14 DAY TRIAL // James Dunlop came up with a great idea of a tent prototype during his final year at the University of the West of England. He stated for "Myhab" that he got the idea after hearing about the large number of abandoned tents at a music festival.
The waterproof cardboard shelter, called Myhab won an award at the annual New Designers' Exhibition last year. Dunlop patented his idea after talking to a spokesman for the Glastonbury Festival, who told him that the abandoned tents are recycled and given to charity. Furthermore, the finance group "Mint Equity" has provided the funding in return for a 30 % stake in his idea. Mint has already committed around 500 000 pounds to Myhab.
The idea involves a recyclable habitat for two, made from waterproof cardboard and plastic. The frame's compartment includes secure locker for the owner's valuables, the possibility to customize the habitat with your own name, a cushion base to sleep on and even a solar-powered light.
According to Belfast Telegraph, the cardboard tents represent a "triumph of green entrepreneurship", so the traditional tent cities at festivals may never be the same again. The prototype is said to appeal to environmentally-aware music lovers, given the fact that all the major music festivals throw away some thousands of abandoned tents at the end of the events each year. Dunlop used only materials that can be recycled after being used, not to mention the waterproof cardboard.
As Belfast Telegraph reported, the British student took his inspiration from the Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, who has used the cardboard to make big buildings including churches; Dunlop dubbed its project "Myhab".
And as there are more than 100 annual music festivals where people camp in the UK, it's almost impossible not to become environmentally conscious. And if you're really interested in the matter, you should know that the first Myhab tents should be in trial festivals this summer, before being actually marketed next year. They should cost around 100 pounds a pop!