Sales of massive, gas-guzzling Hummers plummeted between 2007 and 2010 with the fall of the economy and a rise in gas price – ultimately forcing the brand out of business. So what could the super-strong civilian version of the Hummer be used for, if not everyday transportation? Housing. Architecture firm HplusF designed a ‘Hummer House‘ that takes advantage of the vehicle’s durability.
Craig Hodgetts and HsingMing Fung of HplusF, who also designed the UCLA Library, the Hollywood Bowl and the Egyptian Theater, saw a lot of potential in the Hummer’s steel shell. After all, GM’s Hummer was modeled after the military vehicle of the same name, and are often called into use during disaster situations.
For the ‘Hummer House’ concept, the architects placed eight identical Hummer shells together, supporting them with a prefabricated steel armature. Designed for the Prefab 20/20-An Open Ideas International Competition 2009, the house envisions a new use for a vehicle that is no longer in production, and largely unwanted.
In addition to its recycling of automobile parts, the Hummer House has a solar power system, soy-based insulation grey water recycling and geothermal heating and cooling. It can be made smaller with just four Hummers, or expanded with additional vehicles.

