Diogene
John Hill
17. June 2013
Image: Renzo Piano Building Workshop, courtesy of Vitra
Diogenes of Sinope was an Ancient Greek philosopher who rejected the amenities of civilized life by living in a barrel in the Agora of Athens. Over 2,300 years later, his name is being used for a 6-square-meter (64-square-foot) living unit designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop with Vitra.
As this exploded axonometric illustrates, "Diogene" is hardly as spartan as its namesake; it receives power from PV cells, collects rainwater, and includes a composting toilet, not to mention a shower, folding table, and pullout sofa. A "Diogene" prototype was on display at the Vitra campus as part of Art Basel, and the unit could be available from Vitra as early as 2014.