studio to retire to at the end of a long workday.
From China Daily:
“Dai was inspired to build the 6,427 yuan ($964) home after attending the 2010 Shanghai Biennale Exhibition where he was attracted by a novel architectural project called “City’s egg” earlier this year. ‘I was impressed by the green-notion of building a house like that, especially in cities like Beijing where rental price for a fresh graduate is a huge burden,’ Dai said.”
“He moved the house steps away from his office where he would stay until midnight before going to sleep inside the ‘egg’. There’s only one bed, a water tank and a lamp inside the house. ‘I feel good living here though it’s simple, and a bit cold sometimes, what important for me, is – it saves me a lot of money!’ Dai told a reporter.”
