For the wildhearted, the idea of living a nomadic lifestyle, with no fixed address and a minimal number of possessions, is merely a dream woven by transcendentalists like Henry David Thoreau and Christopher McCandless. But venturing off-grid is about to get easier, thanks to an Ecocapsule designed by Nice Architects of Slovakia.
The egg-shaped micro-dwelling is powered entirely by renewable energy — the roof is outfitted with solar cells and a wind turbine is mounted on a retractable pole. In an area that receives adequate sunlight, the Ecocapsule can sustain itself for nearly a year with its high-capacity battery. There is also a rainwater collection and filtration system which “[allows] you to enjoy the convenience of household facilities in off-grid conditions.”
The interior includes a kitchenette with running water, flushing toilet, shower, folding bed, working/dining area and storage. According to the designers, the Ecocapsule fits two people comfortably and can be towed, shipped, airlifted or pulled by a pack animal.
The prototype was unveiled this week at the Pioneers Festival in Vienna. Nice Architects will begin taking pre-orders at the end of 2015 and the capsules will be delivered in early 2016. The price tag is estimated to be in the tens of thousands of dollars, and shipping is expensive as well — a trip in a shipping container from Slovakia to New York will cost €2,200.
But without rent, property taxes, utility bills or a mortgage, your self-sustaining Ecocapsule is basically priceless — an ever-changing view wouldn’t be too bad either.
