A truly 'eco' abode
From energy expenditure to building materials, living in a smaller house is one of the best ways to reduce your ecological footprint. Giving up the luxury of space and living more minimally isn't always easy, but it does come with a few perks: fewer possessions, bigger skies and open spaces! Plus, a smaller house makes it easier to cozy up to your loved ones. You'll learn more about Paul Elkin's compact cycle home in a few more clicks. Meanwhile, here's a reminder that bigger isn't always better: 10 of the tiniest homes in the world. (Text: Bryan Nelson)
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Built 16 x 18 foot one story one room house on a 40 x 60 foot lot A few years ago. Has in floor heat. Taxes $800 a year. Electric bill averages $60 a month including heat in cold Wisconsin winter. Started my small house adventures with a 12 x 12 backyard house in Florida. Lived in it and rented the house.
My partner just saw me flipping through this gallery and asked how small of a house we could handle once it just is the two of us. I picked a random number--250 sq ft.
What would be your answer?
that is one portable home, no need to pay for taxes or electricity bills.
I remember reading a "morality story" about a farmer who gave his son a really rocky piece of land for his inheritance. The son had to clear the rocks before he could plant anything, and he also had to come up with creative uses for the rock since this was back in the old days before trash removal. So the son used the rocks to build a wall around his property and to build his home. The exercise was meant to teach him the value of hard work and making do with what one has. I would suggest you.... More
These days do we really all need to have 4000 SQ++ and granite countertops, 4 car garages?
No way! We are not all celebs.
This house is an extreme but the norm is an extreme now as well.
We should take a lesson from this man and take it down a notch.
Rukiya Belagam
OK.I really dont want a mansion or anything like that,but I would like to be able to have people over at my house or maybe just be able to mave around a bit.But with some of these houses you cant do that.Im not against eco friendly and all,but I dont understand why you would want to love like this.
These should be cheap options for people who dont have homes,but I wouldnt do this if I had an option.
where can I see pictures? need 1500 sq ft.
People forget the big bilding has Open space that is not outside build a few tiny homes in old factories, barns air hangers ect and share in the basic tempratures of shelterd shelter insulate as needed but share heating and other atmosphic needs cutting over all living expences commune living or personal community kiving summular to the way factories and coal mines did but to keep things peaceable make it a coop store returning profits to the members of the conmunity not some big bank.... More
I enjoyed this housing designs - but I notice this all are presented out in an area by themselves - not in close proximity to others (with the exception of the Wales house).
These might be nice as a second or vacation home - but I'm trying to imagine raising a family in one - or having rude neighbors sardine-canned in within a few inches.
In a big city environment is this really quality living - or just survival?
But interesting ideas all around....
Like others, I am quite surprised that none of these were proposed for "inner city" postage stamp or smaller (sub-postage stamp or "micro-stamp"). I can picture one of these houses being built that has a 1 car garage with the entire structure ABOVE the garage. Since a 1 car garage is typically 12x24, that would fit in well with some of the sizes mentioned here and it would be easy to extend it in any of the dimensions if necessary. The "2nd floor" could even have a cantilevered section or.... More
In this era of greedy home builders that dictate the style and approach to living I welcome this. Modern surburban tract home are pase. Come on folks think about what you will really use spacially and quit worrying about what your dinner guests are going to think.
Many of the "crowded" places on Earth are political creations and nothing more. Hong Kong, Bangledesh, Tokyo, most of Japan, and believe it or not Britain. The rest of the world does not have a shortage of living space. This is just another fanciful waste of resources to prove a non-existant point. The dude with the bicycle camper has to use the bathroom somewhere and having masses use "the great outdoors" does nothing but lead to disease such as existed before the 20th century. Granted.... More
Most of these homes are actually feasible to live in. Perhaps encouraging tiny house building will help ameliorate the housing problem in many areas of the world. A tiny home is better than no home at all.
These tiny houses are nothing but quirks and nuances. I would like to see a family of four try to live in one. I am thinking of getting one though, as a spare building in my back yard right next to my antenna tower. Great place to setup for amateur radio contesting! I'll put in a water cooler and carry a 5 gallon jug out when I need it. Heat - I'll probably get some cheap baseboard hot water and run it through a solar unit then supplement with electricity (which could be via solar panels.... More
If you are looking for ideas about small homes, take a look at blue water cruising sail boats. We live on a 33 footer that is essentially a 2-bedroom, 1 bath home. It has a kitchen, dining room, living room in addition to that. Of course there is the storage spaces and the engine room too. the widest space is 11 ft 8 inches and our liveable length is about 25 to 28 feet. since the boat is a "double ender" the walls are not straight up and down but are squeezed in at the ends. We've lived aboard.... More
small home are like
Intresting article, would like to have seen the inside of the houses. I am 5'4" and live with my husband and 2 sons and they all are over 6 feet tall, I would go for a small/medium eco home.
I am 5'4" too, but want a small house on Guemes Island in the San Juans in Washington State. I have a very rocky lot, high bank water. Want something efficient and need to deal with a very rocky lot.....any recommendations?
Don't know how feasible it is, but literally "carve out your niche"... Get the rocks underneath you to be as flat as possible and try to get rocks on at least 2 if not 3 of your outer walls. You won't have any windows, but they have these domes you can put on your roof that channel light via fiber optics to interior spaces. It's FAR better than conventional lighting which you'll still need for night and darker days unfortunately.
Plus, using the earth for your exterior as much as.... More
yes use the rocks to build your home.It will clean the lot around and use your imagination to build a lovely home.I have seen many alovely home built in this fashion.i am from new mexico.we use everything.rocks,wood sticks.whatever to make homes.you'll be suprised at what you'll come up with.try it!
yes it's quite simple it's money in them there rocks.use them to carve out your home.it will clean up your lot space and make a lovely home.design with your imagination
really very informative and i have'nt seen such simple but clever architecture..:)
I wass really interested in seeing this article. However, I could not get it to come up regardless of where I tried. Any suggestion?
Here is a list of the homes individually. Your search engine should find them if you're interested:
Front Architects
Tiny Texas Houses
Nano Living System
Britain’s smallest house
Twelve Cubed
Paul Elkins Bike Trailer
Rollit Homes
Toronto's Little House
 Micro Compact Homes
Tumbleweed Tiny House Company
While some of this is interesting to read, the real problem that we're trying to solve here is overpopulation. What we need is a good world war. We used to think that it would be with Russia, then attention turned to the Chinese, but these days my money is on the Muslims. With a book like the KKKuran as their guide, they KILL people just for attempting to switch faiths, ROCK AND STONE "infidels" for just about anything, and overall are NOT A PEACEFUL RELIGION at all!
Just look around.... More
I wass really interested in seeing this article. However, I could not get it to come up regardless of where I tried. Any suggestion?
I've got a suggestion for ya, how about you go feel your motha.
Your lack of intellegence, self respect, respect, and a life is in plain sight.
to: Barnswallow....I think that your reply is totally tasteless. Your lack of intelligence and respect is apparent.h
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