An Architect Chases the Dream of Nomadic Urban Living
Leonardo Di Chiara designs a sustainable home on wheels that is under 100 square feet and hides furniture in its walls
After graduating, Italian architect Leonardo Di Chiara wanted to use his newfound freedom to experience the cities of the world, living and working in a number of urban centers. This isn’t an easy dream to fulfill, as each move means finding a new apartment and packing boxes all over again. Di Chiara took an unusual and innovative approach to the problem. Applying his planning skills, he came up with the aVoid: a 97-square-foot experimental house on wheels that is almost as mobile as a rolling suitcase.
The aVoid was inspired by the ’70s American tiny house movement, driven by people who sought a more self-sufficient and sustainable, and less consumerist, lifestyle.
This had always been attractive to Di Chiara, pictured, though he has reservations about escaping society and seeking comfort in isolation, another classic tenet of the movement. That’s why the architect designed this tiny house to feel incomplete when standing on its own. “The aVoid has no windows on its long sides. It’s a row house, so it doesn’t make sense if there are no neighbors around it,” he says.
Instead, it’s a house on wheels for traveling with the aim of exploring new social and community experiences.
This had always been attractive to Di Chiara, pictured, though he has reservations about escaping society and seeking comfort in isolation, another classic tenet of the movement. That’s why the architect designed this tiny house to feel incomplete when standing on its own. “The aVoid has no windows on its long sides. It’s a row house, so it doesn’t make sense if there are no neighbors around it,” he says.
Instead, it’s a house on wheels for traveling with the aim of exploring new social and community experiences.
On the inside, the aVoid was built as, well, a void — an empty space where one can live freely and create one’s own identity. “I looked on the interior space as a blank page. I’m an architect, so blank pages are my inspiration,” Di Chiara says.
At first glance, the house seems to be empty. Each of its features is built into and concealed within the four walls, and comes to life when pulled out into the main space. As each element is activated, it not only transforms the room, but it also counters some of the sterility of the walls with its wood finish.
At first glance, the house seems to be empty. Each of its features is built into and concealed within the four walls, and comes to life when pulled out into the main space. As each element is activated, it not only transforms the room, but it also counters some of the sterility of the walls with its wood finish.
Di Chiara connected with a variety of companies that helped with individual elements. Schücko, for example, provided aluminum window frames, and Häfele provided hardware for folding or moving furniture. Both companies not only donated products, but also helped Di Chiara adapt them to the project’s needs. “This experiment is not just about me, but also the companies I have worked with, since they had to do their own research too. Many of them had to adapt their products to my spaces.”
Another goal Di Chiara hopes to reach with these collaborations is to start a dialogue with potential manufacturers. He wants to explore the potential for the mass production of urban tiny houses using products already available on the market. This could provide a widely accessible and sustainable answer to the needs of a growing community of highly mobile and geographically independent individuals.
Another goal Di Chiara hopes to reach with these collaborations is to start a dialogue with potential manufacturers. He wants to explore the potential for the mass production of urban tiny houses using products already available on the market. This could provide a widely accessible and sustainable answer to the needs of a growing community of highly mobile and geographically independent individuals.
Taking inspiration from other tiny houses, this home has a wood frame. This is a good choice because wood is a light and flexible structural element that makes it easy to make modifications on an ongoing basis.
The furniture is all wood, to give the space a warm atmosphere. Each piece is built of okoume marine plywood, which is resistant to humidity and fungus. The paneling that insulates the house acoustically and thermally is wood too.
Di Chiara also kept bioclimatic principles in mind, to make the home as energy efficient as possible.
The furniture is all wood, to give the space a warm atmosphere. Each piece is built of okoume marine plywood, which is resistant to humidity and fungus. The paneling that insulates the house acoustically and thermally is wood too.
Di Chiara also kept bioclimatic principles in mind, to make the home as energy efficient as possible.
“The biggest challenge for me was to put it all together. All of the parts influence one another, so everything has been designed down to the millimeter. This means that whenever something changes, I have to rethink everything else,” he says.
The bed and mattress, for example, are two prototypes the architect designed and then had made to order. The bed structure has two parts: the part for sleeping on, which flips out of the wall, and the niche this leaves when the bed is open, which can be used as a work or reading space.
The mattress is also in two parts so that the bed can be converted from a single to a double.
The bed and mattress, for example, are two prototypes the architect designed and then had made to order. The bed structure has two parts: the part for sleeping on, which flips out of the wall, and the niche this leaves when the bed is open, which can be used as a work or reading space.
The mattress is also in two parts so that the bed can be converted from a single to a double.
The two folding chairs are the only elements Di Chiara didn’t design himself. Made of birch plywood, they were designed by Malte Grieb for Ambivalenz.
The bathroom is in the front of the house and finished entirely in wood. Each fixture is concealed. The mirror and faucets disappear behind the door, for example. Then there is the composting toilet — a composting and dehydration process allows for zero water consumption in human waste disposal while producing an easy-to-use fertilizer to boot. Roller shades ensure privacy.
