The Ecocapsule is an

egg An egg is an organic vessel grown by an animal to carry a possibly fertilized egg cell (a zygote) and to incubate from it an embryo within the egg until the embryo has become an animal fetus that can survive on its own, at which point the a ...

-shaped, mobile dwelling home that utilises solar and wind energy. It was developed by Nice Architects, a firm based in Bratislava,

Slovakia Slovakia (; sk, Slovensko ), officially the Slovak Republic ( sk, Slovenská republika, links=no ), is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the s ...

. Shaped like an egg to minimize its

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, its walls are made of two layers of fiberglass with polyurethane foam sandwiched in between. Nice Architects describes the Ecocapsule as a "low-energy house packed into a compact form," although other potential applications include as a disaster-relief shelter, a scientific

research station Research stations are facilities where scientific investigation, collection, analysis and experimentation occurs. A research station is a facility that is built for the purpose of conducting scientific research. There are also many types of resea ...

, and even as a "remote

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Dimensions

Weighing and measuring in length by in width by in height, the Ecocapsule is designed to accommodate two occupants. In addition to providing sleeping quarters for two with a folding bed, it also includes a

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, a shower, a fold-out table, working windows, and even storage space. The Ecocapsule's interior, described by Devin Coldewey as "futuristic but warm," is bathed in natural light and predominantly white in color with blond wood accents.

Environmental impact

The Ecocapsule is powered primarily by a built-in,

wind turbine A wind turbine is a device that converts the kinetic energy of wind into electrical energy. Hundreds of thousands of large turbines, in installations known as wind farms, now generate over 650 gigawatts of power, with 60 GW added each yea ...

and secondarily by a high-efficiency,

solar cell A solar cell, or photovoltaic cell, is an electronic device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect, which is a physical and chemical phenomenon.

array. It is designed to produce more energy than it consumes, as long as the external temperature remains between and . The dwelling is also equipped with a battery that can hold four days worth of electrical charge. If the battery is charged, the Ecocapsule diverts some of the energy captured by the solar cells to supplement its water heater. Other energy-conservation features of the dwelling are its high-efficiency

climate control Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) is the use of various technologies to control the temperature, humidity, and purity of the air in an enclosed space. Its goal is to provide thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air quality. HV ...

system and a

heat exchanger A heat exchanger is a system used to transfer heat between a source and a working fluid. Heat exchangers are used in both cooling and heating processes. The fluids may be separated by a solid wall to prevent mixing or they may be in direct conta ...

that uses exhaust air to warm fresh incoming air. The Ecocapsule also harnesses rainwater with its

reservoir A reservoir (; from French ''réservoir'' ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam. Such a dam may be either artificial, built to store fresh water or it may be a natural formation. Reservoirs can be created in a number of ways, including contro ...

, which is located beneath the dwelling's floor. The water is cleaned via a pre-filtration system and two UV LED lamps. Drinking water is also provided by filters installed on the faucets. The Ecocapsule also features a waterless separating toilet. The Ecocapsule has a central computer that monitors its electricity and water levels, and can be controlled via a mobile app. The app is also used for controlling all important aspects of Ecocapsule. According to Nice Architects, the Ecocapsule should allow its occupants to live off the grid for several weeks to several months.

Launching

On May 28, 2015, the Ecocapsule was publicly unveiled at

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's Pioneers Festival after six years of development. By July 2015, thousands of

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s had already been made and interest generated among celebrities such as

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. In January 2018, the company Ecocapsule launched the production of the First Series Ecocapsules, limited to 50 pieces. More affordable, mass-produced Second Series - SPACE by Ecocapsule, was launched in the first half of 2020. The price of a First Series Ecocapsule is €79,900. The price of the Second Series Ecocapsules is €49,900 . The shipping costs from Slovakia to

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are around 3,000

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s (about US$3,500), and to

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

around 2,500 euros (about AU$4,000). In addition to being shipped, the dwelling is also designed to be transported by airlifting and towing.

References

External links

* {{official website, http://www.ecocapsule.sk/ Human habitats Sustainable architecture