The Cubiculum story is, in essence, the story about inspiration from learning and living in ancient Rome, applied to possibilities and challenges in modern university towns, such as the vibrant and well known city of Uppsala. Life as a student at Uppsala University or at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, with excellent quality of teaching and research opportunities, are apparent drivers, attracting students from all over the world.
Cubiculum addresses the need for more attractive housing in the Nordics; and we can see the same challenges in many university cities all over Europe. There is a need for new affordable solutions which inspires to learning and knowledge sharing for a better quality of life.
At the same time, Sweden and other countries must attract new talents to their research institutions and leading companies. The success of our societies needs the influx of new ideas and new creative people moving here. Thus, we need to make living in Uppsala and other cities even more attractive.
That is why there is a need for Cubiculum, a new efficient, sustainable way to establish community-based housing with modular solutions. The idea for the concept was created during a lovely summer barbeque amongst friends as the founders, Karolina Bruhn, Hans Linton and Fredrik Bruhn found that as students in Uppsala, they all had experienced the same challenges in finding an accommodation that suited their needs.
“I thought that it must be possible to offer sustainable housing at reasonable rents. Hans on his part saw the potential in creating a small unique campus for exchange students and expats. Fredrik, as a professor emeritus at Mälardalen University, had seen the need to increase efforts to attract new talent to Uppsala and similar cities. Together we understood that there is a possibility to do something new in the housing sector, and thus we created Cubiculum.”
Karolina Bruhn, CEO Cubiculum.
Manufacturing in Europe and partnering locally for a sustainable supplier industrial base
To create the new innovative housing modules Cubiculum will work with Europe’s leading container manufacturer Containex as well as local entrepreneurs. Furthermore, to develop smart solutions for saving energy and making the housing modules more sustainable, Cubiculum works closely with several Greentech companies in Sweden.
The advantages of using modules based on containers for housing are three-fold:
- The modules are straightforward to transport, as easy as shipping containers.
- The housing deployment doesn’t need the same administrative work. A temporary building permit usually is enough. The deployment time is also much shorter compared to traditional construction.
- The lifetime sustainability is excellent, as the modules are reusable and can be moved to another location if needed.
HISTORIC REFLECTION ON CUBICULUM
The cubiculum evolved over time in ancient Roman society, reflecting changes in architectural design, social customs, and cultural influences. It is difficult to pinpoint an exact peak period for the cubiculum, as its development and popularity spanned several centuries. However, its usage can be traced from the early Republican era to the late Imperial period.
During the early Republican era (6th to 4th centuries BCE), Roman houses were relatively simple and consisted of rooms arranged around an open central courtyard called the atrium. The cubiculum, at this stage, was typically a small, windowless room that served as a sleeping chamber for family members.
As Roman society grew more prosperous and complex, architectural styles and social customs evolved. In the late Republican period and throughout the Imperial era (1st century BCE to 4th century CE), the cubiculum became more elaborately decorated and began to feature windows, allowing natural light to enter the room. The affluent members of society, particularly the educated, used cubicula as private rooms for various activities, including sleeping, relaxation, and conducting personal affairs.
The cubiculum’s development was influenced by various factors, including the increasing wealth of Roman elites, the expansion of the Roman Empire, and cultural exchanges with other civilizations. Greek and Hellenistic influences, for instance, played a significant role in the development of Roman architectural styles, including the design of domestic spaces such as the cubiculum.
The driving force behind establishing customs related to the cubiculum and the design of Roman houses in general was primarily the skilled members of Roman society. These influential individuals, through their knowledge and social status, set the trends and standards for architectural design and domestic living arrangements. They sought to display their status, and refined taste through the design and decoration of their homes, including the cubicula.
It is important to note that while the cubiculum was primarily associated with high-status families, its presence and usage varied depending on the social and economic standing of individuals. Common people, for example, might have had simpler living arrangements, with smaller and less ornate cubicula, if they had them at all.
Overall, the cubiculum evolved alongside the changing social and cultural dynamics of ancient Roman society, with the elite driving the establishment of customs and architectural trends that reflected their status and aspirations.
