Tiny homes designs have been around since the pioneer era (the great migration period between 1760 and 1850 to New world Countries like the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand etc) when it was a necessity to build small and efficient houses. Now the efficiency of these houses has grown threefold, aiming to reduce their carbon footprint and increase their value. The Tiny House Movement in the 70s led by authors Loyd Kahn, Bob Easton; French architect Jean Prouvé also propagated the idea and benefit of smaller houses. Here are fifteen Tiny Home examples from all over the world.
1. Le Nuage by Zébra3/Buy-Sellf | Tiny home designs
For all the dreamers who envisioned living on clouds. This is an opportunity to experience living in one, literally. This pre-prefabricated holiday home located in the Lormont commune was originally designed as an art installation now used as a rural shelter. Made from softwood, plywood, plexiglass and glass‐fibre reinforced plastic, this tiny home is painted white on the outside resembling a cloud.
With no electricity or water supply to this tiny home, there is only a provision for bedding. The idea behind this home is to bring alive the fantasy of a floating cloud above a serene lake.
2. ‘UFOgel’ by urlaubs architektur
This 45 square meters tiny pentagon home is made of a wooden structure that sits on sleet stilts overlooking the Alps in Austria. This polygonal structure has wooden shingles cladding on the outside. The ground floor can house 8 people with its living and kitchen area. The loft space can accommodate 4 people with large windows that give a magnificent view of the scenery.
This tiny home is an example of how all the elements of wood can come together right to its joinery detail.
3. Nevis Pool and Garden Pavilion / Robert M. Gurney | Tiny home designs
This is an example of a stationary yet grounded concept for a tiny home. Visually this tiny home in the woodlands of Washington DC co-exists with the garden pavilion adjacent to it. This dialogue between the swimming pool, stone walls and terraces along with pathways, planters create a balanced harmony.
The structure has a low-pitched roof that is made of stainless steel covered with mitred glass. The interior of this tiny home has a wood finish keeping it warm and cosy. The kitchen is made of stainless steel with bluestone flooring and mahogany walls.
4. Santambrogiomilano: Glass house
This prototype of a glass house developed by Milano-based Santambrogiomilano can be installed anywhere. The idea is to get an immersive experience of the surroundings this prototype is placed in. Composed of structural glass, can withstand snow loads and insulate the interiors. Some interesting features, like an automated glass frost mechanism and sliding curtains for space partition.
This home has glass utilised in every aspect of its structure and utility, be it the transparent column and beams to its walls and ceilings. But most importantly it serves its purpose to be one with nature.
5. Exbury Egg / PAD Studio, SPUD Group, Stephen Turner | Tiny home designs
Inspired by marine ecology, artist Stephen Turner arrived at this concept of an egg which is now a floating home. In collaboration with the SPUD group (Space Placemaking and Urban Design) that focuses on environment and sustainability, in turn creating a cross-cultural education platform for schools and colleges. Designed by PAD studio, this tiny unit of 2.8mx6m dimensions was made from a reclaimed cedar structure. Local Douglas Fir has been used as an internal framework.
The idea of this tiny home leans towards minimalism, using locally available materials and craftsmanship, with minimum energy spent on it. This home stands as an art installation bringing in students and spectators together, to watch, learn and understand the significance and efficiency of such structures.
6. Mountain Cabin by Marte Marte Architects
With a balanced play of mass and void, this white concrete block sits amongst the Alps, with 2 defined rectangular voids. Entrance from mid-level leads to bedrooms on the lower level and living and kitchen on the floors above. The rugged exterior white continues to flow within the interior spaces with a smooth finish on the exposed walls and ceilings. Each of the windows is laced with wooden framing, capturing exquisite views.
This structure stands as a tiny tower along the slope of the Alps re-imagining a modern home.
7. Aurora by ZeroSquared
Created by a Canadian company this 26 by 26 feet wide tiny home on wheels befits a perfect home within its four walls. This house is constructed using rolling chassis, structural insulated panels with R26 and R42 wall and roof panels respectively. This 374 square feet of area houses a living room with a built-in entertainment system, with pine wood panelling throughout.
The main floor has a queen bed that converts into an office, with a small storage loft overhead. The kitchen is attached to a small dining area with an expandable table. On the rear end, the toilet houses a 32”x42” shower cell, with a sliding door and flush toilet. The home is powered by an RV-style 50 amp hookup.
8. NW Mountaineer by Tiny SMART House | Tiny home designs
This is a tiny home shed with a sloping roof that comes in widths ranging from 16-44 feet in length to 10-12 width in width. The sloping wedge price is aerodynamic as it improves performance when it needs to be towed, not to mention it provides additional headroom. One of the standout features of this home is its Jacuzzi-style jetted bath, with its septic tank and grey water holding tank.
The materials used to build this home are reclaimed housing materials. This not only makes this tiny home on wheels sustainable but also makes it compatible to function fully when off-grid.
9. Russell Lea by Ben Giles Architect
A uni-directional sloped roof tiny home built while reclaiming some land to develop on the landscape (previously a garage space). This 60 square metre house is a small self-contained studio with a ground-living, dining and kitchen. Behind the structure, there is the bath and laundry room. The loft space is used as a sleeping area which can be converted into another living area if required.
10. HemLoft by Joe Allen | Tiny home designs
This 9 square meter tree house, amongst the woods, in Whistler Canada, is the product of creativity and excellent carpentry skills. Designed and executed by Joe Allen, this structure sits between the trees like a suspended pod. The Framework was built around the tree through a system of scaffolding. This tiny home has a small kitchen, informal living space and workstation. Made completely with wood, this pod sits in synchrony with nature.
