Roll it Experimental Housing / University of Karlsruhe
Roll It, a cool experimental house, resulted from the collaboration among different institutes within the University of Karlsruhe. This cyclindrical design is a modular protype that provides flexible space within a minimum housing unit. Three different sections are dedicated to different functional needs: there’s a bed and table in section, an exercise cylinder, and a kitchen with a sink.
More images and more about the prototype after the break.
Structurally, the prototype includes an outer shell with the four support rings over a rigid inner shell. A translucent membrane envelops the entire form and serves as advertising space for sponsors. Thin wooden slats are attached to the membrane to form the running surface of the roll.
The inner cover is a series of laminated OSB panels, each 15 mm thick, that cover the support rings. Circular openings in the side walls allow light into the structure, and a large opening serves as the entrance.
As seen on Detail.
Further information:
Participating institutes:
Institute of supporting structure (ift)
Prof. Matthias Pfeifer
Mitabeiter
Camille Hoffmann
Matthias Michel
Institute of supporting structure (ift)
Institute of Industrial Design and construction output (ifib)
Prof. Petra von Both
Institute of Industrial Design and construction output (ifib)
Roll it
info@rollit-09.de

















































In a climate of wankitecture this is most inspiring. elegant. Congratulations.
Every family should exile their teenager into their yard with one!
Dear Arch Daily,
you translate the surname of Mr. Andreas Kindsvater into “child father”?
I think thats funny.
Does the toilet roll, too?
could imagine someone just taking a dump in this and being like “uck it” and peacing out.
I guess I’m not so interested in living like a hamster
You already live like a Hamster!
damn all the negative comments,
it is clever idea
I AM interested in living like a hamster. :D
Brilliant idea.
But I think the achievement is not that satisfactory.
A great deal of effort (both while designing and maneuvering) just to turn a sleeping platform into a sitting one and a table.
Dont showing whats happening at the other parts after rotation.
I can call it “a good starting”.
http://www.alleswirdgut.cc/awg.php?go=TURNON
nice idea ;)
there is clearly no practical use for it, but it is definitely a creative idea.
There is a definite practical use for it, namely: Space.
Haha. But does it use space in a practical way? I don’t think it does…
I like how there is a board to stop it from rolling. Sort of defeats the purpose… Although the first thing I would think if I came upon it was to start rolling it away with its occupant inside…
Agreed. The space possibilities alone are great.
@Nic: this initial application may not be practical, but a simple track system could allow for the stability to avoid roll-aways and allow pre-set sticking points for certain room configurations.
is this the kama sutra house? too many positions, i don’t understand
There is a very practical use for this. It is a very cool use of space. Manly because is uses al the surface space. This means you can do more with less. i use’d this idea as a student about 3 years ago: http://www.flickr.com/photos/asc84/2431181154/.
what is the practical use? i can’t think of any problem that this design solves. (unless the ability to have a bed and a table at the same time is considered a “problem”).
i’m not saying it shouldn’t have been done. it is very creative and it helps the designers and those who experience it think of new ideas. it just doesn’t seem to have any practical application, imo.
It’s simply unlocking the creative thought process. Learning good, bad, useless, valuable.
we all designed projects like this in first year architecture. it’s a nice idea, encouraging to see one finally built, but the idea’s a very old one.
Ein Haus, oder soswas ähnliches, das man rollen kann. http://bit.ly/avmHsR #university #karlsruhe
http://www.alleswirdgut.cc/awg.php?go=TURNON
hahahahahahahahahahaha….. I love it…. hahahahahahaha…..
But it is very very silly. hehehehe
Two problems with this odd house, in final photo. A) The plank to stop it rolling. B) The audience who WILL roll it. http://bit.ly/9EWJ6g
Great Idea. It looks really large on the inside. But how tall is the woman in the picture? I am 6’5″ and I don’t think I would fit! I would of liked to see how it works to. Wonder if it is easily maneuverable? Would a section swing down if there was to much weight on one side? Does the whole structure roll? If not, why not play with the outer shell? So, It IS a good start; Needs more development. All the variables need to be addressed.
