During the pandemic, my friend Mr. Chen was working from home and, like many, found himself yearning for an escape from the city. He asked if I could design a portable ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) for him—a space that would allow him to work remotely while enjoying nature. I was inspired by the idea of combining elements of an ADU, an RV trailer, and a tent.
The design concept draws inspiration from a Renaissance-era architectural element called the "pendentive." This structure, traditionally used to transition between a square base and a semi-spherical dome, led me to create an expandable component. This part connects a basic rectangular RV trailer with three semi-spherical tents. The tents are framed structures covered with ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene), a lightweight, durable material. They function like Chinese paper lanterns—able to open and fold in, allowing the unit to minimize in size when moving or when a smaller space is needed.
I named the unit "Soap" for its shape: a rectangular body (the RV trailer) with three "bubbles" (the tents). To ensure the unit’s balance during transformation, the bottom of the solid body is designed to house essential systems, such as the battery, water system, and air conditioning—heavier items that act as counterweights. Meanwhile, the pendentive and tents are made from lighter materials like bent Titanium Zinc frames and ETFE.
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