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Micro-compact green homes: the future for young people?

  2. LindseyIndigo
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Architect Richard Horden has designed a village of seven tiny, prefabricated homes, called "m-ch" (micro-compact home), for students at the University of Munich, the Guardian reports.

And now the homes are now heading to the UK - the Irwell Valley Housing Association is building six in Manchester to provide temporary accommodation for key workers, and a private client in London has made a planning application to build one on their land. And one is about to go on show at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, as part of an exhibition on contemporary living.

Each m-ch is just 2.6m sq - the size of an average living room - but has two pull-down beds, toilet (with pull-across screen), shower, table with seating for four, bookshelves and a kitchen area with sink, two-ring cooking hob, microwave, fridge, freezer and cupboards.

The homes are energy efficient, too. "Our aim is to be carbon neutral, using solar panels," says Horden, a partner at UK practice Horden Cherry Lee architects. "With all the fixed lights on, you are using the same energy as a single 80w bulb."

Each unit costs around £26,000.

As the credit crunch hits, could this be a solution for young people without the capital to buy their own standard-size home? Could live in a mirco-compact home like this? And if so, where the bloody hell would you put it?
LindseyIndigo

38 responses // Micro-compact green homes: the future for young people?

  • http://www.microcompacthome.com/pics/do1_1.jpg
    I think they're pretty cool the one pictured is a bit lonely. They need to make little communities of them near rivers. That would make me buy one.
    phillyharper
    1 response to this
  • These are pure luxury compared to some of the student accommodation I have seen. I would love to live in one!
    JanaPokana
  • damn cool idea . but super pricey.
    stone246
  • This makes far more sense than the houses being built here in the U.S.

    I like the idea that they are solar powered. If only they could get it to be completely independent of all city hookups (sewer,water,gas), this would make it much more marketable here in the states.

    As well, the price is definitely within reach for most.

    I'll be buying one once they become available here in the U.S.

    Great post!
    1percent
  • how well do think one of these would stand up to a tornado/hurricane? reminds me of the "3 little pigs" i'm gonna huff and puff and blow your house down!
    northstar13
  • Love it!
    twodee
  • If it really works it would be great, my student accomodation isn't half as good.
    thekingbeyond
  • Nice design, great concept, and very eco-friendly.
    It's like a treehouse cabin for grown-ups!
    saverio
  • sooooo trailer parks that look like legos? im down with it. trailer parks have a bad name anyways they seem like a neat idea but in practice eh.
    RudyRudell
    2 responses to this
  • they look uncomfortable
    SilenceNoMore
  • At least it's an original idea.I have to agree with northstar13 though.They don't look like they are going to stand up to a stiff wind much less a tornado or hurricane.

    Like the solar panels though!
    pissedoffinarkansas
  • Wow if I stretched out on the floor of that thing I would span the entire length! In all seriousness though as a Floridian I’ll pass. A two ton timber frame structure coated with aluminum is not going to survive a hurricane or a tornado. Plus I don’t think a metal box is not the ideal place to ride out a thunder storm, especially in the lighting capital of the world.

    I’m going to wait for this company to embrace the solid wall system before I jump on board. By the way M-ch is a horrible name, what were they thinking?
    Ricky84
    2 responses to this
  • Cool. I'll design a transport system for them and then people can just move whenever they feel like it.
    damnneargenius
  • This is so cool. After I get out of architecture school, I plan to build something similar to this, for areas stricken with poverty.

    This is the future of architecture; not 20,000 square foot mcmansions.
    mransom
  • these things wouldn't look so pretty in the midwest... as tornadoes ripped through them and their inhabitants. maybe they should sell basement add-ons as well.
    bishopobispo
  • I see why Ikea is such a big hit in Europre.. But really folks your hypocracy is killing me.

    If it has anything to do with peace, al gore, conservation, smaller is better, then it must be a hit with wacko-s.

    Tell that to the Lazy Katrina sponges in their tin cans. I also see why all of my international co-workers want to live in america after thier two year work visa is up, because they have to go back to crap like that.

    But if you wacko-s do buy one of those things, call me up after a day of eating bean and cheese tacos and I'll paint your walls brown for you.

    Oh yea, how dare they charge so much for that, that is greedy captialism!

    GOD BLESS MY 2400 sq/ft house
    God bless big oil
    mrburns
    2 responses to this
  • These are really cute cube houses! Love the tiny deck too! Would they really be bandied about by weather conditions or lie low and huddle like dice safe through the storm? Big houses are lightning/ earthquake/ tornado targets too. And if those cubes could float, they might have the edge.

    P.S. Mr. Burns...you just don't see "God bless big oil" too much anymore. It's a nostalgia that almost brings tears to the eyes.
    24French
  • I totally want these!
    Stradius
  • 24 french

    I guess that's saline, huh?

    God bless big oil
    God bless america and my big recliner that won't fit in that jail cell
    mrburns
  • Like mransom, I haven't seen much in the way of a positive feed from mrburns. he keeps turning up with his negative respnses.
    He must be a very unhappy person.
    BTW, like the thought of a small, efficient house. Good post.
    csmonut
  • Nah, more like a Nipponese capsule hotel.
    Dmitri_Molotov
  • Awesome! Minimalism at its best! These are just brilliant; minimalist, energy and space efficient, and pre-fabricated modular to keep production waste to a minimum as well. Only they need to reduce cost as well as sacrificing too much space.
    doni83
  • when are the eco-friendly thignies coming to oklahoma?
    kewal91
  • Sounds perfect!
    I wouldn't mind living in one of those near the water.
    I just hope it has heating.
    Susieee
  • As with all other innovations, it's not perfect (i.e. hurricane resistance, etc.) but it's a start.

    But living in California, I think it would be perfect. And can you imagine being next to a river or a coast and seeing a village of these cubes? So cute! =]]
    justin1447
  • Well, what if that becomes the future for the lower income people, while the rich live in their ivory towers? It wouldn't be so great then, would it? I agree with Ricky84... Is it even safe for camping in? I like the eco-friendly part... Beats the heck out of the formaldehyde ridden trailers sent to Katrina vicims!
    jjmaster
  • What,...That box cost £26000?!!!! What is this world coming to?
    jhydo
  • Bit expensive, but its cool reminds me of a yurt. Yurts rock, they need to make stuff like this so that its cheap and if it blows over you just build another one.
    Kati_kat
  • I'd buy one, it's a great alternative to my idea of going "Into the Wild."

    I would need a place to keep the bikes though.
    nickwe3d
  • That would be an awesome idea for a camp site or lake home. How neat!
    shroomfairy
  • With two beds you better really like your room mate.
    This is the sort of thing I would pay to live in with out a problem. The solar power makes it even more tempting.
    Shway

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