Dumpster Dweller Delivers Urban Housing Solution

Kasita is a micro-modern-modular apartment building emerging in Austin, Texas. The units are 208 square feet in size - extremely small - but the ideology has a purpose.

In Austin, where there are such limited and small housing spaces, Kasita boasts tons of interior-design bells and whistles, from modular “tile” shelving to various networked-home features.

The idea behind the apartments is that they will be able to be moved from city to city. Kasita is a self-contained unit that slots into a larger "rack," which provides plumbing and electricity facilities for the space to function. Kasita is led by Dr. Jeff Wilson aka ‘Professor Dumpster’ who lived in a 33 sq ft dumpster for a year, transforming it into a living space.

The Story

Not every company can say their CEO used to live in a dumpster, but it's the story behind Kasita's founder.

Jeff Wilson got his start at the height of the dot-com boom in the late 1990s. Silicon Valley was buzzing, but after three years he felt stifled by the system and its lack of real innovation. Wilson quit the corporate grind, buried his Rolex in a California desert, and set out to find more from life.

Years later, after earning a Ph.D. and becoming a professor, Wilson became fascinated by minimalism. He sold most of his possessions for a dollar apiece and spent his summer breaks traveling abroad with nothing but the clothes on his back. After moving to Austin, Texas, his love for minimalist living culminated in an educational and social experiment where he lived in a used 33 square foot dumpster for an entire year.

Small living led Wilson to reimagine what a comfortable home could be—especially in a growing city in need of affordable, urban housing. He took all the best elements of dumpster life—more from less, beautiful design, and smart technology—and conceptualised a dream space. He called it KASITA. A whole new category of living.

Where is it? 

KASITA prototype is currently located in East Austin, and we will be taking orders very soon. Less than a 10 minute walk from the heart of the city.

How big is it? 

The Kasita is approximately 319 square feet with 10-foot ceilings. Because of the thoughtful industrial design, the space feels twice as big. It’s surprisingly roomy with feng shui on point!

Availability? 

If you live in Austin, Kasita's hometown, you’ll be able to live in a Kasita by late 2016.

Anything for developers? 

Developers all over the nation are interested in Kasita for smart urban housing. It’s a low-risk, turn-key solution that can work practically anywhere. Let Kasita know if you're interested in developer opportunities.

How high can Kasita go? 

Kasita is completely flexible, from the units to the racks. The racks can be modular from a single unit cradle, to up to 10 floors with an elevator.

What does it contain? 

Kasita has included everything from a Casper queen size mattress to an in-unit washer/dryer. No need for laundry change or communal bathrooms here—it’s not your average small space.

Is Kasita mobile? 

Kasita is working on an innovative and transportable docking system to be able to get buyers from place to place; they want to make it easy to move across town or across the country.

Content: Kasita.com