What is a LoftCube®?

The LoftCube® is a type of living space designed by German furniture designer Werner Aisslinger. It is a compact unit that is meant to be built on top of a large building's roof top, though they can be built in other locations as well. The prefabricated LoftCube® is often placed on a roof top or in a particular locale by helicopter transport, and the unit is ready to be lived in once installed. The interior of the modular living space is about 400 square feet (36 to 37 square meters) and is designed to be an economical and attractive housing choice in areas with little room for expansion.

The interior of the LoftCube® is highly customizable to capitalize on all available space, and the exterior is distinguishable by its visually stunning appearance. The entire unit sits on feet that keep the living unit off the ground, and the cube itself looks futuristic and visually stunning. The LoftCube® is marketed toward people who want to own a living space in a city but cannot find available or affordable space in which to build. The cubes are often placed on rooftops of apartment buildings or condos to capitalize on some of the only available space left in cities.

While the interior is quite small, the LoftCube® design focuses on using the space efficiently to maximize available living space without expanding the footprint of the structure. Furniture within the cube is modular, meaning it can be moved easily throughout the structure and in many cases work together to maximize space and minimize clutter. The cube has a very open floor plan with no structural walls within the rooms; the four external walls support all the weight of the structure, allowing for more customization within.

The space is also highly energy efficient because it is small and takes less energy to heat or cool. The abundance of windows allows for plenty of sunlight that can heat the home quickly and efficiently, and the house can be cooled by opening available windows and doors for ventilation. Less electricity is needed to light the home, and much of the interior is white to reflect and capitalize on available sunlight or artificial light. Since the entire structure is suspended by feet, the available space underneath the cube is maximized, again enhancing available usable space. A variation on the LoftCube® features a solid base, but it is much smaller than the actual structure it supports.