The Brazilian architect and 3D visual designer Felipe Campolina displayed his proposal for the Micro Housing 2022 contest, driven by Impact Design Competitions. His project, titled Urban Camp, contemplates an affordable, portable, and easy to assemble construction system that makes parking lots habitable for those seeking shelter and temporary or permanent housing. Each unit covers 32.4 m2 and can comfortably accommodate more than four people.
Campolina's proposal, which was ranked among the best, although without reaching a podium position, aims to collaborate in the search for solutions to housing problems that exist in some places, with small-scale projects that can provide all the necessary comforts, as requested by the contest organization.
Campolina describes his unique project as a "manifesto against car culture", because with it, he not only intends to be part of a collective solution to facilitate access to housing, but also wants to promote a type of urbanism that leaves the car in the background and facilitates more sustainable mobility.
Each unit will be composed of a Tube & Clamp scaffold, supported by wooden slats and OSB boards, to perfectly combine with the rigidity of the structure. Transparent polycarbonate tiles completely cover the entire roof, ensuring adequate waterproofing.
The high ceiling interior is divided into two levels; the first floor has an integrated living and kitchen space and a sleeping area that houses four beds arranged vertically, creating a unique spatiality. The second floor, for its part, houses a compact workspace that can be accessed via a ladder attached to the wall. In addition, each room within the housing unit has built-in storage furniture, including a full bathroom that connects to an outdoor service area.
Thanks to its quick DIY mechanism, the Urban Camp model can quickly become a small village of 25 units to accommodate about 100 people comfortably and safely.
A vindication of the role of mini-houses
The call to participate launched from the contest organisation established that the participants had to "design a prototype of a micro-living unit that reflects the personal needs and the culture of the chosen residential community. A proper aggregation of these micro-living units should be made in an urban context," they explained in the rules".
Thus, with this delivery, they wanted to pay tribute to the contributions of the 'tinyhouse' movement, which in some cases, have meant a real revolution to alleviate the problem of housing shortage in some places around the world. "The problems in accessing housing have given rise to a new Micro-living movement; one that dominates the idea of a simple but inventive life in the current urban scenario. The concept of these revolutionary homes encourages the innovation of the maximum functional area in a minimum space, thus redefining the perception of sustainability in urban homes," they assure.
