London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Oct 07, 2025

Prefab Startup Jupe Unveils a $17.5K Flat-Pack Shelter Inspired by “2001: A Space Odyssey”

Prefab Startup Jupe Unveils a $17.5K Flat-Pack Shelter Inspired by “2001: A Space Odyssey”

Available to preorder for $99, the futuristic pod features on-board Wi-Fi and solar power for a plush, off-grid experience.

Going outdoors once meant you were getting away from it all. In our current reality, however, it might just entail taking a much-needed break from the confines of home. To that end, prefab startup Jupe has revealed a new, flat-pack shelter that provides a place to go without having to fully let go.

"Experiencing the natural wonders of the world shouldn’t mean being forced to disconnect while staying in a less-than-inspirational living space," says Jeff Wilson, the cofounder and CEO of Jupe. Wilson drew inspiration for the shelters from 2001: A Space Odyssey, collaborating with boutique hotelier Liz Lambert to channel a refined, intergalactic design aesthetic.

Two people can assemble the outer space–inspired shelter in an hour for a fully equipped, glamping-style experience. Aluminum poles frame a voluminous, 111-square-foot canvas tent that includes a queen-size bed, lofty ceilings, and tiled Baltic birch wood flooring that hides ample storage space. Windows open for added ventilation or light, and the entryway provides panoramic views over the desert, mountains, ocean, or whatever natural marvel lies beyond the front door.

Delivering a hotel-like experience, the shelter can be upgraded to include a more robust solar panel array to power four electrical outlets, USB charging stations, a private Wi-Fi network, and dimmable LED lighting. More extras include a speaker with Alexa capabilities, a lock safe, a cooler, and small porch.

        

The structure can be assembled in an hour by two people. The canvas is fire-resistant, and provides an airy feel.

        

Each unit features a queen-size Nectar mattress, Baltic birch wood flooring, optional LED lighting, and ample storage. Wi-Fi and a single solar-powered battery come stock.

The startup first arrived as Jupe Health in March, aiming to provide rapidly deployable hospital rooms to regions hit hard by the coronavirus. In a new tack, the company now wants to solve for an entirely different effect of the pandemic.

"We found that the hospital overflows expected during the summer didn’t materialize," says Wilson. "We took the same technology and design and reapplied them to a use case that’s been a result of the pandemic-the desire to get out of the city for short-term stays in nature."

This is at least the second time a humanitarian concept by Wilson has been retooled. In 2015, he founded Kasita-a Texas-based company that garnered national attention by developing modular units as a solution to the affordable housing crisis. Today, Kasita is designing and curating hospitality experiences that are "curated for a new era of self-directed travel," according to the company’s website.

        

Here, the unit glows atop a hill overlooking Los Angeles.

        

Jupe sees the shelters as a great option for individuals with extra land, or hoteliers looking to expand accommodations.

Individuals or short-term rental operators looking to place the pop-up on their land can place a refundable preorder for $99 starting Monday, December 21; the shelters have a base price of $17,500, and shipping begins this spring. Until then, Jupe will be showcasing the design at select California locations including Yosemite, Big Bear, Tahoe, and Arrowhead Lake.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Three Scientists Awarded Nobel Prize in Medicine for Discovery of Immune Self-Tolerance Mechanism
OpenAI and AMD Forge Landmark AI-Chip Alliance with Equity Option
Munich Airport Reopens After Second Drone Shutdown
France Names New Government Amid Political Crisis
Trump Stands Firm in Shutdown Showdown and Declares War on Drug Cartels — Turning Crisis into Opportunity
Surge of U.S. Billionaires Transforms London’s Peninsula Apartments into Ultra-Luxury Stronghold
Pro Europe and Anti-War Babiš Poised to Return to Power After Czech Parliamentary Vote
Jeff Bezos Calls AI Surge a ‘Good’ Bubble, Urges Focus on Lasting Innovation
Japan’s Ruling Party Chooses Sanae Takaichi, Clearing Path to First Female Prime Minister
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Sentenced to Fifty Months in Prison Following Prostitution Conviction
Taylor Swift’s ‘Showgirl’ Launch Extends Billion-Dollar Empire
Trump Administration Launches “TrumpRx” Plan to Enable Direct Drug Sales at Deep Discounts
Trump Announces Intention to Impose 100 Percent Tariff on Foreign-Made Films
Altman Says GPT-5 Already Outpaces Him, Warns AI Could Automate 40% of Work
Singapore and Hong Kong Vie to Dominate Asia’s Rising Gold Trade
Trump Organization Teams with Saudi Developer on $1 Billion Trump Plaza in Jeddah
Manhattan Sees Surge in Office-to-Housing Conversions, Highest Since 2008
Switzerland and U.S. Issue Joint Assurance Against Currency Manipulation
Electronic Arts to Be Taken Private in Historic $55 Billion Buyout
Thomas Jacob Sanford Named as Suspect in Deadly Michigan Church Shooting and Arson
Russian Research Vessel 'Yantar' Tracked Mapping Europe’s Subsea Cables, Raising Security Alarms
New York Man Arrested After On-Air Confession to 2017 Parents’ Murders
U.S. Defense Chief Orders Sudden Summit of Hundreds of Generals and Admirals
Global Cruise Industry Posts Dramatic Comeback with 34.6 Million Passengers in 2024
Trump Claims FBI Planted 274 Agents at Capitol Riot, Citing Unverified Reports
India: Internet Suspended in Bareilly Amid Communal Clashes Between Muslims and Hindus
Supreme Court Extends Freeze on Nearly $5 Billion in U.S. Foreign Aid at Trump’s Request
Archaeologists Recover Statues and Temples from 2,000-Year-Old Sunken City off Alexandria
China Deploys 2,000 Workers to Spain to Build Major EV Battery Factory, Raising European Dependence
Speed Takes Over: How Drive-Through Coffee Chains Are Rewriting U.S. Coffee Culture
U.S. Demands Brussels Scrutinize Digital Rules to Prevent Bias Against American Tech
Ringo Starr Champions Enduring Beatles Legacy While Debuting Las Vegas Art Show
Private Equity’s Fundraising Surge Triggers Concern of European Market Shake-Out
Colombian President Petro Vows to Mobilize Volunteers for Gaza and Joins List of Fighters
FBI Removes Agents Who Kneeled at 2020 Protest, Citing Breach of Professional Conduct
Trump Alleges ‘Triple Sabotage’ at United Nations After Escalator and Teleprompter Failures
Shock in France: 5 Years in Prison for Former President Nicolas Sarkozy
Tokyo’s Jimbōchō Named World’s Coolest Neighbourhood for 2025
European Officials Fear Trump May Shift Blame for Ukraine War onto EU
BNP Paribas Abandons Ban on 'Controversial Weapons' Financing Amid Europe’s Defence Push
Typhoon Ragasa Leaves Trail of Destruction Across East Asia Before Making Landfall in China
The Personality Rights Challenge in India’s AI Era
Big Banks Rebuild in Hong Kong as Deal Volume Surges
Italy Considers Freezing Retirement Age at 67 to Avert Scheduled Hike
Italian City to Impose Tax on Visiting Dogs Starting in 2026
Arnault Denounces Proposed Wealth Tax as Threat to French Economy
Study Finds No Safe Level of Alcohol for Dementia Risk
Denmark Investigates Drone Incursion, Does Not Rule Out Russian Involvement
Lilly CEO Warns UK Is ‘Worst Country in Europe’ for Drug Prices, Pulls Back Investment
Nigel Farage Emerges as Central Force in British Politics with Reform UK Surge
×