Portaspace

From inflatable concrete to boat-in-a-bag, new portable comforts are popping up

Implications - As people begin to move around more, whether due to virtual working arrangements, or the time and affluence of retired boomers, they are looking for ways in which to maximize the comforts they take on the road. Instead of camping or renting hotels, some travelers are drawn to the luxurious qualities of portable homes and recreation.

Trend Themes

  1. Portable Housing — The trend of portable homes and recreation offers disruptive innovation opportunities in the construction and transportation industries, enabling easy-to-assemble living spaces as well as a variety of recreational products.
  2. Inflatable Structures — Inflatable technology is disrupting traditional product categories, ranging from sailing boats to portable pubs to concrete buildings; businesses in the shipbuilding, architecture and events industries can leverage this trend for differentiation and innovation.
  3. Efficient Use of Space — The concept of maximizing the use of space is demonstrated in examples of storage units as play spaces, chopper RVs and urban skiffs, offering disruptive innovation opportunities to businesses that cater to the growing need for flexible living and working environments.

Industry Implications

  1. Construction — The trend of portable housing and inflatable structures creates opportunities for innovation in the construction industry, enabling affordable and easy-to-install living spaces, and reducing construction waste and costs.
  2. Events and Recreation — Inflatable technology's disruptive influence on recreational products, such as boats, portable pubs, and toilets, creates growth opportunities for companies in the events and recreational sectors, who can offer unique and memorable experiences to their customers.
  3. Transportation and Logistics — Efficient use of space, as demonstrated in chopper RVs and storage units as play spaces, offers new opportunities for businesses in the transportation and logistics industry to develop innovative solutions for the effective and economic use of space.
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Popularity
Activity
Freshness
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Megatrends
10 Featured, 3 Examples:
289,642 Total Clicks
Date Range:
Jan 08 — Oct 08
Trending:
Warm
Consumer Insight Topics:

Featured Examples

Eco-Retro
Eco-Retro
Retro VW Camper Goes Green
Still in draft-phase, the famous VW Westfalia Camper Van has been redesigned to bring it even more environmental street-cred. Alexandre Verdier envisions an "intelligent" vehicle with solar panels to… MORE
play_circle_filledPush Button Homes
Push Button Homes
Quik House by Adam Kalkin
Remember the Illy house? The shipping container that would unfold at the push of a button to reveal a fully furnished, highly functional pre-fab coffee shop? People went crazy for the New York installation… MORE
Inflatable Portable Pubs
Inflatable Portable Pubs
Bouncy Castles for Boozing
Bouncy castles are so much fun, but for some reason, even I get rejected when I try to play in them, and I'm pretty small! Imagine my excitement then when I discovered the Inflatable Pub! Designed for… MORE
Portable Sail Boat
Portable Sail Boat
Urban Skiff
The Urban Skiff, by designers Thomas Giger, Anita Meyer, Florian Ueker, Femke Morf and Thomas Etter is a portable/foldable sail boat that comes complete and ready to assemble. When you're ready to go sailing… MORE
Inflatable Architecture
Inflatable Architecture
Blow-Up Concrete Building
Researchers at Kassel University are exploring a new type of building material that involves inflating a flexible skin and then, filling embedded cavities with concrete. Voila - inflatable concrete! A… MORE
Artistic Outhouses
Artistic Outhouses
Visually Pleasing Portable Toilets
For most of us, the portable toilet’s that have offered us relief at outdoor events are hardly worth raving about. But not all portable toilets are bland and dreadful. In fact, some portable toilets are… MORE
Camping Rafts
Camping Rafts
Floating Cabins
People have camped near water bodies since the beginning of time, but camping directly on the water is now possible thanks to floating cabins. The pointed roof cabins are built on log rafts made of tree… MORE
Inflatable Boat Fits in a Bag
Inflatable Boat Fits in a Bag
This mini inflatable boat weighs only 40 kg but it can support weight up to 240 kg. It can fit for 2 people and ready for you anytime any place because it fits in a bag. This ultra-lighweight folding catamaran… MORE
Chopper RVs
Chopper RVs
BadAss Camping Gear
So road warrior, are you ready for some lakeside marshmallow and wienie roasts this summer? Don't stick it out in a tent. Instead, seek inspiration from this badass RV attached to a chromed out motorcycle.… MORE
Storage Units as Second Homes
Storage Units as Second Homes
GarageTown Play Spaces
What a fantastic idea: using storage units as play spaces! Designers and builders of storage units realized that people were using these rental spaces for more stashing their boxes full of junk, so they… MORE