Harrison Marshall had difficulty finding an apartment when he returned to London after working abroad.
So, he developed solutions for living in small spaces to save a lot of money!
He said that a one-bedroom apartment in Southwark, a neighborhood in South London, costs about $1,850 per month, which accounts for more than 75% of his income as an architectural designer.
He has no interest in moving to the suburbs.
Harrison, who runs a small architecture firm called CAUKIN Studio, took his creativity to a new level by collaborating with SKIP Gallery, an organization that pays emerging artists to create artworks within the constraints of a dumpster, as reported by NBC Bay Area.
His innovative ideas were picked up by an art foundation called Antepavilion, which granted him a free, green plot of land in the bustling city of Southwark to build his solutions for living in small spaces, which he called Skip House.
What’s even more impressive is that the cost of his dumpster base, which he rents from a waste management company, is only $62 per month.
With his experience as a seasoned architect and the help of his friends, he completed the construction of this groundbreaking project in just three weeks.
“It cost me about $5,000 to build the house,” said Harrison, adding that he used his savings for expenses.
The building materials cost $4,620, and the furnishings cost $380.
He also paid the moving service, which transported the dumpster, $635.
“Water and electricity are included in my land agreement, and my water supply consists of a garden hose from a neighbor,” said Harrison.
His internet connection is through a dongle connected to mobile data and costs $20 per month.
Harrison said he has to make the most out of the 25 square feet of the dumpster and make it livable.
“I’ve always led a minimalist lifestyle and traveled a lot for work, so the limited storage space works for me,” he said, explaining that he only has four built-in wooden crates where he keeps his clothes.
The tiny house features a loft bedroom, a tiny kitchen with a sink and windows on both sides, making the solutions for living in small spaces feel less claustrophobic.
Harrison has a portable mini-fridge with eight cans and an induction cooktop for simple meals, although he often eats out with his friends.
Due to limited space, there is no toilet in the Skip House.
Therefore, Harrison has to use a portable toilet outside his house.
There is also no shower, so he has to use the shower at work and at the gym, and for his laundry, he goes to a laundromat.
Harrison has been living in his solutions for small living spaces for several months and says he copes with the inconveniences and everything gets easier.
Additionally, he is in a great location in London, his work is only 15 minutes away by bike from his house, and he can explore the city in his spare time and meet up with his friends.
Harrison said the biggest challenge he currently faces is the attention he gets, as many people come by after seeing him in the news.
Harrison said it has been a unique experience, and he is grateful that the land on which his solutions for small living spaces stand is sponsored. However, he does not recommend replicating it.
While he admits he hopes to move out of the Skip House soon, he said he would not trade it for an expensive, small, damp room.
“With its ups and downs, I have turned my life situation into an artwork.
It sheds light on the absurdity of the housing crisis in London in a way that makes people smile and think.
Watch the video to see how small Harrison’s Skip House is.