If you have pondered saving for an economical weekend house, you can now place your energy-independent home wherever you like. It does not require additional installations or permits
“When we began to build it, its purpose was to be my weekend home on Brač island as permits were unavailable at the time. There were also no installations so I set out to create a house that won’t need any of it,” said Ivan Gjurić, director of architecture studio G&B, Tportal.hr wrote on July 31, 2016
Thanks to the expert engagement of engineer Hrvoje Fleisman from the HF Panels company, Gjurić created his foldable house. But as permits are now available for the location on Brač, this innovative weekend home will end up on Gjurić’s property near Dugo Selo.
Besides its beauty, this weekend home thrills with its multifunctionality. It does not require a power connection as photovoltaic modules produce electric power stored in batteries. A solar collector heats water, with an optional gas boiler. Collected rainwater is filtered and stored in a polyethylene tank. Grey waste water is collected in a 40 litre stainless steel tank and used to flush the toilet. A system of waste and fecal water management are passed through a crusher and stored in a polyethylene biological device based on active silt. Oxidation of waste waters is introduced through air injection which aids in purifying organic matter with aerobic microorganisms. The process lasts until the product is acceptable for release into a drainage well.
The steel construction is square shaped, while the wheel undercarriage is mounted as needed. The facade and flat roof are ventilated and made of thermally treated ash tree, but can be of any materials. Walls floor and ceiling and combined with a mineral wool isolation, 10 to 14 centimetres thick. The glass walls and terrace aid in blending the object into nature. The weekend house can also fit all furniture inside when folded.
“Such homes are twice as expensive as other mobile homes, whose price ranges between 600 to 800 Euros per square metre. Energy independent houses without furniture cost 1,200 Euro + VAT, while furniture increases the price to 1,350 or 1,400 Euro + VAT. Classic mobile homes last 10 years, while ours lasts 40 years, so it turns out to be twice as cheap. Besides, our walls are fifteen centimetres thick, something you won’t find in other mobile homes,” Gjurić explained.
According to him, interest is high, with the usual Croatian legal uncertainties. One law defines such mobile homes can be placed on land without permits, while the Law on Catering treats such mobile homes as a camp site and require registration.
