The warehouse bit at the end made me really happy. The comparison with lego is great. Human scale too, so simple and approachable. The use of pure materials, encouraging re-use and reconfiguration, it's very compelling, I really like the philosophy behind this.

@ak241

Жыл бұрын

ditto

As a life-long LEGO blocks hobbyist, I have found that when people compare something to LEGO blocks, it usually shows that they do not understand LEGO blocks. As I watched this, it seemed that Nick actually understood LEGO blocks. When he stated that he's been a LEGO block enthusiast since childhood, it all made sense. Great documentary! Thank you!

Brilliant guy with a very optimistic attitude. It's infuriating that your average person is being priced out of potentially owning a home, and that these alternatives are even necessary, but necessity is the mother of invention.

@nononono3421

Жыл бұрын

At least it incites people to innovate, which is a win.

This is fantastic! I'm in Florida, and every year hurricanes destroy entire communities of houses and leave people with no option but shared shelters, usually school gymnasiums or sports arenas. Modular housing like this could be assembled quickly and provide for privacy and also reduce spread of illnesses.

The idea of accessibility and the speed with which these can be built is really appealing. The van isn't the most attractive built but it does address the issue for people who are working poor and use their trucks for work but live in high rent places where they can't really afford rent to live. It would allow people to move around for jobs.

@maobfh

Жыл бұрын

@Caroline Kelly- Not so much unattractive as unfinished, though unfinished is often unattractive. Making it attractive will be very easy with paint or paper or false fronts depending on taste and skill level. I would very much prefer something like this that I can change the look of than a kit that looks like almost every other van that has been converted. They are already starting to look alike! A young woman did the same thing and I don’t know this but wonder if he isn’t selling hers or she was the face for his or if it is simple coincidence (what are the odds?) or there is some copying/stealing going on. I won’t try to figure it out. Whatever the source, I love it. And if it is not anywhere near the cost some American van builders charge because someone will pay it, he/she/they may have a new customer!

@johnowens5342

Жыл бұрын

Moving is the solution abandon the areas with artificially high prices and let them do there own work. This is not a solution for anybody but those that have working poor working for them. Just think of how much lower wages can go if people will just do this. Refuse and have the dignity to move to a better place.

@Here_Today_

Жыл бұрын

It’s a Mercedes- have you priced them?

@mrebholz

Жыл бұрын

@@Here_Today_ Yes, and he pays taxes on this three pointed star as well. But still, it is very versatile and stealth and that's exactly how some people want to live. And other than mobile homes or caravans, he can stay with this utility vehicle almost anywhere without being chased or fined.

@Here_Today_

Жыл бұрын

@@mrebholz I think it’s a great solution. Many of us can adjust to such simplicity. I slept in my RAV4 for the summer and would find his van relatively spacious.

It feels like this dude has been waiting half his life to tell someone this, I love it

Very creative, but also a huge indictment on the state of our society's housing.

@RevdUp.Art.Fotografer

Жыл бұрын

Well, I live in Los Angeles...where lots of folks came to be homeless in the sunshine. It is an astronomical problem. There are Tiny homes being built and set up in large groups with amenities. Do they look like 'standard' homes, no. Our mindset and priorities MUST change. We need people housed, fed, clothed, healthy and educated...everywhere. These days there are tent & shopping cart encampments everywhere now. I moved into my apartment almost 8 years ago. I was so grateful....and then it started to feel cramped....and I started to grumble. I work out of my place as well as live. I have a single apartment of about 475 sq ft......Now, with everything going on in the world, I feel bloody grateful for my large Tiny work/live space. I believe that the indictment should be of our society's unwillingness to actually see people, acknowledge their existence and that they are in need. We have so many mothers & children that are hungry and homeless, vets that are hungry and homeless, working poor that are one paycheck from the streets. But the politicians just say the 'homeless problem' is a zoning issues, or that 'they're all drug addicts'. They say whatever they have to say so THEY don't have to think or do anything about it. Well the time has run out on that clock. We live in the richest country in the world. 🤦‍♂💁‍♂

@johnowens5342

Жыл бұрын

Not a step in the right direction. Fix housing Don't downgrade.

