Your Life in a Shoe Box: Modular Living

Don't have the finances to own a penthouse suite? Loftcube.

For around $100,000 you can own a piece of what looks like deconstructed tupperware big enough to live in.


The view into the familty room of Aisslinger's housing concept.

Though I joke, I must admit that Werner Aisslinger is on to something. He is marketing a new kind of living to a generation that loves things that are disposable. His recent project, known as the Loftcube, takes a stylish prefabricated loft and airlifts it onto the rooftop of an urban skyscraper. Why not?

The fun thing about motor homes is that they can be taken wherever you may want to go...well almost anywhere at least. For those hard to reach places, like the top of sears tower, you need something a little more agile.

The Design Guy Orders Takeout and a Loftcube

I like the fact that it has a lot of windows. They can potentially increase the size of a room to double or triple its actual size when left open to the outside view. I would imagine that this effect would increase drastically if one had 360-degree views of the surrounding city.

I also think it's neat that loftcubes offer the privacy of a rooftop from which one can relax. The interior designs are sleek and versatile, allowing for faucets to swivel between the bathrooms and kitchen for reduced plumbing requirements.

But before I get one...I have just a couple of questions.

1. What about strong winds? It seems like a good gust of wind might turn your home into a
loft-curse as it spirals to the city streets below. It looks pretty aerodynamic if you ask me.

2. Air conditioning and heating? It appears that the main climate controls for the structure are air vents slatted into the siding.

3. What about pigeons? Yard work would be a mess...and it would not be pleasant if they invited themselves into your living room. Their presence as guests may be unavoidable if the structure doesn't come with doors.

4. What about access? Finding a parking space at a condo complex is one thing, but having to find a service ladder onto the roof after a 5-minute elevator ride up 30 flights would get a little straining after a while.

5. How about a refrigerator? Washer and dryer? A pantry? A closet?

Maybe they're upgrades.

At the asking price, they should be included.

The Design Guy