Plug-in housing could offer Parisians more sustainable and affordable living

Small capsule-like homes where management of utilities, such as electricity and water, is left to the city could form part of a sustainable future for Paris, according to a team of the city's designers and architects. Live-Lib, a concept for a two-part residential building, is designed to provide a degree of privacy while feeding off communal, sustainable resources to drive down
The thinking behind Live-Lib is to promote sustainable sources of energy while providing a solution for low-cost living in densely populated areas where residents might move frequently. The concept comprises two structures – a central, multi-functional tower called "the hub" contains systems for energy production, ventilation, electricity, water and waste, with the expenses managed by the city.
On the outside, it features a number of ports where individual "capsule" homes can be plugged in. The capsules are privately owned and entirely the property of the resident. The inhabitants access the shared services provided by the hub through the plug exchange, where usage is also monitored and the residents charged accordingly.
Technical details regarding power generation and energy usage for Liv-Lib are scarce at the moment, but we can expect to learn more in June this year when the team showcases the concept at the 2014 Solar Decathlon Europe that invites teams from around the world to demonstrate full-scale concepts of functional solar-powered homes.