Life in a concrete pipe: in Hong Kong, it was proposed to build housing in water pipes

The trend for microdomes has been becoming more and more popular over the past ten years. The new age of tiny city houses has finally arrived. An unexpected version of the microdome was presented by James Law Cybertecture. The OPod Tube House is made of standard concrete pipe and is designed for young people who cannot afford to buy housing in the world's megacities.

The houses recently presented in Hong Kong are made of former concrete water pipes with a diameter of a little more than two and a half meters. The housing is designed for one or two people, the living area occupies about 93 square meters. Inside there are standard amenities, a living room with a folding bed, a mini-refrigerator, a bathroom with a shower and a place to store clothes and personal belongings.

According to the architect of the project, James Lowe, the idea of tiny dwellings in pipes can be a practical solution for both young people who are looking for a home, and for city authorities who are struggling with the problem of overpopulation.

Despite the fact that the structures are far from light — about 22 tons each pipe, their installation does not require a lot of money and effort. The pipes are easily attached to each other, which reduces the cost of installation.

Pipes are easy to store and can be installed in any small unused place in the city — for example, in alleys and under bridges.

Lowe explained that the concept is suitable for any city: "Sometimes there is too narrow a space between buildings so that something else can be built there. And OPod will easily fit there."