The shower system is unusual. Di Chiara developed his idea, named Trolley Tank, based on the water-recycling Showerloop. It consists of two 16-gallon water sacks, one for clean water and one for used water, held in a portable tank. As you use water, the first sack gradually empties while the second one fills. When the second sack is full, you disconnect the tank and dispose of the water, usually by connecting to municipal water systems. This setup makes it possible to go long periods without relying on municipal connections.
The shower system is unusual. Di Chiara developed his idea, named Trolley Tank, based on the water-recycling Showerloop. It consists of two 16-gallon water sacks, one for clean water and one for used water, held in a portable tank. As you use water, the first sack gradually empties while the second one fills. When the second sack is full, you disconnect the tank and dispose of the water, usually by connecting to municipal water systems. This setup makes it possible to go long periods without relying on municipal connections.
Even the faucets in the small but well-equipped kitchen are concealed. The sink has a wooden cover that can serve as a work surface or cutting board. There is an induction cooktop and a very small fridge, because after all, as Di Chiara says, “in winter, food can be stored outside.” A shelf system serves as a pantry.
A compartment over the kitchen acts as a small greenhouse for potted herbs. This space is heated and gets light from the inclined roof window.
A compartment over the kitchen acts as a small greenhouse for potted herbs. This space is heated and gets light from the inclined roof window.
Di Chiara removes a board to reveal his houseplants.
Di Chiara has been living in his house since July 2017. Since then, he has learned how to live with just a few essential items without accumulating — and wasting — more than he really needs. He is determined to make this house self-sufficient so that he can live independently in any city. He works with city authorities to get permits for temporary stays.
6 Tips From a Nearly Zero-Waste Home
Di Chiara has been living in his house since July 2017. Since then, he has learned how to live with just a few essential items without accumulating — and wasting — more than he really needs. He is determined to make this house self-sufficient so that he can live independently in any city. He works with city authorities to get permits for temporary stays.
6 Tips From a Nearly Zero-Waste Home
One of the short sides of the house is fully covered in glass, flooding the interior with warm natural light. The glass wall can be opened completely, and the roof windows are inclined at a 110-degree angle. This angle was chosen not only to capture more sunlight, but also to turn the roof into a comfortable seat. These windows also bring natural ventilation into the whole house.
Solar panels, combined with radiant infrared heat panels, will be installed soon.
Solar panels, combined with radiant infrared heat panels, will be installed soon.
Di Chiara is not the only one testing the house. Anyone can contact him and arrange to experience this small living unit. This way, he carries out “living tests” to collect feedback on the prototype’s configuration, tools and performance.
“I wasn’t aware of how much water a human being can produce. When the house is closed and someone is inside, there is a lot of condensation that has to be dealt with,” he says. He will address this by installing mechanical ventilation to exchange air between inside and out without thermal dispersion.
“I wasn’t aware of how much water a human being can produce. When the house is closed and someone is inside, there is a lot of condensation that has to be dealt with,” he says. He will address this by installing mechanical ventilation to exchange air between inside and out without thermal dispersion.
In its current setup, the aVoid has been tested and registered as a mobile home. Under European law, it can be towed anywhere with the right kind of vehicle — an SUV, off-road vehicle or van equipped with a tow hook — by anyone who has a B-E driver’s license (that is, a license that permits driving with a trailer).
Its first test was driving more than 745 miles from Pesaro, Italy, where it was designed, to Berlin. “Driving off was the most difficult part of this project, and I wanted to postpone it,” Di Chiara says. “I knew I had to get to the Bauhaus Campus Berlin, but I was afraid the house would get damaged along the way.”
He was on his way to participate in Bauhaus Campus Berlin’s Tinyhouse University. As it states on its website, “TinyU is a collective of designers, activists and refugees who seek to explore social neighborhoods in creative ways.”
In the end, the aVoid arrived in Berlin perfectly intact, ready to be developed further with feedback from TinyU participants.
Its first test was driving more than 745 miles from Pesaro, Italy, where it was designed, to Berlin. “Driving off was the most difficult part of this project, and I wanted to postpone it,” Di Chiara says. “I knew I had to get to the Bauhaus Campus Berlin, but I was afraid the house would get damaged along the way.”
He was on his way to participate in Bauhaus Campus Berlin’s Tinyhouse University. As it states on its website, “TinyU is a collective of designers, activists and refugees who seek to explore social neighborhoods in creative ways.”
In the end, the aVoid arrived in Berlin perfectly intact, ready to be developed further with feedback from TinyU participants.
Who lives here: Architect Leonardo Di Chiara
Location: Itinerant
Size: 97 square feet (9 square meters)
Cost: $53,000, which may come down as Di Chiara explores the possibility of mass production
The aVoid prototype is in the research-and-development stage. Designed for the new “liquid” society — to borrow a phrase from the late sociologist Zygmunt Bauman, whose writing on “liquid modernity” argues that modern society is changing at an ever-increasing pace — it’s built with minimalist and environmental principles and sustainability in mind.
Di Chiara involved a variety of partners in his project. To date, 30 companies, architecture associations, artists, schools and universities have helped him with the design and testing. Firms interested in investing in the future of tiny houses donated the materials.