The tiny-house movement has been steadily gaining traction around the world as more and more people ditch their large, expensive-to-operate homes for more affordable, easy-to-maintain spaces. Now, a company out of Bratislava, Slovakia, has taken the idea of a tiny home closer to what just might be its futuristic peak with its Ecocapsules.
Designed by Nice Architects, an Ecocapsule is a fully portable living space powered by solar and wind energy. It can also capture and filter rainwater and dew.
The capsule measures 14.6 feet (about 4.5 meters) long by 7.9 feet (2.4 meters) wide by 8.2 feet (about 2.5 meters) tall. Into that space the designers have managed to pack a folding bed, a table and two chairs, a small kitchen and a toilet and shower. There are also a few storage spaces and working windows.
The roof of the Ecocapsule is covered with solar cells, and there’s a retractable pole to which a 750W wind turbine is attached. Both power sources charge an on-board battery, so even if you encounter calm or cloudy weather, you’d still be able to have some power. Nice Architects says the energy system should be able to support someone living off the grid for almost a year.
Nice Architects plans to unveil its first Ecocapsule at thePioneers Festival in Vienna later this month and it’s aiming to start taking orders at the end of the year for delivery in early 2016.
We’ve reached out to the team to find out how much the super-small homes will cost and will update this post once we find out. We do know that it’ll be a bit costly to get one shipped overseas. To have a Ecocapsule sent to New York will cost 2,200 euros (about $2,426), while delivery to Melbourne, Australia, will cost 1,500 euros (about AU$2,112).
Once in your possession, though, it sounds pretty easy to move the egg-shaped abode around. “It can be shipped, airlifted, towed or even pulled by a pack animal,” the creators say.
