Hong Kong has been the most expensive city for homebuyers for the past seven years, according to data by the Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey.
One Hong Kong-based architect, James Law, believes his micro-homes may help reduce the housing crisis in this big city.
His tiny home designs are anything but the usual deal; they’re actually made of concrete water pipes yet have all of the amenities necessary for a modern home.
The Popular Tube Homes: A Solution to the Housing Crisis in Hong Kong?
Named the OPod, these tube homes spread on 100 square feet. To bring things up in perspective, a standard garage for a single car is around 200 square feet.
Law’s company, James Law Cybertecture, made the tube home from a water pipe with an 8.2 feet diameter. The inside features a sofa that folds out into a bed and also a mini-fridge, shelves, and a bathroom with a shower.
Although it’s still a prototype, Law explains that the sales are expected to start soon and his team is working on getting the needed permits from the city to begin the building process.
Interested customers can purchase the home for $15,000 which isn’t inexpensive, but it’s much less than an average price of a new home in Hong Kong that’s estimated at $1.8 million for a 600-square foot unit.
Versatile Placement & Reduced Installation Costs
These pods could also be stacked in unused urban areas, for example, shipyards, between buildings, or even under highways, according to Law.
The pipes weigh around 22 tons each so they don’t require any bolts to be kept together during the stacking. Law explains that this is important because it will maintain the installation costs lower.
He explains that in this city, many people live in poor conditions or in partition dwellings due to the high rents, housing costs, and improper public housing. His OPod is a low-cost alternative.
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