Germany is now offering futuristic ‘coffin-like’ sleeping pods to its homeless citizens

The German city of Ulm, which is about 75 miles west of Munich, has just unveiled futuristic insulated sleep pods for its homeless citizens on cold winter nights. Dubbed ‘Ulmer Nest,’ the pods are equipped with solar panels and placed in parks and other strategic sites to keep the homeless people stay warm during the winter.

The pods are built out of wood and steel and are thermally insulated. In recent months, the pods are upgraded with solar panels and radio communication facilities. Each pod can accommodate two occupants and is made of wood, steel, and plastics. Thermal insulation surrounds the pod’s interior while fresh air circulates, allowing occupants to survive cold winter nights.

The developers explain: ‘There are some other options and facilities for the homeless in almost every city in Germany, like train stations that will be opened as soon as the temperature falls below a certain point or specific hostels for the homeless but there is still some necessity for a low-threshold service like this’

In addition, the capsules now come equipped with solar panels and are connected to a radio network that allows their occupants to communicate without depending on mobile networks. The closing and locking mechanism has been improved and allows better ease of use.

Flaco Pross, who designed the pods, said they are incredibly easy to use, and added that homeless people don’t have to fill in any paperwork or registration to check-in into the pods. The nest also comes equipped with a motion sensor that alerts a team of social workers when the access hatch opens and closes. Flaco Pross explains:

“There are some other options and facilities for the homeless in almost every city in Germany, like train stations that will be opened as soon as the temperature falls below a certain point or specific hostels for the homeless but there is still some necessity for a low-threshold service like this.”

On its official Facebook page, they said they were delayed installing the structures this year, but that they were available to make them available ‘just in time for the really cold nights.

Below is a video overview of how the sleeping pods work.