The micro compact home is a Munich housing masterpiece

As Munich continues to grow in popularity and property investor eyes are on Germany, there is an increasing shortage of modern affordable housing in Munich city.

It is no wonder therefore that the German’s are busy developing a solution. Enter the m-ch or micro compact home, the conclusion of a research project at Technical University Munich to design a 2.6m cube dwelling. Prof. Richard Horden initiated the project with his team of students and assistants in 2001 in response to another housing shortage: the university has about 90,000 students and just 10,000 flats. Japanese tea-house architecture was the seed of inspiration for this collaboration between TUM and the Tokyo Institute of Technology.

The result, a 2.65m, £50,000 solar and wind powered, temporary home of timber frame, UPVC and aluminium exterior in the shape of a cube. Both Horden Cherry Lee Architects in London and Haack Hoepfner Architekten in Munich shared production of the first m-ch units. Drawing on a wealth of automotive research and technology and advanced European and Japanese prefabrication methods, the m-ch’s aluminium exterior, like a car, can be sprayed or anodised to a range of colours to blend with the surrounding environment. Following their five year guarantee, the eco-friendly units can be recycled by the factory into new m-ch units.

A cluster concept derived with the aim of drawing in nature. Here less is more and the focus is on essential yet modest living, whilst good functional design results in a space saving wonder. Since November 2005, the m-ch’s have been on trial as part of a case study sponsored by telecommunications giant O2 Germany. The student village of seven micro-compact homes was unveiled at the Technical University Munich. Six students are living alongside their British Professor Richard Horden, for a single term only. The village has proved so popular that the students have asked to extend their stay to the full academic year. Each cube features the necessary elements for daily living, kitchen, sleeping, washing and even entertainment zones are packed in amongst together with a spot of high technology including broadband, plasma screen and high quality kitchen and bathroom appliances.

Already in use throughout Europe, the success of m-ch is another definitive step to solving short-term housing shortage problems similar to the Manchester city pod we featured some time ago. Primarily its use can be widely applied to student housing leading to concepts such as the vertical Tree Village, a 15m open core containing a central ift shaft is surrounded by 30 micro compact homes each on their own ‘branch’. Using a ground footprint of just 12m, this is an answer to urban land shortages as in most cases it avoids the need for planning permission.

Further applications include a garden ‘room’, hospital, city hotel accommodation, media centres at sporting events and there are talks underway to create an alpine snowboarding resort taking the m-ch into the holiday home arena.

Recently, showcasing at Grand Designs 2006 exhibition at Excel in London, the m-ch is being received well due to its ability to adapt to a range of uses and environments. Positive press interest means very soon you could be enjoying the delights of short stay smart living in a m-ch near you.

For details on micro compact homes or to get your very own m-ch email for further details here