Boxhood. From self-storage to peer storage

Self-storage is considered the fastest growing segment of the commercial real estate industry over the past 40 years in the U.S. depending on the number of tenants that rent a space, usually on a short term basis to store house goods, and even though it’s been considered to be “recession resistant”, as it offers a market of steady growth and revenue. Nowadays consumers have increased their consumption rate as they define themselves through ownership: as “they have to have”, and despite they won’t stop consuming, new trends seem relevant to pave the reduction of consumption. Swapping, bartering, and trading have also become increasingly important to this type of users. The Collaborative Consumption movement proposes an alternative to contemplate a more sustainable lifestyle with a different way to grow the economy. Combined with Product Service System Design, may offer a new economic model to meet the consumer expectations. Milan is an industrial, creative powerhouse, offering a wide range of possibilities, for both, professionals and students, with some of the best universities in Europe and Italy, some of Italy’s best attractions, events, architecture, fashion and design, a city that keeps running at a frenetic pace. This is the reason why millions of people come to this city every year. BOXHOOD is a solution that tries to match all of the opportunities listed above: self-storage, collaborative consumption, and the opportunities offered by Milan as a geographical hotspot. It is a community-based service designed for all the young professionals and students coming to Milan, and offers a new type of storage through user interaction across the quarter of Bovisa, while attempting to create social bonds among community members. BOXHOOD hopes to offer a new branch in this field heading towards a more sustainable solution to the people in Milan with space issues by creating a bond with the community in the district of Bovisa.