@razoraz

Жыл бұрын

@@johnowens5342 Yes but nah, bro. Political solutions are ridiculously complex to address (and I'm not saying don't address them) but people live in the here and now. For people who can't afford next month's rent, 'van life' or "living in an adapted and formerly abandoned warehouse in a dynamic cohousing situation" are the kind of solutions we need for today. We live day to day. We need choices for today in the meantime toward utopia.

@johnowens5342

Жыл бұрын

@@razoraz I respect your position although I do disagree. I think by adopting van life companies will pay less because they will be able to get away with it. Disney World in Florida has done this and have a fleet of workers living in cars. Workers must not work for any company that pays less than rent and food, if they do they are enabling the situation. If you must be homeless be homeless on the sidewalk in front of the mayor's house. The problem is the fake cost of building mandated by politicians. Permits, zoning, environmental impact studies and time all add cost and make average people not build for themselves. No utopia coming but we can demand the right to build housing without unreasonable permits. I would be happy to build an additional dwelling on my lot but it is not permitted. I have 3 acres I would build 3 tiny homes on but I am not permitted and I have a city lot that I could build a duplex on but it is not permitted. Six families could have homes but zoning says no. Zoning needs to be replaced.

@razoraz

Жыл бұрын

@@johnowens5342 The Disney workers are all living in their cars, in some big parking lot the company provides? Is there some film about this? I have heard of Amazon offering a program to RV dwellers seasonally in AZ where they pay for the RV park costs as well as thier standard wage. I agree with you about far-excessive permitting and zoning rewuirements in the US. That's why most housing built seems to target the higher part of the market where they have the margin for that. Where I living "accessory dwelling units" or ADUs like you described are also forbidden. Because as an owner I've thought of doing the same, and as a renter I'd much prefer a tiny home without shared walls (even if smaller) rather than a generic apartment building anywhere. I have seen people creating "glamping" units for AIRBNB in that situation, where you can put a yurt or canvas tent on a deck, and if it has no real plumbing you can skirt by. I do wonder if there's anywhere in north america at least where any group has made progress in rolling back building new housing expensive and painful. Case studies with a strategy are always good. (I just checked reason.com out of curiousity and what do you know, California recently actually made ADUs easier to build!?) YIMBY! reason.com/2022/01/12/will-new-york-copy-californias-most-successful-housing-reform/

I really love this guy attitude, those blocks would be good for storage in a tiny house , could be used as a ladder and storage 😊

Very clever use of materials. “…as if Lego and IKEA had a baby.” 😊

"Just me and a hammock and a couple of boxes." THAT is really minimal living. Fabulous idea. If you put the car-seat heater on in that park modus, you may be able to heat up your water-bottle for a shower!

The first thing I said when this video began was, "Wow, it's Leggo Man!" but after seeing it I feel this lovely man is only just beginning. The evolution will be awesome to witness. The future already has Nick's name well imprinted in it. Congrats Nick, your mind is paying off in huge ways and thanks to your interest in Leggo's as well!!!

I love you Kirsten and Nicolas. Together, you kind of blow my mind with every single video, and I've come along for many. And I love how you basically write a blog post in every video description, with all the links I'd want to find. So many other youtubers neglect this and it makes me sad. It's all entirely FAIR, a word I'd never valued fully until now. I've never understood the term 'permacutlure' but this feels like the closest thing to that.

His Chuckle is infectious. Love the idea. Need it here in Australia

@rorychivers8769

Жыл бұрын

I mean all the dimensions are multiples of 15 / 30cm, you could make your own and it would even be largely compatible as long as you religiously stick to the same measurements

This guy is a genius. I love the "box" concept of the rooms & containers. Thanks for this wonderful video.

I could see a communal habitation in the downtowns that are empty. Build out showers, a couple of kitchens and the thing would be perfect for folks priced out of traditional hoousing. Hell, it'd be a great way to break the lonliness epidemic.

