The Smallest (Real) Home on the Planet
I can’t 100% guarantee the title (you know those kooky home builders) but I’m pretty sure this is the smallest home I’ve ever seen. So small in fact, that one can push it around the city, or the forest, on a hill, in a national park. Of course, this may be the only home you can lose if it happens to roll off. You can’t say that about any old house now can you.
N55 the creative minds behind the snail shell system note that this system, “Can easily be placed in a discreet way. It can be buried in the ground, exposing only the entrance. It can also function as a comfortable space inside existing buildings.” There’s quite a lot more to this structure which you can read about at the N55 website.
It is so a house! Look, it offers rest…
A shower and kitchen.
From the website; “The bilge pump (on the left) can be used as a vacuum cleaner as well as for pumping water. Combined with hoses and a flexible tank, it works as a shower… The box (on the right) contains a torch, hoses for the pump, kitchen pan, kettle and alcohol burner, foldable water containers that can be used for ballasting as well as for shower and drinking water, and plastic bags.”
Toilet
I didn’t say glamorous toilet.
One of N55’s work in progress living spaces, you won’t even have to push… it’ll just walk along side of you.
N55 has created so many interesting items — all related to space, how we use space, and living. They have inflatable, floating, and other innovative homes. I recommend setting aside an hour or so and cruising through all of their manuals. It’s well worth the time.
What could you use this for? Camping, living as a wanderer, in the old days maybe a Dead show or two.
Tags: circle-homes, green-living, n55, offbeat-homes, rolling-house, small-house, sustanable-living, tiny-homes, walking-houseRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Green Building & Sustainable Design, Mobile Structures, Small Spaces
25 opinions for The Smallest (Real) Home on the Planet
Linette
Dec 10, 2007 at 4:06 pm
I think I’ll stick with a tent. Even with legs, I think it would be hard to get around with your house following you.
Looks like something for the person who has everything.
Julie
Dec 10, 2007 at 8:01 pm
I could put this house in my backyard and it could be my blogging house. Just my little space to go and be totally 100% alone to be able to blog, blog, blog. Wow, that sounds so nice.
Thomas
Dec 11, 2007 at 11:52 am
We have had these for years. It’s called a port-a-potty. Available at construction sites and concerts everywhere.
Jennifer Chait
Dec 11, 2007 at 8:54 pm
Linette; maybe it is only for people who have everything. That’s not too off base.
Julie I cannot see you in one of these. At all. But you could be alone to blog for sure.
Thomas ~ Good point although most port-a-potties are sans cook stoves and showers (thankfully).
Gayla McCord
Dec 12, 2007 at 7:19 am
I’m thinking four kids could be very comfortable in these. I’ve plenty of room in the back yard :)
Jennifer Chait
Dec 12, 2007 at 10:29 am
Gayla! Welcome to Offbeat :D
I think moving the kids into these is an excellent plan for downsizing and quiet. Thanks for stopping by for a visit.
Mirco
Dec 14, 2007 at 6:08 pm
This has to be one of the dumbest ideas ever. Get a tent. Seriously. it’s lighter, and you can pack it up into a backpack. also, it has more room, and you don’t need to roll it around. just pack it up, and good to go. I’d like to see someone hitch-hiking with this abomination.
Jennifer Chait
Dec 14, 2007 at 6:15 pm
I don’t agree that this is one of the dumbest ideas ever. But I would likely use a tent too; before this. Mainly because I can’t see enjoying the scenery while pushing a big plastic circle around. Or what about bike trips? Yikes. Thanks for the comment and for stopping by.
joe
Dec 14, 2007 at 7:48 pm
i think this would be great for any camper that does not want the hassel of a tent. how much does it weigh?
Mark Anthony
Dec 17, 2007 at 3:15 pm
although I feel like they are trying to cram a lot of standing living ementies into a compacted space, I like their creativity. I can’t see anyone really going out to buy this today but it’s a cool thought. I seems rather mechanical. I’d like to see it in action.
Robert
Dec 21, 2007 at 3:09 am
Um…who wants to live inside a barrel?? “Hey, want to come back to my place? You’ll have to stand outside, because I live in a fucking fifty gallon drum.” A triumph of clever design over actual usefulness.
Jennifer Chait
Dec 22, 2007 at 9:02 am
Good point Robert; not so much party headquarters is it. It might self-serve as a keg like structure but nope — lots of people aren’t fitting in there.
Izabael DaJinn
Dec 22, 2007 at 4:24 pm
Buried in the ground somewhere? Hm…
TotallyTyson
Dec 22, 2007 at 7:19 pm
The walking one is kinda revealing ain’t it? Who would want a big window in front of where you were sleeping! These things look like cages, prisons even.
I’d consider selling these to some overcrowded penitentiary’s.
Peeler
Dec 23, 2007 at 6:26 am
Does the toilet also double as a trash can?
I hope it has good ventilation. Crapping inside of a little plastic box might make it temporarily uninhabitable.
What’s with the outside latches? Couldn’t someone lock you in?
It does seem to have potential but I wouldn’t think it would be at all useful on a hike. Maybe a semi-permanent camping/hunting lodge?
Jennifer Chait
Dec 23, 2007 at 3:01 pm
So, it’s looking like most people won’t be lining up for one of these. Maybe they need to re market as a child’s clubhouse or something. Without the lock.
Bryan
Dec 23, 2007 at 9:10 pm
I think I might get something like this when I get my acres of land to bury it on :-D
Noreen Crone-Findlay
Dec 23, 2007 at 11:17 pm
It’s kind of up there with the Japanese sleeping pods. erg.
Um…. if you bury it in the ground, isn’t it called a ‘casket’?
Not for the claustrophobic….
But, I have seen people addressing the issue of homelessnes by making very small houses, so it’s something that needs to be looked at creatively!
Esther
Dec 24, 2007 at 9:03 pm
I don’t know about this one either, but if you could put the kids in one and then bury it…!!! Sure would make for a quiet weekend for Mom & Pop. Jen, I’d sure love to know where you come up with all the links you have! How long have you been doing this?
And Merry Christmas!
Jimmy
Dec 26, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Could re-market this as a great way to travel over the Niagara Falls. A certain posh touch to the wooden barrel.
Jennifer Chait
Dec 27, 2007 at 12:14 am
Esther ~ It takes a while actually, to come up with all these links. But I love houses so it never feels like too much work :) Thanks for stopping by.
Jimmy ~ Too funny. That cracked me up. Maybe you could start a business venture. Thanks so much for the fun comment and for visiting.
Best of Offbeat Homes 2007
Jan 1, 2008 at 10:54 am
[…] The Smallest (Real) Home on the Planet: No idea why this post was so popular although I’m betting it’s due to a certain […]
b5media - Live from the Red Carpet - It’s b5media’s Lifestyles Golden Blog Awards
Jan 16, 2008 at 8:49 am
[…] Offbeat Homes - The Smallest (Real) Home on the Planet […]
22 Earth-Friendly Homes | RiverWired
Mar 30, 2008 at 12:20 am
[…] The Smallest (Real) Home on the Planet […]
The Best of Offbeat Homes: December 2007
Jun 5, 2008 at 5:01 pm
[…] was an odd offbeat month. One of my least favorite offbeat posts, as in, not one of the better houses I’ve shown here, shocked me by becoming massively […]
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: