# Biodiversity-Promoting Abodes This Lightweight Shelter Blends into the Natural Environment By Katherine Pendrill | Published 2015-07-17 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lightweight-shelter References: [treehugger](http://www.treehugger.com/tiny-houses/bihome-ucla-students-design-tiny-home-affordable-housing-crisis.html) & [bihome.ucla.edu](http://bihome.ucla.edu) The 'BI(h)OME' is an affordable and lightweight shelter that offers an eco-friendly housing solution. In many urban areas, real estate speculation continues to drive up the price of homes. In response to the shortage of [affordable housing](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rewild-homes), a team of students at UCLA designed a cheap eco-friendly home. The BI(h)OME is a lightweight shelter that is designed to be built in the backyards of single-family homes. The shelter features wooden-framed walls, with a coating of double-layered recyclable plastic. A series of paper cylinders on the inside help to support the structure and divide the interior area. Inside the home there is a kitchen, a graywater-recycling system and a composting toilet, all of which can function off the grid. The 350-square-foot home is extremely cost-efficient, making it an affordable type of shelter for those with a limited budget. Not only is the BI(h)OME affordable, but it is also eco-friendly. The unique design of the home helps promote local biodiversity by providing [shelter for birds, insects and bats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/host). ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.3/10 - Popularity: 92% | Activity: 88% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) > [Eco Architecture](https://www.trendhunter.com/ecoarchitecture) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Affordable Housing Solutions:** The BI(h)OME provides an affordable and eco-friendly housing option for those with limited budgets. - **Eco-friendly Architecture:** The BI(h)OME's unique design promotes local biodiversity and encourages sustainable living. - **Off-grid Living:** The BI(h)OME's self-sustaining features, such as a graywater-recycling system and composting toilet, enable off-grid living opportunities. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Construction:** The construction industry can explore affordable and eco-friendly housing solutions like the BI(h)OME. - **Architecture:** Architects can incorporate elements of biodiversity-promoting designs into their eco-friendly architectural projects. - **Sustainable Living:** The BI(h)OME opens up possibilities for businesses in the sustainable living industry, such as off-grid technologies and eco-friendly household solutions. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Eco‑tiny Sanctuarys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tign-tiny-homes.md) - [Reinvented Compact Living](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/affordable-housing-prototype.md) - [Nature-Shared A-Frame Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kumiki-architects.md) - [Climate-Responsive Prefab Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/drop-pod.md) - [Fully Recyclable 3D-Printed Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/biohome3d.md) - [Ultra-Efficient Tiny Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hirondelle-tiny-house.md) - [Solar Powered Compact Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/e55000.md) - [Sleek Fire-Resistant ADUs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tetraone.md) - [Biodegradable Wildlife Habitats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/biodegradable-wildlife-habitat.md)