When Harrison Marshall returned to London from working abroad, he struggled to find an apartment. As a result, he devised small space living solutions that would save him a lot of money! He claims that a one-bedroom apartment in Southwark, a borough in South London, costs around $1,850 per month, which is more than 75% of his monthly salary as an architect, and that he has no desire to relocate to the suburbs.
He wants to save up for a house, so he thought about converting a skip or a dumpster into a tiny home. According to NBC Bay Area, Harrison, who runs a small architecture firm called CAUKIN Studio, has taken his creativity to a new level by collaborating with SKIP Gallery, an organization that pays up-and-coming artists to create artwork within the confines of a dumpster.
His innovative ideas piqued the interest of Antepavilion, an art charity that granted him a vacant, green plot of land in the bustling city of Southwark to build his small space living solutions, which he dubbed the Skip House. What’s more impressive is that his dumpster base, which he rents from a waste management company, costs only $62 per month.He completed the construction of this groundbreaking project in just three weeks, thanks to his expertise as an experienced architect and the help of his friends.
“It cost me about $5,000 to build the house,” Harrison said, adding that he paid for it with his savings.The construction materials cost $4,620, and the furnishings cost $380. He also paid $635 to the movers who transported the dumpster. “My electricity bill is so small that it’s included in my land sponsorship, and my water supply consists of a hose pipe that runs from a neighbor’s property,” Harrison explained.
Meanwhile, his internet connection is provided by a dongle connected to mobile data, which costs $20 per month. Harrison explained that he needed to make the most of the 25-square-foot dumpster by making it livable. “I’ve always lived a minimalist lifestyle and traveled a lot for work, so the limited storage space works for me,” he explained, stating that he only has four built-in wooden boxes where he keeps his clothes.
The tiny house has a mezzanine-style bedroom, a tiny kitchen with a sink, and windows on both sides, making it feel less claustrophobic. Harrison has an eight-can portable mini fridge and an induction cooktop for one-pot meals, but he frequently eats out with his friends. Skip House lacks a toilet due to its small size, so Harrison must use a portable toilet outside his home.
There is also no shower, so he must use the showers at work and the gym, and he does his laundry at a laundromat. Harrison has been living in his small space living solutions for a few months and claims to be coping well with the inconveniences.Furthermore, he is in a great location in London; his work is only a 15-minute bike ride from his house, and he gets to explore the city and meet up with his friends in his spare time.
The most significant challenge Harrison currently faces is the amount of attention he receives, as many people stop by after seeing him on the news. Harrison described the experience as “unique,” and he is grateful that the land on which his small space living solutions are located is sponsored. However, he also stated that replicating it is not recommended.While he hopes to leave the Skip House soon, he says he wouldn’t trade it for an expensive, small, damp room.
“I’ve turned my living situation into an art piece, with its ups and downs.” It sheds light on the absurdity of London’s housing crisis, making people smile and think.” Watch the video below to see how small Harrison’s Skip House is: