New Ecocapsule Space Is Cheaper, Ideal for Glamping, Still Egg-Shaped

Back in 2014, a tiny, cute, egg-shaped mobile solution for off-grid living dared to emerge on the market. It came all the way from Slovakia and it proposed a minimalist, entirely mobile and sustainable way of life: the Ecocapsule. The Ecocapsule is a living unit, so it’s got a bed, a kitchenette, a bathroom and even office space.

We discussed it in a previous coverstory, with emphasis on how maker Nice & Wise boasted about having built a fully-sustainable luxury hotel room. The Ecocapsule may be a lot of things, but it’s neither luxurious nor spacious as a hotel room. It offers the basic for daily living, in a rather crowded space, with the bonus of an easy conscience knowing that your footprint on the environment is minimal.

As small and cute as the Ecocapsule is, it’s also very expensive, with prices starting at €79,900 ($94,252 at the current exchange rate). Of the 50 items made, there are still some available, if you’ve got this kind of money to invest in a green future.

If not, there’s now a cheaper variant, or as the makers call it, the Ecocapsule’s younger sister: Space. Space is also an egg-shaped mobile unit made of fiberglass, fit with solar panels, but it’s no longer good for off-grid living. Instead, it would be perfect for glamping or even as a housing module in these difficult times when interpersonal reactions are off-limits unless social distance is observed.

Space is as big as Ecocapsule, meaning it’s 4.67 m by 2.2 m (15 by 7.2 feet) and has 8.2 square meters (88 square feet) of interior space. On the outside, it’s just like its predecessor, but inside, it’s almost entirely bare: for the base price of €49,900 ($58,869), you get a wall-sized cabinet and the floor. If you want extras, like a bed or a bathroom, you have to pay extra. Space is the most basic Ecocapsule.

But Nice & Wise, which makes these living units, swears you won’t be sorry for spending this kind of money on one. The name Space comes from the fact that you’re being offered “space” to customize as you see fit. Nice & Wise also handles the customization, which, again, is not free of charge.

“It can be your garden home office, sales place for little entrepreneurs, a guest room or a daughter for Ecocapsule original which makes it a perfect off-grid living for 4-5 people,” the official description of Space says. “Also, it’s a great accommodation solution for traveling business in situations as we are experiencing now on a global scale.”

That said, while described as “mobile” living units, neither the Ecocapsule nor Space has wheels. They can easily be hauled on a trailer or shipped across the seas in a container, or even dropped by helicopter on top of a building if you’re feeling generous with your hard-earned money. That’s what allows Nice & Wise to boast about Space being a unit ideal for glamping as well.

Much like a conventional RV, you can hook Space to the grid, if the 200-W solar panel array isn’t enough for your needs. The Ecocapsule has the solar panels on the roof, but with Space, the array is mounted on a telescopic pole. Unlike Ecocapsule, Space doesn’t have a retractable wind turbine, but they both have rainwater collection systems and insulation that protects from the elements and minimizes heat waste.

And sure thing, Space is beautiful even though bare: there’s something pristine about it, it's soothing not to have any clutter. Whether this kind of minimalism is worth the price of a used, but still decent RV is another story for another time.