Paco: Living Inside the Box

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Those of you who detest minimalist aesthetics (and experimental architecture) might want to turn away their eyes and skip this post, because the creation of Jo Nagasaka & Sschemata Architecture Office Ltd is about as minimal as they come. The 3 meter cubed structure is less a home and more of a room in a literal box, with amenities such as a table, pull out bed, an in-floor toilet with shower, and a hammock that hang from the pop-top ceiling...

The box structure operates with a roof that opens via hydraulics, which also gives open air access for hammock mode. Everything pops out from sections of the slick white epoxy cube's interior and exterior, including the desk and sleeping quarters.

Lighting is provided with two LED lights and a skylight up above. At the amusement or horror, depending upon your perspective, the hole in the floor bathroom doubles up as both a toilet and a place to sit while showering.

Details about hooking up the Paco to water and power, floor plans, and additional info about the Paco design is available here.

[via MyModernMet]

Comments (28)

Wow...
All I know is I'd die of a claustrophobia attack in there.

posted by eddie p on March 18th 2009 at 9:07pm
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I would be starved for some colour I think.

posted by topia7 on March 18th 2009 at 9:29pm
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^^ I second the first two comments.

posted by littleinkpot on March 18th 2009 at 10:54pm
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I'm with Eddie P. The claustrophobia would kill me.

posted by anmar on March 18th 2009 at 11:01pm
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That looks so boring. UGH.

posted by LittleMissAsh on March 19th 2009 at 1:21am
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I guess it could be worse... you could be LIVIN' IN A VAN, DOWN BY THE RIVER!

posted by grover on March 19th 2009 at 5:09am
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its just a bigger funeral box.

posted by ss622 on March 19th 2009 at 6:24am
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Kinda a fascinating concept. It's not meant to be anything else.

posted by Cheryl on March 19th 2009 at 7:10am
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CRAZY. However, that could totally win our small cool contest it's so extreme....

posted by Maxwell on March 19th 2009 at 8:45am
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i LOVE it! regardless of the size white minimal = big and beautiful.

posted by jeffnyc on March 19th 2009 at 8:57am
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Concept piece, indeed. Pretty sterile, though -- housework would be a breeze -- just spray the whole thing with Lysol and hose off! I suppose some of the components might be employed in real homes.

Can't you just see a former warehouse converted to "flats" with rows and rows of these -- how seriously dystopian!

posted by SherryBinNH on March 19th 2009 at 9:02am
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Grover's comment made me spit out my coffee!

posted by Brandyjane on March 19th 2009 at 9:35am
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Woah ho! NSFW!
i love it.

posted by kiljoywashere on March 19th 2009 at 10:22am
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This. Is. So. COOL.

I LOVE it. Completely genius.

I love the idea of putting it inside a larger living space so you could escape from the world into this little world of white... or red... or black... or pink... or polkadot... the possibilities are endless!

It's like a womb!

posted by thatjessicagirl on March 19th 2009 at 12:03pm
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this reminds me of the seinfeld episode where kramer has people living a chest of drawers...

claustrophobia!

posted by conflictedthimble on March 19th 2009 at 12:05pm
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i second the second comment..
i have no problem with the tight space but i cant ever imagine living in absence of COLOR!

posted by Fuzzyummy on March 19th 2009 at 12:09pm
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looks like a prison cell on an alien space ship.

posted by jac7890 on March 19th 2009 at 12:11pm
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i can't even look at the photos without getting claustrophobic!

posted by abigailbelle on March 19th 2009 at 3:46pm
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guys it's a concept, no one said it must stay white.

posted by ammanda on March 19th 2009 at 7:12pm
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Sensory-deprivation tank, anyone?

posted by seanf on March 19th 2009 at 7:53pm
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Eep, the sleeping area looks like a coffin.

posted by azuki_bean on March 20th 2009 at 12:31am
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Oddly intriguing but the novelty would wear off very quickly.
It looks like something out of a dystopian science fiction movie.

posted by JPK on March 20th 2009 at 3:36pm
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Perfect for the small cool competition - at least it is truly small. The Japanese are very clever with designing pods and the like. Well done for their lateral thinking!

posted by JudithLuxPod on March 20th 2009 at 7:23pm
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Is the person who lives in this named "Jack," by any chance?

posted by modtramp on March 22nd 2009 at 7:24pm
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jajjajajajajajajaja Now we know why "Jack" bursts out of his box each time!!!! He can't WAIT to get out.

Seriously, it looks like a cell. But, as a concept, it's very interesting.

posted by Maroha on March 23rd 2009 at 12:38am
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Frankly, I would take the van down by the river.

posted by crowgirl on March 23rd 2009 at 1:35am
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Interesting, but I am not sure it's the best use of space. The Wee Houses are smaller and more "homey".

Also, those pictures gave me a headache... ow.

posted by Jason on March 23rd 2009 at 9:53am
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Could it be delivered with the nude guy?

posted by kelleyk on March 23rd 2009 at 10:24am
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