Clever, affordable and functional, this innovative tiny house building system was proposed as part of Impact Design Competitions’ ‘Micro Housing 2022’ contest. Designed by Brazillian architect Felipe Campolina, this project, titled Urban Camp, envisions an economical, transportable, and easy to assemble DIY tiny houses that would fit within a parking space and house up to four people.
Campolina describes this project as a “manifesto against car culture”, suggesting an alternative form of urban housing that would help to alleviate housing deficits in city spaces and provoke conversation around the prioritization of people over vehicles. Encompassing a surface area of 348 ft² (32.4m²) and including two floors with high ceilings, Urban Camp offers all the amenities of a complete, comfortable tiny home in a compact urban space.
The main structure of the Urban Camp tiny homes consists of Tube and fitting scaffolding, paired with timber planks and oriented strand board (OSB) panels. These materials complement the rigidity of the structure, while remaining easy to transport and assemble. In addition, the roof is covered with clear polycarbonate roof tiles that serve to waterproof the exterior of the home, protecting it from the elements of the urban outdoors.
Inside each Urban Camp, you will find an integrated living and kitchen zone, with double-height ceilings, a comfortable seating area, and a functional kitchen. Next door, a bedroom features four single beds, stacked vertically, in the style of bunk beds, allowing for a practical use of space. Ample built-in storage and space-saving furniture is also include throughout the home, along with a full-sized bathroom with the possibility of linking to an outdoor utility space. From the kitchen, a ladder can be accessed that leads up to a compact home office that features a sturdy desk and warm lighting where inhabitants can work or study from home.
To this date, the Urban Camp design has not yet been implemented, its functionality and design remains theoretical. Still, Campolina’s proposal stands out as an innovative and cost-effective solution to housing shortages in city spaces that would allow thrifty city-dwellers to build their own fully functional tiny homes in the space that would otherwise be taken up by a single parking spot.
In addition, these homes could serve as emergency shelters during natural disasters or other crises, providing temporary housing for displaced individuals or families. Due to their compact size and modular design, they could be quickly deployed to areas in need, offering a safe and comfortable living space until more permanent solutions are available. Additionally, their affordability and ease of assembly make them accessible to communities with limited resources, allowing for rapid response in emergency situations. Moreover, the integrated living and kitchen areas could facilitate community support efforts, such as providing meals or medical assistance, while the built-in storage could be used to store emergency supplies. Overall, these homes offer versatility and practicality in addressing various societal needs beyond just housing shortages.
