The inventive Housetrike could be the salvation of the homeless
This Housetrike was designed with a particular consumer base in mind: the homeless, refugees and urban nomads. Offering shelter, mobility and storage, the designers attest that this contraption will “solve most acute problems when living in the streets and enables its users an independent, healthy, safe and above all, dignified life.”
Sharing similarities with other foldaway bicycle add-ons, this is the first we’ve seen that caters specifically for the homeless.
The Housetrike is easily transformed into a bed, which can be locked from the inside – as well as the outside – to offer the user a comfortable and secure place to rest for the night. The box also has two portholes built in so that the user can look out during the night for added peace of mind.
This lightweight ‘caravan’ of sorts seems to be countering the recent trend in anti-homeless behavior, most notable of which was perhaps the ‘anti-homeless spikes’, which appeared at various locations across London outside private properties. Mayor, Boris Johnson, even took to twitter in June of this year to express his dismay at such offensive architectural choices saying: “Spikes outside Southwark housing development to deter rough sleeping are ugly, self defeating & stupid. Developer should remove them ASAP.”
It seems that the developer of this mobile home, Dutch artist, Bas Sprakel, has thought of everything that will enable the homeless to stop relying on others while helping the homeless to help themselves.
As well as offering a bed for the night, the trike can also be used to store and transport belongings in the box, which holds almost 500 metric litres, at no additional cost. As a result, the user has the opportunity to earn an income through making deliveries for instance.
It is estimated that the sale price will be around $1,500 (approximately £885) – a cheaper option than many alternatives, but a price still quite high for its intended market. However, for those unable to pay this, it is possible that an instalment or rental scheme will be set up to help ease this financial burden.
To view the Housetrike in action, click here.
