Barcelona’s “Beehive” Housing Plan: A Tiny Update on Urban Living
Last Thursday, a Barcelona start‑up stoked the city’s anger by proposing a “beehive” housing concept — a fleet of miniature pods for low‑income workers that would stack them in close quarters for just about 200 euros per month (about $232).
Why the Buzz?
- Each pod is no bigger than a standard 2.4 square metres (21.5 sq ft) apartment.
- Inside, there’s a bed, a TV, storage space, and power plugs, mirroring the capsule hotels that tourists love in Japan.
- Shared amenities include a communal kitchen with multiple microwaves, a lounge area, and communal bathrooms.
- Rent covers all utility bills and Wi‑Fi, making budgeting a breeze.
The City’s Standpoint
Barcelona’s mayor, Ada Colau, has denied a licence for the project, insisting that people cannot legally stack themselves side‑by‑side in such tiny spaces. “The law prohibits piling up people, so this type of dwelling is off the table,” she told reporters.
Ignoring the Rules Got the Pods Started
Despite the lack of official approval, Haibu 4.0 has already begun construction on its first eight pods, which it aims to finish by month‑end on an empty commercial site.
Who’s Eligible?
The Beehive project restricts residency to people aged 25‑45 with a minimum monthly salary of €450. The company reports that 500 applicants have shown interest in renting a pod.
Who’s Behind It?
“We’re built on the idea that people who can’t find housing can band together and make it happen,” said Victoria Cerdan, one of the entrepreneurs behind Haibu 4.0, to AFP.
Spain’s “Capsule Cottage” Craze: A Tiny Bunker for Rent‑Skeptics
On September 6, 2018, the Spanish tech firm HAIBU Solutions tossed a blurry, nameless photo into the internet’s wild. The picture—think future bunker meets IKEA furniture—showed a tiny concrete “capsule” that the company claimed could be rented for a mere €500 a month (not a typo, a fact).
Why the Naysayers Are Talking
- “It’s not proper housing, folks will never live in it.” This summed up how most people felt.
- And then there’s the practical truth: a monthly salary of €500 is just not enough to keep up with vanilla rent.
Since we’re all struggling to beat the monthly rent, the company put forward the idea of a mini‑apartment—just big enough to survive, but not big enough to feel like a home. “It’s a stand‑in for the street,” the firm declared, “and it’s cheaper than being a stranger on your own floor.”
Politicians Get Involved
Industries are rarely quiet, and the reaction was swift. Inigo Errejon, one of the aggers from Spain’s anti‑austerity Podemos party, tweeted an analogy that stuck: “These houses are like coffins in a cemetery; the only thing you lack is the ability to live in one.”
What’s the Bigger Picture?
In cities like Barcelona, rents are climbing as though they’re on autopilot in a car without brakes. Average rents jumped 28.7 % from 2014 to 2017, reaching €903.40 as official city stats say.
Meanwhile, the average monthly salary in Spain sits at €1,880 (and for the under‑30 crowd it dips below €1,300). That gap explains why many feel that “rent may be the only price they’d rather pay than worry about paying three‑liners on the street.”
The Takeaway
Even though HAIBU Solutions’ capsule offers a quick fix for rent‑hungry Madriders and the like, the conversation just shows that Spain will have to find better ways to give middle‑class people a decent pad besides buying a “micro‑shelter” that’s basically a functional coffin‑style shelter.
