Roll it Experimental Housing / University of Karlsruhe

May 2010

By Karen Cilento — Filed under: Housing ,News , Germany, Roll It, 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:

University of Karlsruhe

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

Comments (64)
Tweets (22)
Links to this entry (52)

Daniel says:

In a climate of wankitecture this is most inspiring. elegant. Congratulations.

Every family should exile their teenager into their yard with one!

# May 20, 2010 at 04:24

Claus says:

Dear Arch Daily,

you translate the surname of Mr. Andreas Kindsvater into “child father”?

I think thats funny.

# May 20, 2010 at 05:03

Jim says:

Does the toilet roll, too?

# May 20, 2010 at 06:10

hotpants says:

could imagine someone just taking a dump in this and being like “uck it” and peacing out.

# July 16, 2010 at 02:34

Razor says:

I guess I’m not so interested in living like a hamster

# May 20, 2010 at 07:13

William says:

You already live like a Hamster!

# May 29, 2010 at 14:41

Piotr says:

damn all the negative comments,
it is clever idea

# May 20, 2010 at 07:27

Nanette says:

I AM interested in living like a hamster. :D

# May 20, 2010 at 09:29

shetu says:

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”.

# May 20, 2010 at 10:15

Jonny says:

http://www.alleswirdgut.cc/awg.php?go=TURNON

nice idea ;)

# May 20, 2010 at 11:27

nic stage says:

there is clearly no practical use for it, but it is definitely a creative idea.

# May 20, 2010 at 13:12

Dion says:

There is a definite practical use for it, namely: Space.

# May 21, 2010 at 18:02

Nic Stage says:

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…

# May 21, 2010 at 19:07

Jeremy says:

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.

# May 24, 2010 at 16:56

roadkill says:

is this the kama sutra house? too many positions, i don’t understand

# May 20, 2010 at 14:26

Bart says:

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/.

# May 20, 2010 at 14:47

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.

# May 21, 2010 at 11:48

Omikey says:

It’s simply unlocking the creative thought process. Learning good, bad, useless, valuable.

# May 20, 2010 at 17:15

alex says:

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.

# May 20, 2010 at 18:52

Luca Hammer says:

Ein Haus, oder soswas ähnliches, das man rollen kann. http://bit.ly/avmHsR #university #karlsruhe

# May 21, 2010 at 06:18

PR says:

# May 21, 2010 at 08:43

Pieter says:

hahahahahahahahahahaha….. I love it…. hahahahahahaha…..

But it is very very silly. hehehehe

# May 21, 2010 at 09:36

Brian Clegg says:

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

# May 21, 2010 at 10:09

Steve says:

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.

# May 21, 2010 at 11:43

john says:

Its going to hurt the back!

# May 21, 2010 at 12:07

woundedduck says:

Three days in that thing and I’d be fit to kill.

# May 21, 2010 at 13:02

tim nolan says:

RT @tim_leake: This rolling house is probably incredibly pointless… but it's just so darn neat to look at. http://ht.ly/1OjMX

# May 21, 2010 at 16:41

Marcelo Derosas says:

"Este si que es mi sueño de oficina: Roll it Experimental Housing | @ArchDaily"( http://twitthis.com/tvqzfk )

# May 21, 2010 at 20:50

jordisoler says:

Roll it Experimental Housing / University of Karlsruhe http://goo.gl/WP3f

# May 22, 2010 at 05:01

Ryan says:

definitely not drunk friendly

# May 22, 2010 at 11:12

Tom Parish says:

Roll it Experimental Housing / University of Karlsruhe (cool but might cause nausea) http://bit.ly/aT7u0U

# May 22, 2010 at 12:24

Alberto says:

This is one genius piece. But most people will not understand what this kind of design is about and the possibilities it brings.

# May 23, 2010 at 02:32

Spot Cool Stuff says:

RT @jrl5045 I'm all for cool design but this is crazy: #Rollit Experimental Housing / UniversityofKarlsruhe http://ow.ly/1OC2A #architecture

# May 23, 2010 at 04:40

Maria Popova says:

Curious experimental rolling house http://is.gd/cnkK3 (via @kottke) Reminds me of the N55 Walking House http://is.gd/cnkLF

# May 24, 2010 at 12:38

Rajesh Pancholi says:

RT @AquaVelvet: Fascinating > RT @beelzebuddha: Roll It Experimental Housing http://bit.ly/ct7p2Y cc @modbird

# May 24, 2010 at 16:02

Chris Rossi says:

Fun! RT @r27: RT @AquaVelvet: Fascinating > RT @beelzebuddha: Roll It Experimental Housing http://bit.ly/ct7p2Y

# May 24, 2010 at 16:08

photon says:

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!

# May 25, 2010 at 08:16

dragonmamma/naomi says:

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?

# May 25, 2010 at 12:34

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!

# May 26, 2010 at 00:03

diane says:

# May 26, 2010 at 00:22

Josh says:

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.

# May 26, 2010 at 12:58

Ana says:

It’s really cool, reminds me of the set of 2001: A Space Odyssey

# May 26, 2010 at 20:45

sputnikshock says:

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.

# May 28, 2010 at 23:50

Peter Bihr says:

not for messies: RT @fraeulein_tessa: Roll it Experimental Housing / University of Karlsruhe >> http://bit.ly/cUyNgn #architecture

# May 27, 2010 at 08:00

dragos novac says:

cum ar fi stai in asta? http://s4h.ro/tlk7

# May 31, 2010 at 16:54

MariamCook says:

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

# June 1, 2010 at 11:45

Adam says:

Where are they gonna put the beer pong table?

# June 2, 2010 at 21:11

sir jorge says:

i wish i could’ve lived there

# June 10, 2010 at 11:12

Shelby says:

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.

# June 20, 2010 at 15:49

Ömer Karaca says:

RT @tweetmeme Roll it Experimental Housing / University of Karlsruhe | ArchDaily http://bit.ly/9BLC82

# June 23, 2010 at 06:12

Liza Tomás says:

Roll it Experimental Housing http://bit.ly/9BLC82

# June 23, 2010 at 17:02

Vlad Tim says:

Roll it Experimental Housing / University of Karlsruhe | ArchDaily http://su.pr/8CM6zc

# June 24, 2010 at 04:21

Bahey says:

Roll it Experimental Housing / University of Karlsruhe | ArchDaily http://bit.ly/9BLC82