Modern people don’t need as much space as they used to. As tech gets more advanced, gadgets get smaller. Televisions from the 90’s are giants compared to sleeker modern models. Meme-worthy 80’s brick cell phones have been replaced with smartphones that easily fit in our pockets. Pagers and fax machines have become obsolete, and have disappeared from most homes. Accordingly, we require much less space to house all the tech we need for daily life.
Enter the tiny house movement. For those unaware, there has been a surge of fascination on the internet for tiny houses. People choose to build tiny houses — or microhouses — to be space efficient and to connect with the outdoors. How tiny is a tiny house? On average, they are between 100 and 400 square-feet. Compare that figure to size of the average American home (2,600 sq ft), and you are looking at a drastic reduction in living space.
Of course, there are important things you should know before building your tiny home. Failing to meet building codes or abide zoning laws could lead to drastic consequences. There are also special concerns that constructors tend to when building an adequate foundation and framework for a small abode.
Consumers with the cash to spare have been looking for easier solutions to getting their own microhouses. Some businesses have responded by offering prefabricated homes. In order to differentiate themselves on the market, many microhouses have interesting or high-tech additions. Here are three prefabricated tiny houses you can buy today:
A stack of nine Kasita houses
-
Kasita: A modular microhouse
Entrepreneur Jeff Wilson has a vision for the future of living quarters— and it started in a dumpster. After voluntarily living in a thirty-three square foot dumpster in Austin, TX for a year, he drew from his experiences to design a home. The product of his labors — the Kasita — is a minimalist, modular, high-tech tiny house.
Wilson describes it as “an iPhone I can live in”. They include basic appliances like washers, dryers, and full kitchens. Some nifty features include privacy windows that can dim on command, smart lights, and sound systems for music.
The 208 square-floor houses are designed to be easily moved and stackable. With the portable and modular nature of the homes, Wilson foresees his creation being an invaluable tool in combating homelessness.
Many windows and a porch allow homeowners to connect with nature.
-
Friluftsstugan: A modern outdoor cottage
Created by Swedish company Kenjo, the Friluftsstugan (literally “Outdoor Cottage”) is a 161 square-foot house designed for people looking to get in touch with nature. The roof is movable, and can slide out over the exterior wooden deck. This can serve as a covered outdoor space.
Despite the spartan look, this house is well insulated, and is designed to be comfortable throughout the year. Amenities leave something to be desired; there are no built-in appliances. However, this cottage can serve as a guest house or a studio. At the very least, tt is a stylish way to get closer with nature.
This house can be expanded to create more living space
-
Tiny Idahomes Custom Tiny House: A retractable tiny house/RV
A company named Tiny Idahomes created a 250 square-foot house that functions like a recreational vehicle. An interesting function is that portions of the home can extend or retract to suit your needs. While tiny enough to fit on the road, more space is available at the press of a button. At approximately $70,000, this house is the cheapest option in this list.
Since these houses qualify as mobile homes, businesses selling them even have to acquire a mobile home dealer bond. For consumers, this label can have legal consequences. Again, be sure to check the zoning laws of where you live to be sure that you will not have difficulties in the future.
The tiny house movement shows no sign of slowing. Innovators in technology and architecture will continue to search for unique ways to reduce our needed living space. While it is too early to say if any of these designs will necessarily become mainstream, they will continue to intrigue with creative uses of space and functionality.