filipino designer converts old jeepney into tiny campervan home

michael go breathes new life into old jeepney

Jeepneys are minibus-style public utility vehicles that are the most common kind of public transportation in the Philippines. Despite their popularity, they face an uncertain future as part of the country’s public transportation overhaul strategy to become eco-friendly by the end of 2020. Filipino designer Michael Go of the Ardent Design firm decided to breathe new life into these renowned vehicles by transforming an old jeepney into a tiny campervan home in Balai Tanay, Philippines.

all images courtesy of Michael Go

the transformation of the jeepney

Michael Go bought the Jeepney from a junkyard. It was barely operating and didn’t have any papers. To transform his vehicle into a home, the Filipino designer removed all the mechanical parts and then repainted the rusted body with a coat of water green paint thus restoring its former glory.

Users can enter the little house through the back entry door. Inside, there is a modest living room and bedroom space. The designer had to cut a section of the car’s ceiling to make the second story. The new floor was constructed with bamboo covering and can now accommodate a queen-sized bed. The top story’s walls and gabled roof, as well as the ceiling and flooring on the main floor, are all built of bamboo. The campervan doesn’t have a kitchenette and a bathroom, but Go has added an air conditioner, refrigerator, sink, and outlets for convenience.

for rent on airbnb

Michael Go built his tiny house in Tanay, in the Calabarzon region of the Philippines, and added a fire pit and an outdoor swimming pool that seems larger than the house itself. It is not portable; steel bars are attached to the ground from the chassis for stability.

This jeepney conversion has creatively integrated all the amenities of a home and is an example to others in the Philippines looking for low-cost housing solutions. It can currently be booked on Airbnb for $77 per night.