Argentina-based Grandio created the Hüga, a $75,000 prefab concrete tiny home that is both weather and bulletproof.
The concrete unit has a living room, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, upstairs lounge area, and an optional rooftop deck.
Tiny homes have grown in popularity during the coronavirus pandemic, and Grandio's Hüga is no exception.
The majority of inquiries for Hüga come from North American clients, although Grandio has also received interest from customers in countries like Germany, Mexico, South Africa, and Singapore.
"When we compare the demand curve to other similar concepts, we are way out in front," José Martin, an architect at Grandio, told Business Insider in an email interview.
Grandio created the Hüga, a $75,000 prefab concrete tiny home that is both weather and bulletproof.
Tiny homes have boomed in popularity this past year, and the Hüga is no exception. However, Grandio's decision to create a tiny home didn't come from a desire to follow living trends.
Instead, the Argentina-based company decided to create the Hüga after its employees, several of which are college professors, noticed students wanted to travel and live unrestricted by "debt and social structures," according to the company.
This inspiration sent the architecture and engineering firm on a mission to create a home that could accommodate these specific needs. And finally, after two years of work, the 77-year-old company unveiled the Hüga tiny home earlier this year amid the ongoing tiny home boom.
"We are only in the early stages of our sales and marketing activities, but the interest we are getting from prospective buyers and partners is outstanding with requests flowing in every day," José Martin, an architect at Grandio, told Business Insider in an email interview.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
The majority of Hüga inquiries have been from potential North American clients, but Grandio has also received requests from clients in countries like the UK, Germany, Mexico, South Africa, Australia, and Singapore.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
North American-based customers can now preorder the tiny home.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
"When we compare the demand curve to other similar concepts, we are way out in front," Martin wrote.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
The rise of Hüga's popularity follows the recent tiny home boom.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
A survey of 2,006 Americans published in December by Fidelity National Financial subsidiary IPX1031 found that 56% of survey respondents would consider living in a tiny home.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
As a result, both tiny home sales and rentals started increasing as people began looking for a getaway during coronavirus pandemic times, according to a November report by the Wall Street Journal.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
According to Martin, people have been craving space away from apartments and condominiums as the pandemic rages on.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
However, home ownership can be costly.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
This is where Hüga enters the picture, meeting these needs spurred on by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
“Hüga’s design is in sync with the changes we see in the way people want to live,” Martin wrote.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
Like other popular mini living units, the Hüga is a movable prefab home that doesn't require a foundation, making it a flexible living option
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
Being foundation-free and prefabricated also means the home can be installed in a day.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
However, Hüga still needs to be connected to power, water, and sewage points.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
The tiny home's name was inspired by the famous Danish "Hygge" concept, therefore conveying the unit's sense of "life-based living," according to its maker.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
Grandio decided to pursue the concrete route to make the home "indestructible."
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
As a result, the Hüga can withstand a range of weather types, including snowfall, hurricanes, tornadoes, and high humidity, according to its maker.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
If that's not enough, the unit is also mold resistant and bulletproof.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
Now, let's take a look at what the interior has to offer.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
Hüga sits at about 484 square-feet and is lined with large windows to bring in more natural light.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
This square footage includes a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, combination living and dining room, and a "relax zone."
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
This relax zone consists of a mezzanine that can accommodate a small mattress.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
The home can also optionally come with a rooftop patio if the mezzanine and living room doesn't provide enough leisure space.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
The entrance of the tiny home is guarded by a barrier that can fold up for easier access into the home, according to images of the Hüga.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
The kitchen can accommodate amenities like a microwave, oven, electric stove top, and sink, according to renderings of the build.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
The dining table, which can seat up to four people, is located between the kitchen and living room.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
The bathroom - which has a shower, sink, and toilet - then separates the kitchen from the bedroom.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
Hüga also has several storage units integrated throughout the interior, including closets in the bedroom, and hidden storage units in the staircase leading up to relax room.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
Grandio has partnered with precast concrete companies to make all of this a reality.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
It's also planning to establish sales and production partnerships in different locations to help meet the rising Hüga demands.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
By diversifying the location of the partnerships, the tiny homes can be customized to appeal to a local market, according to Martin.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
The Hüga was designed for a variety of customers - such as families, couples, and communities of older people - but the concept itself can be used as more than just a home.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
According to Martin, the Hüga can serve as a hotel suite, school, and office.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
This multi-use capability has already started catching the eye of other industries.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
Gonzalo Viramonte
According to Martin, Grandio has been receiving requests from hospitality companies, specifically hotels that are interested in adding stand-alone units to create more physical distance between guests.
The Hüga tiny home by Grandio.
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