Ecocapsule, a tiny, off-grid, fully portable, solar and wind powered house, looks like some dinosaur’s giant egg – only differences – due to some limiting factors, even dinosaurs didn’t lay such big eggs and instead of some baby bird, it is for people to live in.
Ecocapsule has been designed by Nice Architects, a young and innovative architectural studio of Bratislava, Slovakia.
The increasing number of architects who design tiny mobile houses is the proof that the desire for a small, compact, easily maintainable, off-grid house is growing all over the world. There are compact houses, houses on wheels including some which are green. With Ecocapsule, Nice Architects also joined the class.
Weighing 1500 kg, fitted in dimensions (H:L:W) 2.55 x 4.45 x 2.25, with installed power output – wind 750 W and solar 600 W, Ecocapsule has a battery capacity of 9744 Wh.
Despite its small size, because of its built-in kitchen with running water, flushing toilet and hot shower, a warm folding bed, a 3 piece table set, and a plenty of storage space to fit all your sport gear or research equipment, it suffices for all essential amenities and can house 2 adults without the need for recharge and refill, the designers say.
With highly efficient solar cells fitted in 2.62 sqms of its surface and a retractable pole holding a 750 W wind turbine, the energy system can offer a year long support in off-grid locations. Even at times of reduced solar and wind activity, the on-board high-capacity battery can support the energy-efficient Ecocapsule.
The curved shape of the Ecocapsule, which is to facilitate the collection of dew and rain water, and the built-in water filters, together, works like a simple rainwater harvesting system.
Without any special preparations and precautions, the Ecocapsule can be “shipped, airlifted, towed or even pulled by a pack animal”, the designers say.
The Ecocapsule was first displayed at Pioneers festival (28-29th May 2015) in Vienna. Currently, it is in display in the Slovak national pavilion at the Expo 2015.
The announcement of price and date of pre-orders of Ecocapsule will be in the last quarter of 2015 and the delivery of initial version would be in the first half of 2016, while the company is also hoping to offer customised versions.
It could be fully mobile if the designers can equip it with a set of wheels and an engine. With Ecocapsule, It is feasible to live off the land.
View in 360 degrees, the Ecocapsule’s exterior and interior.
