{"id":1550,"date":"2020-01-24T14:55:00","date_gmt":"2020-01-24T18:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/reprogrammingthecity.com\/?p=1550"},"modified":"2020-08-11T14:48:24","modified_gmt":"2020-08-11T18:48:24","slug":"repurposed-water-pipes-offer-micro-housing-solution-for-hong-kongs-housing-shortage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reprogrammingthecity.com\/repurposed-water-pipes-offer-micro-housing-solution-for-hong-kongs-housing-shortage\/","title":{"rendered":"Repurposing Water Pipes as Microhousing in Hong Kong"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hong Kong\u2019s shortage of affordable housing leaves residents with few options. Those who can afford it can pay well over $2,000 a month for a tiny one-bedroom apartment. Those who can\u2019t afford that may have to turn to cheap black market rooms known as \u201cCoffin Cubicles.\u201d Local practice James Law Cybertecture<\/a> has proposed a third option: affordable microhousing by repurposing water pipes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cOPod Tube House\u201d concept, says the firm, \u201cis an experimental, low cost, microhousing unit to ease Hong Kong\u2019s affordable housing problems.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cConstructed out of low cost and readily available 2.5m diameter concrete water pipe, the design ultilizes the strong concrete structure to house a mico-living apartment for one\/two persons with fully kitted out living, cooking and bathroom spaces inside 100 square feet.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"Opod<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Opod Tube House\u2019s small footprint allows them to fit in vacant lots for quick and agile housing solutions or in the unused spaces in-between and behind buildings or in alleyways. The houses can be stacked to become a muli-unit housing complex and modular community in a short time and for a fraction of traditional housing development costs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Opod<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Each unit uses the latest micro-housing design innovations, with a foldable bench that doubles as a bed, spaces for a mini-fridge and microwave, and a bathroom at the rear. The firm estimates that each OPod Tube House can be built for approximately $15,000 and rented out for about $400 a month. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a city that already leads the way in innovative multi-functioning infrastructure<\/a>, the Opod Tube House moves the bar even higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Opod<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While a city like Portland, Oregon finds its own new use for city water infrastructure<\/a>, Hong Kong offers an intriguing idea by repurposing water pipes in true Reprogramming the City fashion: using the assets it has to address its needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For 44 of the most innovative urban repurposing projects from 17 countries check out the <\/strong>Reprogramming the City book<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n