If you have been following my posts, you may have seen a few now that allude to the housing crisis which is affecting Hong Kong right now. People in Hong Kong are currently living in incredibly cramped quarters. In fact, they are so tightly packed that domestic violence rates have gone up precipitously. Many more residents are homeless.
So naturally a lot of architects are focused on solving the problem—and that means turning to tiny living solutions. One particularly innovative and unusual solution is to construct micro homes out of bamboo inside old unused factories, warehouses, and other spaces which are presently going to waste.
This cool idea comes from the Hong Kong architectural firm Affect-T. Each of the bamboo homes would measure around 3 x 2.5 x 3.7 meters.
This prototype would be just the right size for a single occupant or a couple, and each would include the space and amenities needed for basic daily tasks including eating, sleeping, working and relaxing.
The bamboo micro homes are intended for temporary occupancy. The waiting list for Hong Kong public housing presently ranges anywhere from 6 months to 7 years. That is how long occupants could expect to live in the bamboo dwellings.
Bamboo is used as the building material because it is affordable and sustainable.
A series of fasteners and bolts holds each of the micro houses together.
While the existing prototype is a tiny house fit for one or two residents, the architects intend to build larger modular houses as well. That way families will also be able to live comfortably in the temporary housing.
Within a single large abandoned industrial structure, it should be possible for the firm to construct as many as 50 of these bamboo units. While most of the units would be residential, some could also fill communal purposes. Utilities costs would be shared to the greatest degree possible.
If the proposal is accepted by the government, the firm could begin construction on the micro houses in earnest.
These micro houses restore privacy and dignity to the lives of Hong Kong’s most vulnerable residents. They also have the additional advantage of being aesthetically pleasing to look at.
The simple elegance of their design is exactly what makes them so appealing.
It would be possible to configure the homes in numerous different ways.
These drawings give you an idea for the different space layouts which are possible with the micro units.
If the Hong Kong government gives Affect-T the go-ahead on this project, it is conceivable that it will not only help the city, but also pave the way for similar projects in other overcrowded cities around the globe.
Let’s hope that Affect-T does get a chance to turn this idea into a reality that could help thousands of people. If you want to learn more, visit Arch Daily.
