The urban housing market around the world is in a fix, with even tiny apartments costing tenants exorbitant monthly fees, and PUP Architects' "guerrilla habitation" idea is a critique of the state of the market in London in particular. The project, which was an entry in the Antepavilion competition, places apartments in hidden locations in the urban landscape, including a false air duct on top of a preexisting apartment building.
To be sure, the guerrilla habitation won't actually be occupied by any resident. Rather, it's a criticism of current housing laws that prevent architects from building livable, affordable micro-housing. The micro-apartment built for Antepavilion is called H-VAC, as it's designed to look like the HVAC system on top of apartment buildings around the city (thus evading the regulatory gaze of city officials.)
Critical Hidden Apartments
PUP Architects' 'Guerrilla Habitation' Criticizes the Housing Market
Trend Themes
1. Micro-housing - Creating livable, affordable micro-housing that bypasses housing laws and regulations.
2. Hidden Architecture - Incorporating hidden locations and designs into urban landscapes for housing solutions.
3. Critique of the Housing Market - Using architectural projects as a form of critique to highlight the issues with the housing market.
Industry Implications
1. Architectural Design - Opportunities for architects to innovate by designing micro-housing solutions that challenge existing regulations.
2. Real Estate - Exploring alternative housing concepts that disrupt the traditional real estate market.
3. Urban Planning - Addressing the need for affordable housing solutions through unconventional hidden architecture in urban environments.