When Illustrator Peter Berkowitz found that house rental costs in San Francisco were too expensive for his budget, he did a bit of outside the box thinking (well, technically inside it) and enlisted the help of some handy friends. Together they built a small wooden pod for US$1,300, with Berkowitz then installing the Living Pod in the living room of a pal's house and paying $400 per month in rent.
While we've covered a lot of tiny homes on Gizmag, this is the first tiny home within a living room that we've seen. Though "home" is perhaps a stretch and oversized cabin bed perhaps more applicable. According to the Washington Post, Berkowitz himself derives inspiration from the Japanese Capsule Hotels.
The Living Pod is constructed from wood and measures just 8 x 3.5 x 4.5 ft (2.4 x 1 x 1.4 m), so it's very snug inside. Berkowitz made some effort to ensure the interior layout is as comfortable as possible, though, and it includes a bed, fold-down desk, a cushioned backboard, and a light.
We've no word on whether the $400 rent includes the use of storage and the bathroom in the host's house, but would assume so. There are some other obvious concerns too, such as the relative lack of privacy and the awkwardness when bringing home a guest, but the arrangement seems to suit Berkowitz.
"Yes, living in a pod is silly," says Berkowitz. "But the silliness is endemic to San Francisco's absurdly high housing prices – the pod is just a solution that works for me. Many people have apartments with the space/capacity to house another person but choose not to because there isn't an attractive way to do so.
Temporary partitions offer poor privacy, especially in terms of sound. They also tend to ruin whatever room they're in – you're less likely to use your living room if it doubles as a bedroom."
Berkowitz thinks the Living Pod could fill a gap in the market for people like him who need an affordable place to rest their head, or those wanting to rent out some space for a little extra cash. With this in mind, he asks those interested in owning a Living Pod to get in touch with him (via the source link below).
Source: Peter Berkowitz
