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Airbnb launches competition to fund the world's wildest house designs
Airbnb is on the lookout for wacky accommodation designs, and has launched the OMG! competition to find them. The UFO 'Futuro styled Flying Saucer' in Wales is an example of the kind of thing the company is looking for, which sleeps up to four people, and consists of one large room which includes a computer with some classic video games, including Space Invaders
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Airbnb is on the lookout for wacky accommodation designs, and has launched the OMG! competition to find them. The UFO 'Futuro styled Flying Saucer' in Wales is an example of the kind of thing the company is looking for, which sleeps up to four people, and consists of one large room which includes a computer with some classic video games, including Space Invaders
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The Yellow Submarine is another example of the kind of design Airbnb is seeking for its OMG! competition. It sleeps up to four people in New Zealand. Though it looks authentic, the tiny house is actually made from an old grain silo and other recycled materials
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Airbnb has provided a few examples of the oddball designs it's looking for with the OMG! competition, including the Boot that's located in New Zealand and sleeps two people. It includes a bedroom and bathroom, plus a lounge area and even a small balcony
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The Big Idaho Potato Hotel is another example of the kind of design Airbnb is seeking for its OMG! competition, where an old promotional potato has been repurposed into a one-of-a-kind retreat. It probably won't suit claustrophobes as there are no windows installed, but it includes a bed and some seating
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Another example of the kind of design Airbnb is looking for is the Flea Windmill, which is located in Portugal and transformed a 19th century windmill into a surprisingly comfortable retreat with excellent views of the surrounding area
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The final example offered up by Airbnb of oddball accommodation designs is this Hobbit House-style Earthen home, which was painstakingly built into the landscape in Washington State. It can sleep five people comfortably and has a total floorspace of 500 sq ft (46 sq m)
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Airbnb isn't exactly lacking in unusual vacation home designs – such as the Air bee and bee, for example. However, the online property rental marketplace could soon host a lot more as it has now launched a new competition soliciting the most oddball ideas for vacation homes, 100 of which it will then fund to build.
The competition, which is similar to another that Airbnb held back in 2020, includes a US$10 million fund to finance 100 of the "craziest" ideas. Once built, they will be put up for rent and featured in Airbnb's so-called OMG! Category, which is home to its most unusual rentals.
"Starting today, anyone with an out-of-this-world idea can submit an application," explained Airbnb. "One hundred people with the craziest ideas will receive $100,000 each to make their creations possible and, ultimately, bookable. Ideas will be judged by an expert panel for their originality, feasibility, the experience the space will provide guests, and sustainability."
The judges in question are Kristie Wolfe, who is no stranger to producing odd homes herself, as well as architect Koichi Takada, Airbnb's Bruce Vaughn, and influential interior design and fashion guru Iris Apfel.
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Airbnb has helpfully highlighted some examples of what kind of designs it considers suitably bonkers for inspiration. One such abode, the Yellow Submarine tiny house, is located in New Zealand. Obviously referencing the Beatles, it looks very authentic, but is actually an ingenious original invention made from an old grain silo and other recycled materials.
The interior is relatively spacious and can sleep up to four people, plus there's a small outdoor terrace area.
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The Big Idaho Potato Hotel was created by judge Kristie Wolfe back in 2019 and transformed a disused promotional potato weighing six tons (5,443 kg) into a unique dwelling.
The habitable tuber was previously an empty shell that was used for storage but now includes a sleeping area and some seating. Alas, there are no windows though, so it probably won't suit claustrophobes.
If you have an off-the-wall design that you think would be a winner, head to the competition page and send it in before 22 July. Each idea should be practicable and able to pass building inspections. It will also need to be completed by August 2023.
Source: Airbnb
