Daniel Noiseux, founder of Montreal’s Pizzaiolle restaurant chain, knew what he was doing when he created Müvbox, a slickly decorated steel box that unfolds its walls and two shady awnings to create a 28-seat terrace, powered by two rooftop solar panels, in only 90 seconds every morning.  It’s a largely self-sustaining, portable gourmet seafood restaurant.

With this innovative creation, Noiseux not only brought something fresh into the street food business, he has also started something new in the real estate industry, which is portable real estate itself.  What’s even more remarkable is that Müvbox is also eco-friendly as it uses recycled materials for construction, and natural (solar) energy to operate.

Since its launching in early June, it has rocketed around the globe via design blogs and websites.  Noiseux said, “I’m trying hard to keep my head, Venture capitalists from Geneva called three times this week, and we’ve had interest from Greece, Asia, and one e-mail from Russia simply said, ‘I want 100 units, how much?’”

Apparently, Müvbox is on its way to a more big-time fame and demand.  With its sustainable design and other unique, never before seen features, Müvbox is really going to be the main attraction in the next couple of months or years.  But for now, Müvbox’s fully enclosed kitchen offers up local Quebecois delicacies such as Iles de la Madeleine lobster, clam chowder and foie gras.

However, Müvbox is only a prototype of the building’s many other possible purposes, such as a mobile restaurant, retail, or demo space, and others, depending on the needs of entrepreneurs and businesses.  Since it is movable, you can take your business anywhere that might be a good market, say, to Toronto Film Festival events.

Interested in getting one or two? A base unit costs $150,000 and has mechanized walls, flooring made from recycled tires, ecologically friendly lighting and solar panels.

Montreal design studio Sid Lee was the one that worked on Müvbox’s branding, market research and the company website, then brought in architects from Ædifica who came up with solutions for folding walls and sourced environmentally conscious materials. Although the first unit took 18 months to finish, Noiseux said that now, one unit can be built in six to eight weeks.

“In the short term we’re set on growing locally,” he says, “but this box was meant to go around the world.”