I love that he mentioned Marie Kondo. I noticed how organized and nicely folded his clothes are. I also use some of her methods. Get the folding board, it makes the folds even crisper.

Kirsten, this content made me smile. It was special to see his own sense of joy as well. The simplicity and functionality of this system is just excellent. It reminds me a bit of the furniture in your home. Thank you for making uplifting content. (Love the new channel guidelines). ❤❤❤

What a cutie. I wish him the very best of luck with U-Build.

Very simple, clever, elegant solution. Love his positive attitude. He's a cutie too! 😺

Could you see one of these buildings filled with these cubicals as offices for young entrepreneurs? I think this is amazing for all the homeless around cities that have empty factories that could be reserviced as housing!

Reinventing the wheel. This is, by now, a fairly widespread solution with Euro containers/Euroboxes that have a fairly large ecosystem around them. Can get them new or used everywhere. In heavy or light duty. It's a standardardized grid system, stackable in countless configurations. With or without lids. With or without side access. There is a huge ecosystem around them, with sinks, toilets, stoves etc. made to fit. The benefit of Euroboxes over this: weight & safety. If you ever get into an accident with these heavy ply boxes, especially without a bulkhead, you're gone.

@Sweetlyfe

Жыл бұрын

U build has been going for a number of years with the housing pods, they aren’t new.

@Robert_Hermigua

Жыл бұрын

I thought about Euro boxes, too. More sturdy and lighter weight. But hey, he is in the UK. No Euro something anymore ...

These are very interesting building blocks. The set-up he has in is van with the boxes/cabinets/drawers/bookcases/etc which is malleable according to need could really assist folks with building out vans, step-vans, ambulances, tanks😄, etc as well as apartments, & houses, places of work. They can be painted and designed to accommodate so many peoples needs. I think its great. When I was a boy I had a stellar sent of Tinkertoys and blocks all of those served as infrastructure. I also had all the cardboard I could ever want (my father was a printer) so I used that to build houses. I'd get done and tear it all up and start over with a different idea. I could so relate to him.

@alwaysdreemin7661

Жыл бұрын

That is really cool. When I was little I had a tent bad and it always made me feel cozy and secure. Today I can easily live minimally in a small space. I may do that when my kids are out of the house and on their own.. Van Life❤.. 😊

I love this box method of storage and building. It is totally versatile, organised and streamlined. In our smaller house I only use rectangular baking dishes and tupperware (no squares or rounds) because this shape slots in and out of shelves , fridge etc giving maximal storage, easy retrieval and everything can stack on everything else where required. I'm totally in tune with the U-build boxes. Will be checking them out. FAB work and creativity. Many congrats!

This is some fresh air! Electric and modular interior, sign me up: it's the one to beat. Flexible use and reuse need to be part of our electric vehicle future.

The boxes are great, love that you don’t need handles. If holes aren’t an issue they could have many cutouts to lighten the weight without putting their structural integrity at risk.

For climate disasters victims, these kind of homes could provide relief shelter until their old homes are rebuilt. Love to see a bigger house built for a family using the same techniques. Genius concept!

Thanks Kirsten another device with limitless possibilities. It's really outside the box thinking. Cudos to everyone involved in this.

he is very creative.🌸

oh. I was dreaming you came here and did my flat, and I was crying meeting you being such a big fan..

Loved this episode ❤️

This system has been used to build everything from pods, sheds, tiny houses, home extensions to a full sized family home. Simple and effective.

Pretty cool, hope someone will adapt the design to standard plywood sheets and hardware in North America as well.

It would be cool if when he needed to use his van for work, he could set the boxes on the ground built into a little temporary pod like he has in the building. It would be like a little office or break room he could leave on site somewhere out of the way and give it a lockable door so he can drive whatever he needs to around, maybe sleep in tjere overnight if it's a multi-day job, and then pack back up and drive away when the job is done. He could slot some of the side boxes into the ceiling or have a tiny trailer to hold them.

Wow! Do another episode on that last building!

