iDesignArch | Interior Design, Architecture & Interior Decorating eMagazine
Interior Design, Architecture & Interior Decorating eMagazine
This 275-square-foot tiny house located in Reno, Nevada is a 100-year-old brick structure that was once used as sleeping quarters for the brakemen and engineers on the old V&T railroad. HabeRae Properties took over the this urban infill and transformed it into a modern eco-friendly home. A hidden ladder leads to the sleeping loft. The open floor plan with sliding pocket doors, stacked appliances, mini-sinks and ample shelving keep the house from feeling cluttered.
Situated on a slope facing Puget Sound in Seattle, Washington, this small house offers double height interior living space. Large Windows bring light into the interiors, while the balconies, which are surrounded by trellises, allow the summer breezes to come through. Rain chains lead down to troughs on the lawn to capture rainwater.
This tiny cottage in the Lauttasaari Recreational Park in Western Helsinki, Finland is an affordable and eco-friendly retreat designed by Finnish architects Jussi and Riina Palva. It is located just a quick 10-minute bike ride from the Palvas’ apartment in Helsinki. The cottage is heated by an HWAM fireplace. The couch converts into a bed. A stainless steel serving bowl from IKEA on the kitchen counter serves as a makeshift wash basin (a hose is just outside). A two-burner gas stovetop completes the kitchen. The 150-square-foot cabin costs around US$42,000 to build.
The Popomo by Tumbleweed is a small house that is very affordable to build. This 172 square foot tiny house is small enough that no special permit is required to tow. A three panel sliding back door maximizes the view and allows plenty of light to filter through. It has a tiny kitchen, bathroom and a bedroom that sleeps two people. It also has a stainless steel propane fireplace to warm the house. A ready made house costs $44,997, or you can build it yourself for $20,000.
By using the ancient agricultural technique of mounting buildings on staddle stones, this Summerhouse by GrainStore Garden Buildings gives shelter from the chill or heat both day and night. Combining traditional techniques and contemporary design, the summerhouse has a cream interior, giving a light sophisticated feel. It can also be supplied with sockets, telephone point and lighting ready for hook up.
This microhouse in Stoughton, Massachusetts built by Derek Diedricksen is a micro-shelter made out of scavenged materials. The tiny house, called the Gypsy Junker, is put together with shipping pallets, discarded kitchen cabinets, old washing machine and old windows. The transparent roofing allows a great view of the treetops. Diedricksen also built a small series of tiny structures in his backyard. The total cost of building is about $200 a piece.
Watershed House is a 100-square-foot writer’s retreat located in Wren, Oregon. Architect Erin Moore of FLOAT Architectural Research and Design built this small studio for her mother who is a noted nature writer. The intention of this retreat is to have a place to observe the surrounding ecology without disturbing it. The sustainable retreat is off the grid with no direct road access. It is constructed from prefabricated recyclable materials that can be easily assembled and disassembled. A chute from the roof is designed to let rainwater trickle down a water trough just outside, creating another element of nature with the sounds of rain.
Located in in the coastal mountains of Northern California, Innermost House is a very small house built by Diana Lorence and her husband. This tiny house is about twelve square feet with five distinct rooms. The living room is eleven feet by seven feet. The kitchen, study and bathroom are five feet by three feet each. A sleeping loft above is accessible by a wooden ladder. The porch provides a shelter for the front door and a place to relax in the open outdoor space. This amazingly small house makes possible a simple life of reflection and high conversation.