Its going to hurt the back!
Three days in that thing and I’d be fit to kill.
RT @tim_leake: This rolling house is probably incredibly pointless… but it's just so darn neat to look at. http://ht.ly/1OjMX
"Este si que es mi sueño de oficina: Roll it Experimental Housing | @ArchDaily"( http://twitthis.com/tvqzfk )
Roll it Experimental Housing / University of Karlsruhe http://goo.gl/WP3f
definitely not drunk friendly
Roll it Experimental Housing / University of Karlsruhe (cool but might cause nausea) http://bit.ly/aT7u0U
This is one genius piece. But most people will not understand what this kind of design is about and the possibilities it brings.
RT @jrl5045 I'm all for cool design but this is crazy: #Rollit Experimental Housing / UniversityofKarlsruhe http://ow.ly/1OC2A #architecture
Curious experimental rolling house http://is.gd/cnkK3 (via @kottke) Reminds me of the N55 Walking House http://is.gd/cnkLF
RT @AquaVelvet: Fascinating > RT @beelzebuddha: Roll It Experimental Housing http://bit.ly/ct7p2Y cc @modbird
Fun! RT @r27: RT @AquaVelvet: Fascinating > RT @beelzebuddha: Roll It Experimental Housing http://bit.ly/ct7p2Y
I don’t like the fact that the choice is either bed or desk..I think they should be in separate parts of the construction. Great idea though!
It LOOKS cool, but, uh, where do you put stuff? And what’s with that huge epiglottis thingy hanging down to whack somebody in the head who doesn’t turn sideways?
I think that I`d like to be involved in a psychology study where we live in the house for a period of time. I love the design and think it could promote creative thinking. Let me know!
Roll it Experimental Housing / University of Karlsruhe http://goo.gl/WP3f
I think it’s creative. Looks cool. Makes me say “Wow, that’s neato!”
But, I’m not a damn hamster.
Good job on the clever, creative, space saving aspect of this project. But I would never live in one.
Maybe you could sell this it ikea, they would eat it up. Or sell it to apple, and rename it so it incorporates an “i” like iHome, or iHouse, or iRollit.
Seems to be more of a “Why not” project vs. something that actually solves any practice problem.
I’ve never asked myself “man, how can I cram all my crap into a tube that I can live in? This house, and walking around, and being comfortable, and having space really sucks!”
I like it, but would loose my mind living in something like that.
It’s really cool, reminds me of the set of 2001: A Space Odyssey
Guys,
the link to alles wird gut has been posted a couple of times so no need to repost it, but:
1. Everything(!) has been done before in architecture…admitted
2. THIS is a BLATANT copy of awg! It’s embarrassing to sell this as an innovation when practically EXACTLY the same project was done only a couple of years ago in a more refined way.
not for messies: RT @fraeulein_tessa: Roll it Experimental Housing / University of Karlsruhe >> http://bit.ly/cUyNgn #architecture
cum ar fi stai in asta? http://s4h.ro/tlk7
er… reminding us it could have been otherwise… RT @internetcases: I think it'd be cool to live in a rollable house: http://is.gd/cv88U
Where are they gonna put the beer pong table?
i wish i could’ve lived there
I think that the inside design is useful for saving space, but the outside isn’t. This could be a great idea if the outer shell were square instead of round, so that the units could be stacked etc, which would ACTUALLY save space. I do think it is an interesting idea to use rotating surfaces so that everything has a use, especially in this age of ever-increasing population.
RT @tweetmeme Roll it Experimental Housing / University of Karlsruhe | ArchDaily http://bit.ly/9BLC82
Roll it Experimental Housing http://bit.ly/9BLC82
Roll it Experimental Housing / University of Karlsruhe | ArchDaily http://su.pr/8CM6zc
Roll it Experimental Housing / University of Karlsruhe | ArchDaily http://bit.ly/9BLC82
Roll it Experimental Housing / University of Karlsruhe | ArchDaily http://bit.ly/9BLC82
Roll it Experimental Housing / University of Karlsruhe | ArchDaily http://su.pr/1JcU7O #architecture #cool #art #experiment
Roll it Experimental Housing / University of Karlsruhe | ArchDaily http://bit.ly/9BLC82 // woooot?