11. The Silo Studio cottage
This cottage is a picture out of a fairy tale. This is a two-storey cottage with a 35 ft tall conical ceiling. With the bedroom on the upper level with a canopy bed and multi-paned “mill windows”, the lower levels have a large living space with a kitchenette and bathroom. This Rustic version of a Gothic-styled home amongst the trees serves as an ideal getaway to a fantasy island.
12. Dewdrop tiny house by Zyl Vardos
With a unique vaulted structure, this 10’ wide by 24’ long floor plan small trailer home has all facilities a regular house would have. The exterior is made with wooden planks with a distinguished red roof. Circular windows on the door and wall along with the clerestory places right below the roof bring in plenty of light. This American trailer can be towed away easily by a car or a minivan to any destination.
13. A-Frame Getaway Cabin by Deek David Stiles | Tiny home designs
This space-efficient tiny home’s goal was to be affordable, easy and quick to build. With recycled materials, and available free wood, this tiny home can be built in a thousand dollars. The cabin’s base is 80 square feet in area, with an interesting feature where the roof opens up with a mosquito velcro in place, the cabin size increases to 110 square feet in area. For additional headroom, in the loft, a standing room of 6 feet has been provided, which can be used as a sleeping room, apart from storage.
14. Ecocapsule by Tomas Zacek and Sona Pohlova
Giving a tiny glimpse into the future this smart, self-sustainable micro-unit, that utilizes solar and wind energy is a module for independent living. This 4.6mx2.2m can accommodate 1-2 people easily. Materials used to build this unit are insulated fibreglass shells overlaid on a steel framework. With a smart home system and sensor system, it has an effective heating and cooling mechanism.
The interior of this unit is made from lightweight honeycomb panels with a wood veneer finish. They include a desk, cabinets, racks, folding beds, kitchenette and baggage cabinet.
15. Le Korac by Daigo | Tiny home designs
From trailers on road to cosy little homes in the woods, this tiny houseboat is an environmentally friendly model developed in Quebec. Measuring 8.5 foot to 26 foot that is energy efficient which runs on solar power, whilst floating above three marine-grade aluminium and magnesium alloy tubes. It houses a kitchen, a sleeping area, and a bathroom with a shower. The deck outside is spacious with outdoor seating and a console to navigate the boat. The exterior structure is made with locally available white cedarwood.
From ancient huts, tents, igloos, wigwams, and grass huts to modern-day eco-friendly modules, Tiny Homes is a contemporary revolution that continues to inspire home-dwellers from the early settlers to their modern counterparts. After all, the very definition of a home underlies the people living within in, big or tiny.
References | Tiny home designs
- Living, A.T. (2016). Aurora by ZeroSquared. [online] Tiny Living. Available at: https://tinyliving.com/aurora-zerosquared/
- Tiny Smart House. (n.d.). NW Mountaineer. [online] Available at: https://www.tinysmarthouse.com/models/northwest-mountaineer-tiny-house/
- bengilesarchitect.com.au. (n.d.). BGA | Projects | Russell Lea studio. [online] Available at: http://bengilesarchitect.com.au/projects/russell-lea-studio/
- robertgurneyarchitect.com. (n.d.). NEVIS POOL AND GARDEN PAVILION. [online] Available at: https://robertgurneyarchitect.com/album/nevis-pool-and-garden-pavilion.html
- designboom | architecture & design magazine. (2013). santambrogiomilano: glass house series. [online] Available at: https://www.designboom.com/architecture/carlosantambrogio-glass-house-series/
- Andrews, K. (2013). Le Nuage by Zébra3/Buy-Sellf. [online] Dezeen. Available at: https://www.dezeen.com/2013/07/25/cloud-le-nuage-cabin-zebra3-buy-%C2%ADsellf/
- designboom | architecture & design magazine. (2014). urlaubs architektur promotes the UFOgel in austria. [online] Available at: https://www.designboom.com/architecture/urlaubs-architektur-designs-a-ufogel-in-austria-1-26-2014/
- ArchDaily. (2013). Exbury Egg / PAD studio + SPUD Group + Stephen Turner. [online] Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/388767/exbury-egg-pad-studio-spud-group-stephen-turner
- Dezeen. (2013). Mountain Cabin by Marte.Marte Architects. [online] Available at: https://www.dezeen.com/2013/06/26/mountain-cabin-by-marte-marte-architects/
- The Hemloft. (n.d.). Photos. [online] Available at: https://thehemloft.com/photos/
- Co, D.B.L.T. (n.d.). Silo Studio Tiny Cottage in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. [online] Dream Big Live Tiny Co. Available at: https://www.dreambiglivetinyco.com/blogs/featured-tiny-spaces/silo-studio-tiny-cottage-in-the-berkshires-of-massachusetts
- HomeCrux. (2015). Dewdrop tiny house on wheels resembles a wooden cottage. [online] Available at: https://www.homecrux.com/dewdrop-tiny-house-on-wheels-resembles-a-wooden-cottage/29542/
- Relaxshacks. (n.d.). Deek Diedricksen’s Transforming A-Frame Getaway Cabin (PDF file). [online] Available at: https://relaxshacks.myshopify.com/products/deek-diedricksens-transforming-a-frame-getaway-cabin
- www.ecocapsule.sk. (n.d.). Meet Ecocapsule, the ultimate dwelling experience. [online] Available at: https://www.ecocapsule.sk.
15.Diedricksen, D. (2014). Relaxshacks.com: Deek, David Stiles, and Joe Everson team up on a “Transforming A-Frame Cabin.” [online] Relaxshacks.com. Available at: http://relaxshacks.blogspot.com/2014/02/deek-david-stiles-and-joe-everson-team.html
