Submitted by Don Doman.
How many people can afford a new home these days? Tent cities, tiny houses, and homeless multitudes are just part of a housing problem that has cities scrambling for answers and solutions. With the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare), and Social Security possibly the next target for cutting by the Trump administration our Baby Boomer seniors may soon find themselves looking for a place to call home . . . that they can afford. The answer may come from Hong Kong.
Architect James Law of James Law Cybertecture has designed living quarters made from concrete water pipes. His creation is called OPOD Tube Housing, which he designed for the Hong Kong housing crisis. “OPod Tube Housing is an experimental, low cost, micro living housing unit to ease Hong Kong’s affordable housing problems. Constructed out of low cost and readily available 2.5m diameter concrete water pipe, the design utilizes the strong concrete structure to house a micro-living apartment for one/two persons with fully kitted out living, cooking and bathroom spaces inside 100 sq.ft. Each OPod Tube Houses are equipped with smart phone locks for online access as well as space saving furniture that maximizes the space inside. OPod Tube Houses can be stacked to become a low rise building and a modular community in a short time, and can also be located/relocated to different sites in the city.” – James Law Cybertecture
Architect James Law of James Law Cybertecture has designed living quarters made from concrete water pipes. Photo courtesy James Law Cybertecture. I think the OPOD Tube Houses are ideal for followers of Hobbits and J.R.R. Tolkien. – Hobbit Home via Flickr.I think the OPOD Tube Houses are ideal for followers of Hobbits and J.R.R. Tolkien. Building codes not withstanding, I think various new homeowners using OPODS in Steilacoom would be ideal. Built into the sides of the hills with views of McNeil Island and Key Peninsula these modular houses could make cozy and inexpensive homes/condos with fantastic vistas.
The OPOD structures could bring immediate shelter to Pierce County homeless as well as student housing near our colleges and universities. As housing needs change, these concrete structures could be transported to new locations to meet new demands at a fraction of the costs of demolition and new construction.
The OPOD structures could bring shelters to Pierce County homeless as well as student housing near our colleges and universities. Photo courtesy James Law Cybertecture.Building space is always at a premium, but housing units that can fit in, around, and on top of both municipal and commercial buildings offers both opportunity and possibilities.
Clever idea these concrete pipes as tiny houses. Collectively, their weight on rooftops is of concern. Currently with local codes and ordinances, the NIMBY attitude prevails agains these Hooverville/Shantytown collectives, and for good reason as water, sanitation, and garbage, are largely unaddressed.
PRose,
Thank you for reading and for writing.
I saw a paragraph about the water pipe housing in a Coffee Break News issue at the dentist’s office. I thought the idea was intriguing, so I wrote James Law. If you click on the link there is a lot more information. Although they show a bathroom pipe, I think they might suggest a grouping of bathrooms kind of like Seattle does with Tiny Houses. I really like the idea for a cabin in the woods or shoreline Tiny house that could easily be moved when the water rise.
Thanks, again for reading and commenting. Pease, continue reading my articles.
Don
https://youtu.be/mya2cMDACKg
These expandable tiny homes are amazing. I’d live in them quite happily.
I’ve also been considering a Class C style R.V. with slide outs, in the event we ever were to lose our home for any reason. I just read in the news where a computer glitch in Wells Fargo Bank ended up rendering hundreds of homeowners homeless, when the computer glitch wrongfully foreclosed on their homes. Perish the thought, but at my age I have to consider all possibilities.
I don’t want to end up living on the streets, sleeping raw or in a cardboard box with chronic illness, and being physically disabled to the point I am. Plus, I’m well aware of what far too many people think about the homeless, and who is going to hire a senior citizen with those kinds of problems, even if I could manage to work steady hours? My husband thinks I’m silly, but I’ve seen what goes on.
I’ve seen some nice Class C motor homes at affordable pricing lately. That way one could move about and camp in different places, if they don’t like being tied down in one spot. Or maybe a slightly newer pick up truck, and small to medium sized travel trailer.
Some homeowners have a place with hookups that they’re willing to rent out on a monthly basis.
Janice,
I like the Jewish or possibly Yiddish comment: “Hope for the best . . . expect the worst.” You are correct, we never know what is going to happen. Always be on the lookout for alternatives. I had a friend who bought a big motorhome and then never really used it. She lost about $50,000 when she sold it. The bargains are in used motor homes. I bought an old one as a storage unit while we did some remodeling. Me moved household stuff into the motor home parked within twenty feet of our back door. Afterwards we moved the stuff back in. One son drove it to Disneyland with his family and our other son took it camping with his. Then we sold it for a profit.
Unfortunately you can’t just park them and live in them everywhere. The city of Tacoma has lots of regulating . . . much less in the county.
Keeping thinking . . . keep living . . . and keep reading.
Thanks, Don.
I would only ever purchase a used R.V. The newer ones are so computerized, and VERY expensive on repairs. I see brand new coaches in the repair shop all the time. Glitchy, even if they’re gorgeous inside and out.
We have an old coach style R.V. We don’t use it. Sits forlornly in the back yard. It’s a 36 foot beast, and if you peruse one of those Wa. State Camping books, many of the camp grounds in the mountains have length limitation, due to trees, twisting roads, and the swing out of the beast you’re driving. So we were limited to where we could go.
I’ve seen some really nice used Class C units, either Chevy or Ford. Lower mileage too. Repairs would be less expensive, and fuel as well. Last time we filled up the beast, it was over $300. And it seems like every time we used it, something would go wrong anyway.
Nothing worse than finding yourself stuck in a place like Long Beach, Wa. needing repairs and everything is closed.
Well, even getting stuck in Long Beach can be an adventure . . . especially if you are traveling in your home. Enjoy the day!!!!
Don