Tiny Houses

Prefab tiny houses installed into old dilapidated homes

Prefab tiny houses installed into old dilapidated homes
The Shangwei Village Plugin Houses cost around 85,000 YUAN (US$12,200) for the smaller model and 130,000 YUAN ($19,000) for the larger home
The Shangwei Village Plugin Houses cost around 85,000 YUAN (US$12,200) for the smaller model and 130,000 YUAN ($19,000) for the larger home
View 16 Images
Back in 2016, People's Architecture Office (PAO) designed an interesting modular house that can be built in just a few hours using only a hex key called the Plugin House
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Back in 2016, People's Architecture Office (PAO) designed an interesting modular house that can be built in just a few hours using only a hex key called the Plugin House
PAO has two new models of its Plugin House, which have been slotted into dilapidated structures in a village in China
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PAO has two new models of its Plugin House, which have been slotted into dilapidated structures in a village in China
The Shangwei Village Plugin Houses came about because the local government is legally required to renovate uninhabitable properties
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The Shangwei Village Plugin Houses came about because the local government is legally required to renovate uninhabitable properties
PAO prefabricated the Shangwei Village Plugin Houses to fit the spaces
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PAO prefabricated the Shangwei Village Plugin Houses to fit the spaces
PAO assembled the Shangwei Village Plugin Houses on site
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PAO assembled the Shangwei Village Plugin Houses on site
The smaller Shangwei Village Plugin House measures just 15 sq m (161 sq ft), while the larger model is a little more spacious at 20 sq m (215 sq ft)
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The smaller Shangwei Village Plugin House measures just 15 sq m (161 sq ft), while the larger model is a little more spacious at 20 sq m (215 sq ft)
The smaller Shangwei Village Plugin House has a skylight to ensure light permeates within
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The smaller Shangwei Village Plugin House has a skylight to ensure light permeates within
PAO reports that the budget for the smaller Shangwei Village Plugin House came in at around 85,000 YUAN (US$12,200)
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PAO reports that the budget for the smaller Shangwei Village Plugin House came in at around 85,000 YUAN (US$12,200)
Both of the Shangwei Village Plugin Houses look comfortable and light-filled
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Both of the Shangwei Village Plugin Houses look comfortable and light-filled
Both Shangwei Village Plugin Houses include efficient mini-split units for heating and cooling, small kitchens, and off-grid composting toilet
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Both Shangwei Village Plugin Houses include efficient mini-split units for heating and cooling, small kitchens, and off-grid composting toilet
According to PAO, the electricity bills of the Shangwei Village Plugin Houses are one quarter of those of their neighbors
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According to PAO, the electricity bills of the Shangwei Village Plugin Houses are one quarter of those of their neighbors
The Shangwei Village Plugin Houses were very quick and easy to assemble
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The Shangwei Village Plugin Houses were very quick and easy to assemble
The Shangwei Village Plugin Houses cost around 85,000 YUAN (US$12,200) for the smaller model and 130,000 YUAN ($19,000) for the larger home
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The Shangwei Village Plugin Houses cost around 85,000 YUAN (US$12,200) for the smaller model and 130,000 YUAN ($19,000) for the larger home
The Shangwei Village Plugin Houses came about because the local government is legally required to renovate uninhabitable properties
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The Shangwei Village Plugin Houses came about because the local government is legally required to renovate uninhabitable properties
The Shangwei Village Plugin Houses are split into two levels
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The Shangwei Village Plugin Houses are split into two levels
The Shangwei Village Plugin Houses include kitchens, living rooms, and bedrooms
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The Shangwei Village Plugin Houses include kitchens, living rooms, and bedrooms
View gallery - 16 images

Back in 2016, People's Architecture Office (PAO) designed a novel modular home that could be built within a day using just a hex key called the Plugin House. The firm is still developing the design and recently installed two new models of the Plugin House into dilapidated old houses in a Chinese village.

The Shangwei Village Plugin House project came about because the local government is legally required to renovate homes with collapsed roofs, rather than just knock them down. PAO prefabricated two Plugin Houses to fit within a like number of ruined homes then shipped them in parts to the site and assembled them in a day.

The smaller of the two homes has a total floorspace of just 15 sq m (161 sq ft) and was built inside a ruined house that has most of its roof missing. The larger prefab is in a similarly ruined structure but is a little more spacious at 20 sq m (215 sq ft). It boasts a walled-in garden and generous glazing.

Both homes look modern and light-filled inside. They include living rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms on the ground floor, with bedrooms upstairs. Efficient mini-split units maintain a comfortable temperature inside and, according to PAO, the electricity bills of the homes cost a quarter of those of their neighbors.

Both of the Shangwei Village Plugin Houses look comfortable and light-filled
Both of the Shangwei Village Plugin Houses look comfortable and light-filled

The cost of the Shangwei Village Plugin Houses came in at 85,000 Yuan (US$12,200) for the smaller model, while the larger model cost 130,000 Yuan ($19,000).

The project does raise some concerns, such as what will happen if one of the remaining walls or roofs collapse – they look rather rickety in the photos. Hopefully PAO has taken steps to protect against this.

Source: PAO

View gallery - 16 images
7 comments
7 comments
paul314
That's an interesting rule. I wonder how it came about. (It reminds me of a coastal town I used to visit, where new construction was pretty much barred, but you should have seen the "additions" and "renovations" people put on, next to, and under old shacks.)
Derek Howe
What an amazing view! s/
EL1
Can someone clarify the logic in this law? "...the local government is legally required to renovate homes with collapsed roofs, rather than just knock them down."
Makes absolutely no sense and creates a host of other problems, aside from collapsing walls.
paul314
My guess on the logic behind the law is that before it was enacted, sometime an enterprising official would see a house with some roof damage and tell the occupants "Oh, I see your roof has collapsed. What's it worth to you for me not to report your home for immediate demolition?"
ljaques
As if the old shanties weren't ugly enough, they add more goatface to it? Wow. Who could possibly want this, anyway?
As to rickety old houses, it appears that brand new houses are being built so sloppily that they're uninhabitable. https://is.gd/aYZiSF
Nik
15 sq meters, is about the size of a half shipping container, or an average caravan/trailer home. 20 sq meters is not much bigger. It might have been better to just put one on stilts, over the top of the dereliction, rather than bury it inside it. Not my choice of a home location at all. With all the brand new empty cities that have been built on China, that are sitting empty, the question arises, why build in a pile of building debris in the first place?
Nik
15 sq meters, is about the size of a half shipping container, or an average caravan/trailer home. 20 sq meters is not much bigger. It might have been better to just put one on stilts, over the top of the dereliction, rather than bury it inside it. Not my choice of a home location at all. With all the brand new empty cities that have been built on China, that are sitting empty, the question arises, why build in a pile of building debris in the first place?