Prefabricated Arks Can Be Your Own Luxury Haven or Used as a Business Model: Here's How

Folks, there's a reason why we're seeing all sorts of B&Bs popping up all over the place, promising that once-in-a-lifetime weekend money! If you've ever thought of starting a business to get some extra income, this little written piece is for you.

By now, I'm sure you've noticed that the tiny home wave is here to stay, and if you've been following along with autoevolution, you have some idea as to why that is. But, some folks use time homes for so much more than just taking weekend breaks outside city limits; some use these babies as a downright business model.

How? That's what we're here to find out, and to do so, we're going to be relying upon the business tactics of a Belgium-based crew dubbed Ark Shelter. But, be warned, these things are anything but shelters; they can be used as such, but beyond that, they can act as rentable office spaces, hidden bedrooms in the middle of the woods, and lakeside, beachside, mountainside, any-side, resorts! The latter is key to the whole idea of making big bucks with these structures. Remember, location, location, location.

But, to create an attractive, modern, and eco-friendly abode, you need to really be on top of things, not to mention knowing who your target customer may be. With this in mind, let's take a closer look at how an Ark is built and what your future guests, or even yourself, can expect.

Now, Ark Shelter breaks down their homes into five to six easy steps or stages, of which the first is personalization. Each habitat, whether it's to be used as an office, home, or rentable space, starts as a "blank canvas" for your dreams, needs, and wants. From here, modularity is taken into consideration, and units can even be expanded at a later time and date.

Another crucial aspect of the Arks is that they're built with "naturally ecological" materials and building blocks. I'm talking about wood and lots of it, but the way Ark Shelters manipulates it to give way to a clean, minimalist, and open space is just magical. Heck, some of the units have portions where the ceiling is made from glass, allowing your guests to fall asleep under the night skies. Talk about giving them something to talk about once back in town.

More on the ecological aspect of things, systems, too, are all aimed to leave as minimal a footprint as possible. How is this often achieved in this industry? With a few tricks borrowed from the RV and trailer-park industry, mainly batteries and all-electric appliances. Suppose units are loaded up with some solar panels; all the better. Even the building process has been fine-tuned to have as little of an impact on the natural world as possible.

Now, Ark seems to know that folks and adventurers looking to nestle their souls in the middle of the woods, on the edge of some mountain, or a beach, are looking for something; to connect with the natural world around them. To do so, you'll notice that each unit features massive floor-to-ceiling windows designed to allow the natural world to "seep" into the enclosure. Honestly, these things offer so much visibility that you might find yourself being stared at by the local wildlife, like a sort of reverse zoo.

The final stages of an Ark's construction have to do with the designated use for your unit. If it's a personal one, it's at this stage that you'll be bringing in furnishings and defining spaces such as the bathroom, bedroom, and even kitchen. However, units that are designed for simple day activities such as working, sipping on a coffee, or taking in brunch spaces are even more minimalist and typically include things like tables, lights, and maybe a fridge or whatever perks you want to offer your customers.

Now, you should consider that Ark Shelter builds prefabricated units, meaning you have quite a bit of flexibility in terms of where you can set one up. Some of the images in the gallery showcase these babies on the side of some lake, in the middle of the woods, or in a backyard, but my favorite setting is the office unit, the one sitting on the roof of some residential building in the middle of the city. What? The city life has some magic to it too, and some have adapted quite well to the daily runaround. Heck, some folks thrive in the stuff.

From here, it all depends on the sort of use you have for your units. Maybe you set up a nursing home with a different view every six months or so. What if you go for that resort nestled deep in snow-ridden mountains? Just be sure to make it Instagramable.

Personally, the latter setting got me thinking; if I was to call upon the powers of Ark Shelter, I'd talk to them about setting these things up in some trees. Yes, treehouses. Just imagine the sort of experience you'll be able to offer to would-be guests. Just remember location, location, location. Looking for a side hustle? This is one way to make some steady bucks with a tiny, mobile, and/or prefabricated home.