Some time ago I discussed the smallest houses in the world and judging by the response that article generated, the idea of an ultra-compact and personal home is definitely not for everyone. Even so, projects keep emerging that seek to challenge the traditional concept of home, such as Ecocapsule, which features integrated solar panels and a wind turbine, a combo that should guarantee a certain energy independence.
The Concept of Camping
The concept of a "camp" varies with each person. For some it's simple entertainment, for others, a lifestyle. It can also be part of a job, or the only available alternative. Another possibility is that camp serves as a springboard to live away from big cities, or "off-grid", as they like to say across the pond. The most recognizable option is the caravan (read trailer, motorhome, or mobile home), but over time a new generation of architects and engineers has emerged who want to implement other solutions, without relying so much on fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources.
Inside the Ecocapsule
This brings us to Bratislava, where the Ecocapsule is being developed. Measuring 2.55 meters high, 4.45 meters long, and 2.25 meters wide, this capsule resembles an egg and has solar panels on top. The panel array generates approximately 600 watts of power, which is added to the 750 watts from the wind turbine, and both systems keep a battery network charged. The "Mork and Mindy" design is directly associated with water and dew collection. Each Ecocapsule comes equipped with filters that turn these alternative sources into safe water, ready for drinking and showering. Incidentally, the Ecocapsule has a bathroom with a shower, though the toilet is "composting".
Price and Availability
According to the official page, the price of the Ecocapsule will be announced during the last quarter of this year. With a weight of 1,500 kilograms, shipping the Ecocapsule to different regions of the globe is a challenge in itself. Another curious fact emerges from the difference in shipping costs: moving an Ecocapsule from Bratislava to New York costs 2,200 euros, but shipping one to Buenos Aires is 1,800 euros, and to Melbourne 1,500. I imagine many have already discarded the Ecocapsule as an option for living, but it might be better suited to the role of a scientific station, or why not, as a replacement of very high technology for a tent. If anyone is interested in a "caravan edition" of the Ecocapsule, they will have to wait until 2016.
