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The Living O’Pod Offers New Twist on Glamping: Yes, It's a Rotating Home Made of Glass

For those not yet ready to part with the comforts of home but still itching to go outside and have a more immersive experience in the natural environment, glamping is always an option. On this note, think of this unit as the A-list version of glamping.
The Living O'Pod is a different kind of mobile home, a glamping unit that rotates in place 10 photos
Photo: UN10
The Living O'Pod is a different kind of mobile home, a glamping unit that rotates in placeThe Living O'Pod is a different kind of mobile home, a glamping unit that rotates in placeThe Living O'Pod is a different kind of mobile home, a glamping unit that rotates in placeThe Living O'Pod is a different kind of mobile home, a glamping unit that rotates in placeThe Living O'Pod is a different kind of mobile home, a glamping unit that rotates in placeThe Living O'Pod is a different kind of mobile home, a glamping unit that rotates in placeThe Living O'Pod is a different kind of mobile home, a glamping unit that rotates in placeThe Living O'Pod is a different kind of mobile home, a glamping unit that rotates in placeThe Living O'Pod is a different kind of mobile home, a glamping unit that rotates in place
This glass bulb is the Living O’Pod, an experimental build that lies at the intersection between architecture and art, and which aims to redefine our perspective on what a home should be like. Isolated but connected, removed from the urban environment but not closed off, the Living O’Pod is here to try and make you forget all about living in glass houses (and the occasional throwing of stones).

Designed in 2021, this prefab unit is hypothetically located in Repovesi in Finland, and is completely immersed in the natural landscape while still being a luxury home that offers protection from the elements – and whatever wildlife might still roam about that natural landscape. Call this the paradox of human nature, that of wanting to belong in nature but be sheltered from it at the same time, but the Living O’Pod is able to solve it.

Designed by UN10 (Unio Design), the pod redefines the modern home. The TLDR version is that it’s a spherical glass house that spins in place, either endlessly or on command. The extended version is that it’s part architectural study and part art piece, created with the goal of creating a personal space where one feels “secure, creative and inspired.”

The Living O'Pod is a different kind of mobile home, a glamping unit that rotates in place
Photo: UN10
“[It] should nurture the habitant’s soul, mind and also be resilient for the upcoming social, environmental, and technological challenges. Minimal, decentralized but connected, smart, and functional spaces need to be considered instead of the conventional urban fabric,” the design studio explains.

At the heart of the O’Pod is a steel frame that supports a glass-encased living space spread over two floors. The space inside is fully functional, so this isn’t your typical (and regrettable) case of form over function. The unit is designed for two adults, either on a passing visit or on a permanent basis, so it includes a bedroom, a fully-equipped kitchen, a bathroom, a lounge, a bar and even a workspace, because remote working is still “in.” The space also comes with a terrace, and wraparound, floor-to-ceiling glazing that allows the people inside to take in the views as the home rotates.

The design studio doesn’t detail the mechanism that makes the house spin, but videos available indicate that it can be stopped. They also show that the rotation movement is slow, so it won’t cause dizziness but instead enable shadow and light plays across surfaces and endless gazing from inside out.

A while ago, a 72-year-old self-taught engineer from Bosnia built a rotating house that had adjustable speeds, just so his wife would stop complaining about the view from certain rooms. If he could do it all on his own with a proper house, an entire team of builders could bring the O’Pod glass home to real life for a wealthy client.

The Living O'Pod is a different kind of mobile home, a glamping unit that rotates in place
Photo: UN10
And wealthy he’d have to be. UN10 notes that the mobile living unit is a luxury one, from the minimalist but elegant furniture to some of the fancier finishes, like the emerald green upholstery in the living or gold-tinted ceiling lights over the bar and the black floating staircase that links the two floors. The sections of the house would be prefabricated and transported for assembly on site.

“The Living O’Pod is a space where you can communicate with mountains, trees, the sky, and streams,” UN10 says. “The exterior reflects the surroundings and the sky, creating a camouflaged refuge.” In that refuge, you’d still get AC and heating (and insulation), and perhaps the ability to dim some of the glazing for privacy or a more restful night’s sleep. Since we’re talking about a still hypothetical house, you could probably get whatever you wanted inside, as long as you had the money to pay for it. And you’d get a most visually-striking home.

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About the author: Elena Gorgan
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Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends.
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