The News got a look inside of the new ‘Skip House’ in Bermondsey, which was built by an architect to live in for a year as a ‘statement’ to highlight soaring rent prices in London.
Harrison Marshall, who built a house in a skip when he moved back to London and ‘prices were through the roof’, let the News in for a tour of his new pad on Page’s Walk.
The site just off the Old Kent was once home to the iconic Soviet tank nicknamed ‘Stompie’, which was removed for ‘restoration work’ in January last year.
Inspired by his work in design and construction, The Skip House is part of his wider project to use his skills to highlight issues being faced by communities.
The 28-year-old architect plans to live in for a whole year to raise awareness about people being forced out of their homes because of soaring rent prices in London.
“It seems crazy that people work in the city and can’t afford to live here,” he said.
“Or people who have lived here their whole lives and can’t afford to stay here so they’re having to move out.”
Harrison explained that the skip was ‘the only way’ for him to live in this area.
That said, he is hoping to ignite a conversation around housing and how wasteland is used. “There’s got to be more creative solutions to the housing crisis,” he said.
Harrison’s fridge.
He said although it gets ‘chilly’, the best thing about his new temporary home is the neighbours. “They are probably the best things about this whole project,” he said.
Last week, he posted leaflets through their doors and had a ‘skip-warming party’ to introduce himself and the new addition to the area.
“About 20-25 people turned up and it was really nice. They’re all super supportive.
“People have even seen me doing stuff in the garden and gone to get their tools and come to help out and people around have filled up my hot water bottle.”
Harrison pays £50 a month for the skip hire and it cost him around £4,000 to build his home in it. He added that it’s not a ‘solution’ to the housing problem, but rather to ‘get people talking’ about creative ways to use wasteland.
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