Experimental tiny home disguises itself as HVAC

In the bonkers world of buildings shaped like other things, this micro-dwelling may at first look a bit boring. But unlike, say, South Korea’s giant camera cafe, the appearance of this rooftop abode is in the service of more than decoration—it’s a disguise. Dubbed H-VAC, the London tiny home is a playful twist on the fact that planning rules allow mechanical equipment to be installed without permission. That’s right. It’s a building designed to look like an air duct.

“While permitted development exists for large scale infrastructural roof installations, little challenge has been made for other viable and productive uses for rooftops,” say local firm PUP Architects, the dwelling’s creators. “By subverting the form of the permitted and giving it a non-standard use, we hope to bring into question this order of priorities.”

The pavilion was built largely out of prefab materials by a team of volunteers. It has a wood frame covered in folded shingles made of of Tetra-Pak container material, looking a bit like metal scales. The interior has a small room with benches for visitors to enjoy the view below. A hung stair connects it directly to the artist studios in the warehouse beneath it.

H-VAC was the winning entry in the inaugural Antepavilion competition, which explores innovative and alternative ways of living in the city—especially on rooftops.

Via: ArchDaily