I don't know how you find these Crazies, but they're geniuses in their own way, and so fascinating. I love this goofy guy. I'd sure like to see what he ends up doing with the entire warehouse. I can see his wheels are alway turning. Another great video.

This guy does it almost exactly the way I imagine I would do it, universal box system that you can take out for work and hauling, move stuff around for different designs functions. Even down to the gym membership to handle hygiene needs.

Love these Ubuild boxes! I am in the US

Cut one thread off the top of the white part of the drain that screws on. The basket or whatever its called. You might need to cut the part that comes down from the sink a little so the other part can thread on higher. You can make it fit. It won't hardly leak with the volume of water you'll be using anyway even if you didn't do such a nice job.

This is fantastic! We need tons of these in Seattle, Los Angeles, Portland, New York and all other places where homeless people are.

Freaking brilliant, what a way to offer safe places for people to sleep and in a large unused warehouse, build a small community. I agree that it does not solve housing issues long-term, but this system could be an adaptable system to help people. His last comment really resonates with me. I have seen tiny house mini communities for retired individuals. They have their privacy but then they also have the opportunity to connect. A couple of friends and I could purchase a larger building and put in a couple of pods each and still have connection to each other. Businesses could have groups of these pods for various activities and have a space to join together for group projects. I love this!

Moveable and can be redesigned or rearrange anytime you want is nice idea plus travels on the road,all the essentials you have is a good life to enjoy 😃👍

@nicolasboullosa

Жыл бұрын

Great word, “moveable.” Brings back Hemingway’s “moveable feast,” thanks.

@karenubungen3501

Жыл бұрын

@@nicolasboullosa exactly 😃👍

I'm really digging Nick's energy! 😀

I love the hammock idea but his mounting seems a bit iffy as you can see the sheet metal already deforming.

The simplicity is genius!!

Fantastic stuff. Thank you Kirsten D for the amazing work you are doing!

This is good. I don`t see me driving an EV, here in the States, but everything he has done, I can see working.

Such s simple clever way to make these modules for many uses..cheaper structures to create shelter..a great alternative to sharing with privacy in a warehouse environment..well done..another solution to the many costly house rentals…thankyou for this one..❤

Nice neat yang man. Good job. 👍

Hi Mate, the build id looking good, on your waste water after the trap the waste water runs down the convaluted/flexy tube, this can be a source of smelly bits! i had a pub in Switzerland and the drip tray would cause this problem so always keep it clean and give it a good clean often :-). busy converting a Nissan NV200 myself as it is the only thing that will fit in my garage :-)

some Neodymium magnets on the sink inserts will strap them down quite nicely

The fright he’ll get when someone tries to break into his van

Let’s face it; humans are amazing. Creativity and ingenuity can and do lead to creative solutions. These are human traits mixed with compassion and passion. THANK YOU.

Great space sharing with “Cabins” unique and sturdy! Super efficient transfer panels, windows, building blocks! Solar roof create by sliding back toward walls to expose overhead sun ( resulting warehouse hull).

"We want to empower individuals, empower community groups, thru self-build." This could save my city, where half of us are renters. Developers & Airbnb have displaced entire neighborhoods where the same families lived for generations. Living in a warehouse would be an adjustment with children ... but the savings could go toward home-ownership.

Ah yes, the answer to our dystopian wealth gap..

@winniethexi2184

Жыл бұрын

UK is cancer

@thekarmicbrat

Жыл бұрын

I'm glad we can collectively recognise how much of an issue this is, and apart from a few genuine exceptions, most people would not choose to live in vans if they could help it.

@GreyRock100

Жыл бұрын

@@thekarmicbrat I've considered it just to get out of my job.

@thekarmicbrat

Жыл бұрын

@@GreyRock100 basically. The fact that people are pushed this far is a sign of a larger issue. Some genuinely like this kind of life, but most are just trying to survive, and that points to a much larger issue that needs to be fixed.

@GreyRock100

Жыл бұрын

@@thekarmicbrat 💯

What an amazing young man, bravo.

