Tiny Houses

Have Life Pod, will travel

Have Life Pod, will travel
Once the initial Life Pod prototype was built, Weekes hit the road for four months
Once the initial Life Pod prototype was built, Weekes hit the road for four months
View 14 Images
Weekes tested Life Pod over four months, towing it on an 800 mile (1,287 km) journey
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Weekes tested Life Pod over four months, towing it on an 800 mile (1,287 km) journey
Availability is rated at 12 weeks, from order to delivery
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Availability is rated at 12 weeks, from order to delivery
Weekes installed an electrical hookup, a pair of 300 W solar panels and a battery array
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Weekes installed an electrical hookup, a pair of 300 W solar panels and a battery array
The shape of the Life Pod derives from two Buckminster Fuller-inspired geodesic domes, which are joined together by a 10-sided cylinder
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The shape of the Life Pod derives from two Buckminster Fuller-inspired geodesic domes, which are joined together by a 10-sided cylinder
The structure weighs in at a total of 1,500 lb (680 kg)
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The structure weighs in at a total of 1,500 lb (680 kg)
Constructing the Life Pod
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Constructing the Life Pod
"There are many tiny homes out there, but none offer the light weight, capacity, capability and aerodynamic shape that only reduce your mileage by perhaps 5 miles per gallon that Life Pod does"
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"There are many tiny homes out there, but none offer the light weight, capacity, capability and aerodynamic shape that only reduce your mileage by perhaps 5 miles per gallon that Life Pod does"
Once the initial Life Pod prototype was built, Weekes hit the road for four months
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Once the initial Life Pod prototype was built, Weekes hit the road for four months
Weekes is selling the Life Pod for US$19,900, build-to-order, with the solar-powered kit adding an additional $2,900
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Weekes is selling the Life Pod for US$19,900, build-to-order, with the solar-powered kit adding an additional $2,900
Constructing the Life Pod
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Constructing the Life Pod
Once it was built, Weekes hit the road for four months, towing the Life Pod on an 800 mile (1,287 km) journey and refining the design with what he learned
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Once it was built, Weekes hit the road for four months, towing the Life Pod on an 800 mile (1,287 km) journey and refining the design with what he learned
Weekes aims to offer a build-it-yourself kit with plans and list of materials for $399
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Weekes aims to offer a build-it-yourself kit with plans and list of materials for $399
The interior of the tiny home includes shower, hot water tank, microwave oven, double mattress and composting toilet
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The interior of the tiny home includes shower, hot water tank, microwave oven, double mattress and composting toilet
Constructing the Life Pod
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Constructing the Life Pod
View gallery - 14 images

Inventor, engineer and author Michael R Weekes wanted to see how much home he could fit onto a small trailer designed for jet-skis, and still tow it with a standard car. The answer turned out to be the Life Pod: a tiny home that Weekes also envisions serving as a disaster relief or homeless shelter.

Bringing to mind the Ecocapsule, the shape of the Life Pod is inspired by American architect Buckminster Fuller. As such it consists of two geodesic domes, which are turned on their side and connected by a 10-sided cylinder. The 1,500 lb (680 kg) structure uses a lumber frame with TPO foam and Luan skin, with two small porthole windows and access via a single door.

While it's definitely cosy at 13.25 ft long by 8.25 feet wide (4 x 2.5 m), the interior of the Life Pod is still kitted out with a shower, hot water tank, microwave oven, double mattress, sink and composting toilet. Power comes from an electrical hookup, a pair of 300 W solar panels and a battery.

The structure weighs in at a total of 1,500 lb (680 kg)
The structure weighs in at a total of 1,500 lb (680 kg)

Once the initial Life Pod prototype was built, Weekes hit the road for four months, towing it on an 800 mile (1,287 km) journey and refining the design with what he learned.

"There are many tiny homes out there, but none offer the light weight, capacity, capability and aerodynamic shape that only reduce your mileage by perhaps 5 miles per gallon that Life Pod does," says the designer.

is now selling the Life Pod for US$19,900, build-to-order, with the solar-power kit adding an additional $2,900. Currently there's a wait of about 12 weeks on orders. Weekes also aims to offer a build-it-yourself kit with plans and a list of materials for $399.

Further into the future, Weekes is planning an interesting-sounding tubular net-zero tiny home. Naturally we'll be checking in with him to see how he gets on.

Source: Michael R Weekes

View gallery - 14 images
12 comments
12 comments
HugoSLaVia
Not sure why people are so gaga over small houses. I have a 600 sq ft house and it ain't all it's cracked up to be.
Stephen N Russell
Mass produce or lisc to produce, extend length some. Ideal for overnight short camping trips. Super idea. Must for rentals & sales Compare to similar on market & price Need to make more aero for Hwy speeds & allow roof Carrier pod.
Paul Anthony
Don't like the strap mounting, seems to lack any kind of reassuring security. Where are the windows? What happened to the door? Is there a refrigerator?
BigGoofyGuy
I think that is a really neat idea and design but I am not sure it is worth almost twenty thousand dollars.
unklmurray
I want more info ,wheres the floor plan,specs? mice pics tho.....need more info.....
guzmanchinky
Wouldn't it be easier to buy a used full size cargo van?
Reason
Hard to see any justification for the incredibly (and unnecessarily) complicated geodesic structure
GeneMoore
I'll take one kit please!!! I can fly the plane I built,,and domes are fun! maybe even easy... busy hands happy me!!
glorybe2
I could be very wrong, but I know of no Luan that can withstand any water contact at all. Maybe some thin plywood might be better than Luan.
ljaques
Man, check those bubbly, uneven seams! Does he make all of the overpriced pods like that? Where do these people get their pricing models from, Rodeo Drive? OK, sort of a cute idea, but rectangular boxes give you a helluva lot more room and storage in the same overall dimensions. P.S to glorybe2, lauan _is_ thin plywood. Think wooden door skin. I'd have glassed/gelcoated it since the extra strength would be well worth the extra 100 or so pounds.
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