Earlier this year I spent a night in a Y Cube outside Wimbledon YMCA.
As a journalist I was fascinated to see inside the cube, to measure it up and see what a night inside would be like. Would it be tiny and claustrophobic? Could it be a realistic and affordable solution to ease the housing squeeze in London?
I also had another motive, which was that as a former trustee of the YMCALondon South West I was on the board when we gave the go ahead to move this project forward.
I always said I wanted to see inside when we got one up and running as the reality would make the difference between success and failiure.
Here are my thoughts. Let me know yours in the comments below.
August 2014 First ever Y:Cube housing block to be built on Merton street after plans approved
I am sleeping in this tonight http://t.co/NK3dhV8QnO pic.twitter.com/70S9leAY82
— David Lindsell (@SWLondonwebed) November 20, 2014
Context for my night in a YCube: Kingston housing list 'will take 12 yrs to clear' from 2010 http://t.co/eaWtpT1Fpd pic.twitter.com/wYlba7R40q
— David Lindsell (@SWLondonwebed) November 20, 2014
There were 6,812 households on the list for Kingston in 2014 but only 83 new affordable homes had been provided in a year
— David Lindsell (@SWLondonwebed) November 20, 2014
Shld have said 2010-> There were 6,812 households on the list for Kingston but only 83 new affordable homes had been provided in a year
— David Lindsell (@SWLondonwebed) November 20, 2014
And part of the challenge is to make new housing actually affordable
— David Lindsell (@SWLondonwebed) November 20, 2014
They've got thumbs up from Housing Justice and Kingston churches Acton on homelessness http://t.co/LBGWRevCuh pic.twitter.com/WP0GXQCN9b
— David Lindsell (@SWLondonwebed) November 20, 2014
I'm here in the Y Cube in Wimbledon and I'm about to get my tape measure out and see how big it actually is inside pic.twitter.com/KvFq5Lr75w
— David Lindsell (@SWLondonwebed) November 20, 2014
Ok here's a few more pics pic.twitter.com/e1245Xz2J8
— David Lindsell (@SWLondonwebed) November 20, 2014
So the Y cube is about 12 feet wide pic.twitter.com/Dh9s9u9dNF
— David Lindsell (@SWLondonwebed) November 20, 2014
And about 21 foot long! pic.twitter.com/ZCqN4E8bJE
— David Lindsell (@SWLondonwebed) November 20, 2014
A Y Cube would be let for about £140 a week
— David Lindsell (@SWLondonwebed) November 20, 2014
I was going to try and do a video of me swinging a cat but the video is it taking ages and I don't have a cat
— David Lindsell (@SWLondonwebed) November 20, 2014
Two things so far: it's quite quiet where I am although I can hear vague hint of cars going past outside
— David Lindsell (@SWLondonwebed) November 20, 2014
And I'm nice and warm: my wife was offering me scarves and coats thinking I was sleeping outside but this is warmer than my flat
— David Lindsell (@SWLondonwebed) November 20, 2014
It's nice finally being inside the y cube after having heard about it, supported the trial and seen its evolution pic.twitter.com/yyQjWurjkv
— David Lindsell (@SWLondonwebed) November 20, 2014
Seeing as my videos have stalled here's one the BBC prepared earlier http://t.co/neqV4RhRc9
— David Lindsell (@SWLondonwebed) November 20, 2014
VIDEO: "The Y Cube could be something that could help ease London's housing crisis" https://t.co/B2cb56HLJh
— David Lindsell (@SWLondonwebed) November 20, 2014
In which I forget the word for refrigerator-> Check out 'inside Ycube 2' on Vimeo http://t.co/OTy5UCEavR #Vimeo
— David Lindsell (@SWLondonwebed) November 20, 2014
VIDEO: Sleeping in a Y Cube on Vimeo http://t.co/588TaSPQh4 #Vimeo
— David Lindsell (@SWLondonwebed) November 20, 2014
The kettle works pic.twitter.com/8LbKadTZyp
— David Lindsell (@SWLondonwebed) November 20, 2014
The computer has no keyboard pic.twitter.com/iWRDp9H9tq
— David Lindsell (@SWLondonwebed) November 20, 2014
The microwave is surprisingly big in the inside pic.twitter.com/sQ8ZRYTXgQ
— David Lindsell (@SWLondonwebed) November 20, 2014
@SWLondonwebed disappointed you haven't discussed how every item of furniture seems to be from Ikea and how it's flat-packed on every level.
— Danielle Lowe (@DanniiLowe) November 20, 2014
Has YOUR house got underfloor heating? pic.twitter.com/KiD4qTXvz1
— David Lindsell (@SWLondonwebed) November 20, 2014
VIDEO: it's bigger on the inside - is it too 'flat-pack?' https://t.co/qaaNRAcyZb
— David Lindsell (@SWLondonwebed) November 20, 2014
VIDEO: I think young people WOULD want to live in a Y Cube for a bit but only time will tell https://t.co/dJ6fbAtZ6i
— David Lindsell (@SWLondonwebed) November 20, 2014
Here's what others have said about Y Cube
BBC News: Y:Cube: Is this London's £30,000 house of the future?
Evening Standard: Is this the answer to London's rental shortage? The secret tenant tests a flat-pack house
Gizmag: Is the Y:Cube a solution to London's housing crisis?
And finally the YMCAs own take on the idea Y:CUBE
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