airbnb launches $1 million fund to finance world's most unique homes

airbnb is searching for the world’s wildest home ideas and has launched a $1 million fund to make them a reality. the competition calls on design enthusiasts to submit proposals for unconventional and unusual liveable spaces, and will award ten winners $100,000 each.

an elephant-sized stay stands six stories tall on the jersey shore in the united states. it was originally built in 1881 as an architectural folly designed to attract real estate buyers to the seaside town of margate.

the ten lucky winners will receive unique airbnb fund financing after being chosen by an expert judging panel that includes architecture firm MVRDV. the other judges includes tony and grammy award-winning actor billy porter, airbnb superhost kristie wolfe, and the famed big idaho potato hotel.

the sheep wagon at shash dine on the navajo route in the US is an eco retreat that repurposes wagons from the 1920s

‘the unique airbnb fund is a great initiative that makes hospitality exciting,’ MVRDV partner fokke moerel said in a statement. ‘it will empower people to create new spaces with daring, imaginative and fantastic architecture. personal wunderkammers will be created for guests to appreciate and be inspired by.’

the camaya bali suboya is a magical bamboo house in bali, indonesia

design enthusiasts have until april 15, 2020, to submit their proposals on the airbnb website. all submissions will be scored against criteria based on creativity, feasibility, sustainability and social good.

the floripa house seemingly levitates on the mountains in santa catarina, brazil, thanks to its glass walls that allow to enjoy a 360 degree view over the territory. it was inspired with ecological awareness in mind and the idea of eusing materials hence the exterior embellishments.

the unique airbnb fund is the company’s first-ever $1 million program designed to find and help finance the most unconventional and unusual liveable spaces on the planet. the home-sharing company says the fund has been inspired by the ‘entrepreneurial spirit’ of the it’s three co-founders and is meant to ‘enable anyone with an extraordinary house idea to design and build it into a reality, and share it with travellers all over the world.’

the big idaho potato hotel is the work of kristie wolfe. inside, it has no windows and its interior consists of one large room.

searches for unexpected and unique spaces – such as shepherds huts, windmills and tiny houses – have increased by nearly 70 percent over last year on airbnb. some of the most booked listings of all time include domes, RVs, treehouses, and yurts across the world. applicants can draw inspiration from a plethora of unconventional airbnb stays, including an elephant-sized stay and a UFO futuro styled flying saucer.