A city on wheels: A community in Norway that's designed to move

Nomadic cultures have been moving from place to place for centuries for various reasons, whether to follow animal migrations or to avoid dangerous weather, there has always been a reason to get up and go. In ancient times mobile housing units existed that were easy to set up and easy move. But who I am kidding? It's not just nomadic cultures who find reasons to relocate, I seem to relocate every 2 years, and being able to do conveniently is something that has always eluded me.

Nowadays, a Swedish architecture firm has figured out a way to not just make moving a person, but an entire community, relatively simple.  Jägnefält Milton have designed a mobile city that is simply made to move. But how? On the existing railroad lines of the small Norwegian community of Åndalsnes.

The project, 3rd place winner for an international redesign contest is named "Rolling Masterplan," and takes advantage of old existing rail infrastructure, allowing an entire community to be moved from place to place with the simple use of rail tracks. The plan is not just for a single home but for an entire community. This includes over 100 individual homes, a hotel, public baths, and a concert hall.

The mobile units also allow for redesigns and reconfiguring of a community in the same space. Along the lines of food trucks, these mobile units allow for a rearrangeable community with the addition of extra units and additional amenities. This not only gives you flexibility to go down the road, but it give you flexibility should you decide to stay. If only I could move my entire apartment from New York to San Francisco by way of rail!

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Images: Jagnefalt Milton

This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com