Caravan built from water tanks

Lightweight caravans are all the rage in Britain and Europe, and becoming more popular Down Under. But now two forward-thinking New York architects have taken the idea further by designing a featherweight, rolling shelter made from low-cost recyclable materials.

Marcelo Ertorteguy and Sara Valente are behind cutting-edge design company Stereotank, which comes up with clever concepts made from everyday goods, like stools with skateboard seats.

The Taku-Tanku is a caravan-style shelter essentially made from two, 3000 litre plastic water tanks, connected with a ring of wood that frames the entrance.

The designers claim the nine square metres of interior space is enough to accommodate two or three people along with a compartment to store some gear.

However, apart from a solar-powered LED light, fan and small water tank, there are none of the usual features found in today’s caravans, like plumbing or electrical appliances.

Instead, the Taku-Tanku is described as “a travelling little house” that could be used as low-cost temporary housing or even a mobile playroom.

“Carried by one or two persons or by a bicycle, by a car or potentially even by a boat, Taku-Tanku is made out of water tanks and can travel through many landscapes to serve as companion and shelter but also as a sculpture that celebrates the vital role of water in our lives,” the designers say.

“Taku-Tanku is an eco-friendly project that can be easily assembled, built with off-the-shelf and re-purposed materials.”

We’re not sure if it will make production, but it might at the very least fire the imaginations of DIY types keen to create something similar for week-end camping trips or a stylish cubby house for the backyard…