Exbury Egg
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Nigel Rigden (website) Download Original
Floating wooden pod structure that is a temporary live/work structure to accommodate artist, Stephen Turner, in residence for a year
The design aims to test the minimum someone needs to live quite comfortably, and how the impact of a small dwelling upon the environment could be minimised.
The interior of the Egg is subdivided like a boat into wet – a wash-space with toilet, pull out shower hose and wet locker; and dry living-spaces. Two curved roof lights are included, one in the living area and one small in the washroom. Two access hatches enable the Egg to be accessed from either side – one to the temporary floating gangway, linking (but not attached) to land and one to a boarding ladder for access to the small tender used to gain access to the land and move around the river.
A dedicated galley cook-space houses small two burner meth’s cooker with wash-up basin; storage; batteries and electrical switch panel. A work-space in the form of a Douglas Fir desk houses computer and art materials, and the live-space accommodates a large bean bag below the roof-light with transforms into a sleep-space at night when the artist hangs up his handmade English hammock.
Incorporated into the living area is a locally made charcoal burning stove for heating. Lighting will be low energy LED fittings and all electrical items will be charged from portable photovoltaic panels. Potable drinking water is brought to the Egg from a nearby stand-pipe in collapsible storage tanks, and river water is used for general domestic purposes. All black-water waste is taken to land for disposal in a nearby septic tank (located in an adjacent field).
Data
- Begun: Dec 2012
- Completed: Apr 2013
- Floor area: 17m2
- Sectors: Arts and culture, Education, House
- Total cost: £39,500
- Funding: Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Barker Mills Trust, Local Sponsorship
- Tender date: Jun 2012
- Procurement: Bespoke Contract
- CO2 Emissions: 10kg/m2/year
- Address: Beaulieu River, Beaulieu, United Kingdom
Professional Team
- Architect: PAD Studio
- Client: Stephen Turner
- Client / Artist: Stephen Turner
- Chief Builder: Paul Baker
- Naval Architect: Stephen Payne
- Collaborative designer: SPUD Group