Richard Holden, of the firm Holden Cherry Lee, has an interesting take on the problems of overcrowded urban living, and on an overpriced housing market, the Micro Compact Home.

The homes are an exact cube, with a side length of 9 feet. They contain everything needed to live, including a toilet, shower, minibar, sink, cooking facilities, a double bed, and "dinner for five". Horden cites the aerospace industry as a primary influence. They are currently being tested with students in Munich, and Horden cites plans for short-stay business living in London.

You've got to see some of the plans for this thing, particularly the tree village, and the beautiful dream of the low e-home. I wish I was organized enough to live in one of these.

The micro-compact low e-home is all-electric and powered by photovoltaic solar panels of 8sqm with a small diameter vertical axis wind generator.