Affordable housing is hard to come by in the Asian metropolis, and space is at a premium—a situation that inspired one Hong Kong architect to take a drastic, out-of-the-box approach to design options for living in a tiny footprint.
This concept is conceived by James Law of and the housing system is known as the OPod Tube House.
The experimental, low-cost, micro-living housing unit was constructed as a temporary living space for young people, and made from a 2.5-meter-diameter concrete water pipe.
The concept of tiny home took a strong concrete structure and converts it into an apartment for one (or two) with petite living, cooking, and bathroom facilities squeezed inside a 100-square-foot interior. Each tube house is equipped with Smartphone locks for online access.
It is completely space-saving, micro-living furniture has been built into the side of the pipe to make the interiors feel a wee bit roomier. The pipes can be stacked to become a low-rise building as part of a modular community. Not much is needed in the way of construction, making quick-and-easy installation possible.
The OPod can also be conveniently relocated to different sites. The structure is able to fill the gaps between existing buildings, allowing it to be tucked into locations where traditional construction is not an option.