Engrossed in his design projects during the day and answering queries from fellow Londoners by the evening (while they grin at him) is the new life of Harrison Marshall. An artist by profession, Harrison is the co-founder and director of CAUKIN Studio. However, that’s not what got him famous. The London-based artist is making news these days for his new home which is a dumpster. Yes, you heard that right!
I am not kidding; in fact, I’ve had a chat with Harrison who has been living in his ‘SKIP House’ for the past couple of months. He actually converted a dumpster into a cozy home and is having a good time. Sure nobody wants to live in a dumpster, but when your landlord demands a payout that would make you trade your kidney (metaphorically of course), the wise choice is obviously to live in a dumpster.
Getting straight to the point, it’s the soaring rental prices in London that prompted him to take such a bold step. In an exclusive chat, Harrison tells, “I’ve been living here for the last two months and it has been an interesting experience.” The specially-adapted skip is located on a patch of grass in Bermondsey, South London.
“Living in a skip was never intended to be a solution that people should replicate, but instead it was a way to highlight just how absurd life has become,” Harrison added. Costing him $59 a month, it is almost 33 times cheaper than any rental traditional house in London. People are already gravitating towards tiny house lifestyle and Harrison found the dumpster to be the ideal option. This way not only does he save a lot of money but also protests against the housing crisis in London and around the world.
“Initially there was definitely some worry about security and feeling vulnerable because it is quite an exposed site. But after meeting so many neighbors and talking to people walking past, it started to feel more comfortable – everyone was so nice and welcoming,” he states.
Measuring twelve feet in length, six feet in width and six feet in height, Harrison’s dumpster house isn’t shabby as many would presume it to be. Instead, it has a proper living space featuring a mezzanine shelf that functions as a bedroom. On top of that, the entire structure is fully insulated. It even features a small kitchen equipped with a sink and cooktop space. He uses the toilet in the portaloo located in the corner of the site, and showers either at work or the gym.
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Speaking on how his family and friends reacted to this oddity, Harrison speaks, “They understood why I was doing the project and my reasons behind it, which ultimately is to question and challenge the rising cost of living that is being experienced by thousands of people across the city, and around the world.” To voice his opinion, Harrison will be living in this claustrophobic space for almost a year which is truly commendable.
