- An Indian architect developed this prototype for a tiny mobile home.
- The design uses vertical space over horizontal space for places where land is expensive and difficult to buy.
- It's designed to house one person and attaches to a three-wheeled rickshaw for easy movement.
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Arun Prabhu N G, founder and architect of the Billboards Collective, designed this tiny mobile home to promote small-scale architecture in India.
He unveiled the prototype, the Solo 01, in December 2019. The concept is part of his larger focus on temporary and portable housing in India, where he says it is most relevant and needed. Small-scale architecture is often criticized for underutilizing space, according to Prabhu, so in his design, he highlighted an efficient use of vertical space in only 36 square feet.
Take a look here.
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The compact, six-foot by six-foot space, is attached to the back of a rickshaw, but easily detachable for a more permanent housing situation.
Prabhu told Business Insider that he envisions it as a housing solution for a solo traveler, a homeless person, a small-scale vendor, or even for construction workers or people in need of temporary housing due to natural disasters.
It has a foyer, terrace area, and space for vendors to displays products.
The Solo 01 was made with cost and durability in mind, so Prabhu constructed it from metal scraps from buses and demolished buildings.
Though the structure is small, Prabhu says it isn't minimalist but utilitarian. "The house is designed with various nooks and crannies, all perfectly designed for their purpose," he told Business Insider.
Inside, spaces serve as the kitchen, bathroom, and living area.
It even has a bathtub, plus a 250-liter water tank for mobile use.
A laptop stand serves as a work area.
Opening up doors and windows around the Solo 01 let in light and make the small space feel more open.
It's also ventilated throughout and comes with solar panels.
Prabhu says that he was conscious of evenly distributing weight in the design.
The structure isn't available for sale, but Prabhu hopes it will draw attention to the possibilities of small-scale utilitarian architecture in India.
