What do a wooden box, a boat, and a cave have in common? Answer: they are all
types of home. The way we live is changing, and so are the homes we live in. Most
modern cities have very little space available for new houses or apartment buildings,
so many people are looking for a new kind of home to live in — something that will
use space cleverly, and be energy efficient. We have selected three very special kinds
of home from three different countries that do just that.
First, the wooden box. In fact, it is a clever design for a new kind of student
accommodation. A team of architects in Sweden has designed a new eco-friendly
student flat that includes a kitchen, a bedroom, a bathroom, and a study area — all in
just ten square meters.
This attractive building uses environmentally friendly wood. The designers have used
the space very cleverly so that everything can fit inside, and because it’s so small, the
rent is reduced by 50%. Cheap, eco-friendly, and very cool, this is a great new idea
for student accommodation.
Then we come to the boat, or houseboat. Narrow boats have been used on canals
in the U.K. for hundreds of years, and now many people are choosing to live in
them, as well. The cost of living near the center of London is very high, and so the
idea of living on the River Thames, which runs through the center of the city, is very
attractive. Houseboats are much cheaper to buy than normal houses, but you have to
pay mooring fees so that you can keep your boat in one location.
The good thing about living on a houseboat is that you can live in a central location
much more cheaply than if you lived in a house or a flat. Of course, there isn’t much
space in most houseboats, and it can get cold in winter, but life on the water is
always interesting because you don’t have to stay in the same place all the time.
Finally, the cave. This isn’t a new idea. People have lived in caves for thousands of
years, but recently more people are choosing to live in this completely natural type of
home. This is a cave house in France; and this is one in Turkey. Cave houses have all
the things you expect in a home, including kitchens and bathrooms.
The great thing about caves is that they keep a constant temperature, so you don’t
have to pay for heating in winter or air conditioning in summer. Such a natural and
eco-friendly home is a very attractive idea for modern living. The only problem is that
you have to find a cave, and there aren’t many of those near city centers!