Roll it Experimental Housing / University of Karlsruhe | ArchDaily http://bit.ly/9BLC82
SO amazing! Way to reduce carbon footprints!!! :) Roll it Experimental Housing / University of Karlsruhe | ArchDaily http://bit.ly/9BLC82
Roll it Experimental Housing / University of Karlsruhe | ArchDaily http://bit.ly/9BLC82
Nice try. But no thank you that is better for rats or rabbits.
The designer of this likely spent too much time in a garbage can in middle school.
Where is the toilet room located, and how do you connect electric appliances when the internal walls can roll?
would be amazing for a hotel. stackable rolling rooms. stationary restrooms…
Nice post, cool site, keep it up.
5:45 AM Jul 7th
Roll it Experimental Housing http://su.pr/2jnByL
4:14 PM Jul 7th
Casa experimental “Roll It": http://www.archdaily.com/60921/roll-it-experimental-housing-university-of-karlsruhe/
10:14 AM Jul 14th
Low carbon footprint housing reinvented by Univ of Karlsruhe. Adds new meaning 2 "That's how we roll, baby."http://bit.ly/9BLC82 #Prefab
3:07 PM Jul 14th
Roll it Experimental Housing / University of Karlsruhe | ArchDaily http://bit.ly/9BLC82
3:08 PM Jul 14th
@elemenager Roll it Experimental Housing / University of Karlsruhe | ArchDaily http://bit.ly/9BLC82
11:09 PM Jul 16th
http://su.pr/2yFG63 rolling house. i'm not kidding!
9:26 AM Jul 19th
Weird (but cool) house !http://bit.ly/9BLC82
12:54 PM Jul 19th
Would you live here? http://bit.ly/9EWJ6g
12:55 PM Jul 19th
RT @_kimrandall: Would you live here? http://bit.ly/9EWJ6g
7:31 PM Jul 19th
oh damn! seriously damn! http://www.archdaily.com/60921/roll-it-experimental-housing-university-of-karlsruhe/
2:00 AM Jul 20th
I want one: http://tinyurl.com/3ad44y5
2:56 AM Jul 20th
http://www.archdaily.com/60921/roll-it-experimental-housing-university-of-karlsruhe/
4:19 PM Jul 20th
Want one of these for my daughter to live in. Could roll her away when necessary! :) RT @JJphotoarts I want one: http://tinyurl.com/3ad44y5
4:21 PM Jul 20th
RT @LitaMartin: Want one of these for my daughter to live in. Could roll her away when necessary! :) I want one: http://tinyurl.com/3ad44y5
4:27 PM Jul 20th
@LitaMartin Haha! I wouldn't mind making that my office :) RT:LitaMartin RT @JJphotoarts I want one: http://tinyurl.com/3ad44y5
6:11 AM Jul 22nd
Has Possible issues for anyone suffering from sea sickness, but we would still love to have a go – http://tiny.cc/zv3i1
6:34 AM Jul 22nd
@render_studio You'll like this – Pretty cool http://www.archdaily.com/60921/roll-it-experimental-housing-university-of-karlsruhe/
2:55 AM Jul 23rd
Roll it Experimental Housing / University of Karlsruhe | ArchDaily http://su.pr/4QrmwH para os preguiçosos sempre uma alternativa ;D
12:00 PM Jul 23rd
The Rolling house is a good idea if you dont live on a hill. http://ow.ly/2fFAQ
3:54 PM Jul 26th
ARCHITECTURE | Roll It experimental dwelling http://fb.me/Cs2VVp4Y
10:37 PM Aug 13th
A rolling house? http://tinyurl.com/3ad44y5 – as cool as this is, I think I'll take a pass on this one
4:11 AM Aug 18th
Roll it Experimental Housing / University of Karlsruhe | ArchDaily http://t.co/4CmUjmx via @archdaily