Gosh, my neurodivergent brain loves this creative guy and his system. Thanks for sharing his work!

Yes! Flexible thinking and simple solutions AND social awareness. I loved this episode so much. Thank you.

You fitted the victron sideways. :/ Also inverters need space to cool down so make sure you do some kind of airflow.

Reminds me of the people making the actual giant lego-like blocks as furniture and room dividers. I thought that looked a bit too childish. If I was rehabbing and old house that I was nervous about staying in, I would try this!

Nice one Mr ❤️

Brilliant idea

It's Avery good idea ,can you have one made or designed to your own specific order?

Loved this video. Smart. And shows how forward thinking and a little bit of ingenuity can alter the status quo concept.

What a smart young man! Makes me want to rebuild my camper van!!!

I'm in love ... will definitely try this as a personal project myself, the fact that I don't have to cut things into custom sized lengths which then cannot be reused without waste is just genius.

Perfect for pop up factories/ project space/ disaster shelters/ security bays w/ locked safety cages for small business inventory/ convention displays in unused commercial space

Great idea... very quick, very easy to construct, and relatively inexpensive with flexibility to boot. What's not to like - I think that it's a great idea, and not being permanent is also a big plus - it could be moved to a new site really quickly. Cool... 👍😄

Amazing 😍😍😍😍.

Love it. Hope he keeps going with this

totally love it !

He's really living the dream of many, of just being able to disconnect and go anywhere whenever. The freedom of the van life is honestly quite appealing but then there's nothing like the luxury and comfort of having your own shower and loo with inbuilt plumbing that you don't need to empty yourself or have to sprinkle saw dust into like a kitten after you do your business.

@teekanne15

Жыл бұрын

its always a balance between convenience and freedom.

@therealCellblock1138

Жыл бұрын

Incinerator toilet. Disintegrates the business.

@charisma-hornum-fries

Жыл бұрын

If you have cats already it's not an issue as their litter boxes needs cleaning daily. It's absolutely doable. I'm more worried about the cold at night.

This modular/U-build definitely suits his needs for living in a van he needs to work out of too. Quite interesting. Thanks for the video! Love the reference to Legos 😂

Not sure why someone living their choice of a life is an issue especially if you are living yours. I have six months to mind my own business and six months to leave everyone else is alone and then it’s a new year all over again!

Great ideas and optimism. Thank you for sharing.

Living in a box, is that really what people desire?

Genius!

The idea of assessability for a pod in a building is a great idea~

I really love the way he thinks.

Brilliant!

Truly a visionary

Clever fellow, thinks outside the box. He’d do well in US pitching UBuild to city councils

I like the idea of using the boxes as building blocks in a van, but I don’t see the advantage unless you need the van to be empty occasionally. I’d personally rather have a good design made to perfectly fit the van as opposed to fitting the boxes into the van. I like the guys attitude.

@nononono3421

Жыл бұрын

Almost every van conversion ends up being used for two years then the owner moves on, either to a new van or no van.

thanks again

save to favorites..💝

Got my t shirts organized.

I totally love this idea. Thinking out of the box with standardized boxes ❤

I love this!

Apply a small amount of Beeswax to the wood box drawers and they will slide easily and it adds a light sheen.

Well done

Better for the environment. Thanks for the giggles

he is so neat

It’s perfect!

Loved this and the mindset behind it, well done! 👏

Brilliant! Suggestion, make some of the box lids or covers out of peg board so people could hang things on their walls.

Wonderful! Yes, we need more "human scale" back into our built inviornment. I can really use one of those room moduals. My shop building is too big for just me, and to heat it in the winter is costly. I keep it at around 57 degres centigrade. This is ok while working, but siting at my computer, my body isn't producing enough heat. To have a small space big enough for just a bed and computer desk, winter life at the shop would be much more tolarable. Thanks again, for the video. John, Shelbyville, Missouri. USA

How impressive thank you so much!

Such a Cool concept, this really is LEGO for adults!

This is really fascinating! We are going to have to come up with ideas to use all the empty office spaces! I think this is a winner!

Fascinating!