Inhabitat

January 4, 2008

PREFAB FRIDAY: Single Hauz Elevated Domain

Living lightly takes on new meaning with the Single Hauz from Poland-based front architects. Inspired by billboards, intended for single lifestyles and propped on a central pole, this prefab looks to the spaces otherwise overlooked. Small, sustainable and high-tech, the Single Hauz can live almost anywhere.

front_2.jpg, SingleHauz, Front Architects, prefab, green prefab, green building, prefabrication, prefab architecture, prefab design

Small skyward spaces, small house. The Single Hauz is just 27 square meters (290 square feet) with bathroom, kitchen and living space filling the elevated first floor and opening to a deck with the vista of your choice. The second floor provides a sleeping loft and access to the roof.

There are of course many logistical questions that accompany the Single Hauz concept but the idea takes shape in such a stylish little form that we can’t help ponder the challenge posed: how much space do you really need and where do you want it? This prefab could serve the urban landscape quite well or even be a good choice in flood prone areas. Wherever it pops up it’s certain that the Single Hauz rises above.

+ front architects (In Polish)
Via BLDGBLOG

front_3.jpg, SingleHauz, Front Architects, prefab, green prefab, green building, prefabrication, prefab architecture, prefab design

front_4.jpg, SingleHauz, Front Architects, prefab, green prefab, green building, prefabrication, prefab architecture, prefab design

front_5.jpg, SingleHauz, Front Architects, prefab, green prefab, green building, prefabrication, prefab architecture, prefab design

20 Responses to “PREFAB FRIDAY: Single Hauz Elevated Domain”

Alex G Says:

January 4th, 2008 at 6:52 am

For some reason this really apeals to me. perhaps it’s the fact it could be easly transported to just anywhere and would be realivly cheap… or maybe it’s just the fact I’m a guy.. and I’ve not outgrown treehouse’s :)

Betsy Gabler Says:

January 4th, 2008 at 11:09 am

I love it! What a fabulous option for a resort in Bali or someplace where all you really WANT to do is be ‘in hot water.’ Wonderful creativity, and excellent use of what would typically be called negative space.

Whistler Says:

January 4th, 2008 at 1:12 pm

Nice photoshop exercise but beyond that its not got a lot of practical siting opportunities. Perhaps try and indicate where they might be situated and actually make sense. Gosh like a treehouse in a forest! How unique!

mikeyb66 Says:

January 4th, 2008 at 6:35 pm

I bet the foundations are pretty big, and expensive.

shehla Says:

January 5th, 2008 at 8:53 am

the best thing about this house is how small a footprint it leaves on the land! we need to start thinking ‘above ground’ in these days of green living!! and the foundation should be pretty small. its such a small slab and the house itself is lightweight! it’ll be like building one coulmn for a house, holding just the solid concrete floor slab! :)

Richie Says:

January 5th, 2008 at 9:30 am

This design is great… but what about high winds, or intense articulating winds (0-150mph in 1 second, hurricane style). I’ve always wondered about lifting up dwelling structures on the tubular posts that support Advertising Billboards. It seems like a new use of ‘off the shelf’ , already existing, industrial technology.

My vote is to triangulate. 3 equilaterally spaced posts and a wider structure. (Maybe the structure could be more aerodynamic as well ?) Obviously… this would be a different project(Single Hauz 2, Multi-Hauz 1 ?) BUT… imagine creating a pre-fab ‘building system that utilized this telescoping billboard sign post idea ? High up, or close to the ground… it could be something ? Of course… high tension cables could anchor the ‘Single Hauz’ to the ground… but they would ruin the look, just like they ruin the look of so many single pole wind generators. Wasn’t the ‘Single Hauz’ previously featured in ‘inahabitat’ a while ago ? Too bad the architects site is in Polish !
.

Jill Says:

January 5th, 2008 at 12:44 pm

I don’t know why everything thinks we have covered this before on Inhabitat, but I can assure you that we have not.

Thanks!
Jill

djfred Says:

January 5th, 2008 at 2:28 pm

Jill, because it’s been floating around on design blogs that readers of Inhabitat most likely also frequent.

I really like this one. Nice clean design and utilizing existing components as opposed to asking the manufacturer to fabricate custom pieces and then trying to figure out why the low-cost pre-fab isn’t low-cost. I wonder about the floor plan. It seems like there’s a lot of wasted space on the upper story but t would make a great office or even work/occasional live with a little more floorspace.

Katie Bond Says:

January 5th, 2008 at 2:33 pm

I have been looking for an affordable pre-fab design for a vacation/retirement home along the Siletz River here in Oregon. I will be interested in more details (in English, of course).

Anson Says:

January 5th, 2008 at 4:16 pm

It comes down to this; the design is creative and fairly original. it allows the structure to be put in many many places that an ordinary foundation could not achieve and does it in a rather inexpensive way. wind could pose a bit of a problem but there are many billboards with a larger face that survive the wind so with attentive positioning (thin side toward the prevailing wind) and a solid foundation it should make a facinating stand alone tree house!

Christopher P. Says:

January 5th, 2008 at 4:34 pm

Interesting concept for flood prone areas, second unit development on limited lot sizes, where local codes require additional parking per unit (e.g., most cities in Greater Los Angeles). Not practical for any but young singles and couples, and the more athletic older singletons. And yet another venue for Inhabitat’s favorite, shipping container repurposing! Just park an unadorned shipping container underneath for one’s “stuff” (always have to have a places for one’s “stuff”!)

As for windloads, brachiated trees evolved into forests and groves, to hold each other up and act as wind screens and moisture catchment areas, with minimal sun blocking. Could work here….

John Wade Says:

January 6th, 2008 at 6:31 pm

You need some pulley system to bring up your groceries though. And not exactly senior or disability friendly by the looks, Otherwise, interesting.

David Ewing Says:

January 6th, 2008 at 8:24 pm

Are they stackable?

joe Says:

January 7th, 2008 at 2:04 pm

Why aren’t there any pics of the interior?

Scott Says:

January 7th, 2008 at 8:24 pm

Cool looking, but I don’t think I’d want to be in one during an earthquake :-).

Francisco Saraiva Says:

January 11th, 2008 at 1:31 pm

Apesar do apelo da imagem, acho que ninguem me convencia a viver num rectangulo de 2×10metros. onde punha o meu estirador? ecologicamente não vejo nenhuma mais valia.
Very good looking, but i could never be convinced to live in a 2×10 metres space, where do i put my drawing table?

Sarah Says:

January 13th, 2008 at 1:50 am

The first thing I thought of (apart from ‘ooooo funky’) was ‘Where does the water/sewage/ectricity come and go?’. I’m guessing they would have a lot of pipes and such in the main column that holds them up.

Anne Says:

January 13th, 2008 at 4:45 pm

wow - absolutely love this. the area beneath could be a shade garden, lush ferns etc, nice place to linger.

Leo Mac Ender Says:

February 17th, 2008 at 3:36 am

Keep going on, don´t let anyone “snort” at your brilliant architecture, ok.
Diploma for you…
Leo Mac Ender
Senior Architect

Jac Says:

March 5th, 2008 at 7:37 pm

it’s a great idea but i can’t see how feasible it really is. Maybe they should build one and live in it for a while, sorta test-drive it. Dun banners have holes in them to accomodate huge winds and storms?! And a banner compared with 2 people is definitely way lighter. Until it’s built and tested, it’s just looks pretty on photoshop at the moment.

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