Harrison Marshall, the CEO of CAUKIN Studio, embarked on a unique housing experiment within the heart of London, converting a dumpster into a habitable living space. His motivation was to confront the exorbitant living expenses plaguing the city. While this unconventional dwelling serves as a symbolic commentary on the housing crisis, Harrison has future plans to vacate the dumpster.
Living inside a dumpster in London might sound unconventional, but it's precisely what one individual decided to do. In a city where the cost of living continues to soar, maintaining its position as the world's fourth most expensive metropolis according to ECA, unconventional solutions like Harrison's gain attention.
Harrison, who had previously worked abroad in Southeast Asia and Central America, arrived in London with aspirations of settling down. However, he quickly realized that even affording a basic shed was beyond his reach. Determined to find affordable housing that wouldn't use up his $1,850 monthly income and jeopardize his dream of owning a property in the future, Harrison delved into research.
Harrison's journey led him to dumpsters, known as "skips" in the UK, as a potential housing solution. Armed with his knowledge and a Southwark dumpster rental costing $62 per month (£49 per month), along with his experience collaborating with emerging artists on dumpster art projects, Harrison embarked on a mission to transform the dumpster into a livable home.
Intriguingly, above the ladder he uses to access his unique home, the video showcases the enclosed area where the dumpster is stationed, complete with a Ring doorbell camera on its front hatch.
Inside the dumpster, Harrison ingeniously created a mezzanine-style bed atop four built-in wooden boxes, effectively maximizing the available space. The interior design provides an illusion of spaciousness, reminiscent of the Tardis.
For his culinary needs, Harrison relies on a modest kitchen area equipped with a small sink, an induction cooktop, and a portable mini fridge that can hold eight cans. To address hygiene and bathroom facilities, he utilizes the amenities at his gym, a local laundromat, and his own shower elsewhere.
Remarkably, the transformation of the dumpster into a livable space cost Harrison less than what he might typically spend on approximately five months' rent for a standard London apartment, totaling around $5,000 (£4,000). As a point of reference, he discovered that a one-bedroom apartment on the same street commands a monthly rent of £1,700 ($2,100).
Harrison, also an architect, elaborated on his unconventional housing choice in a piece for CNBC: "Building supplies including timber, insulation, and fixings [cost] $4,620 (£3,660) [and] interior furnishing, including storage and foam mattress [cost] $380 (£300)."
Harrison mentioned that his water supply is from "a hose pipe from a neighbor's property," and he added that his energy expenses are "minimal and covered within [his] land sponsorship," which might just bring a tear to your eye.
With a grin, he shared that his monthly wifi expenditure amounts to $20 (£16 per month).
Harrison resolves: "With its ups and downs, I've turned my living situation into an art piece."
"It shines a light on the absurdity of London's housing crisis in a way that makes people smile and think."
"[…] I don't recommend replicating it. I hope that I can move out soon, but I certainly won't be swapping it for no savings and a small, damp room."
