After seeing these little houses, you will no longer dream of living in a mansion. Despite being small spaces, they do not skimp on comfort or beauty. Those who opt for this type of housing usually do so because of their concern for the environment, since it is sustainable construction. In addition, their owners seek to reduce costs and get rid of financial worries such as paying a loan or a mortgage. Thus, they can enjoy their time and freedom more.
The benefits of living in small spaces
The Small Houses Movement gathering more and more followers. This is a group that advocates reducing the size of homes in pursuit of a simpler and more environmentally friendly life. Under these assumptions, create homes between 9 and 40 m2 They can have different shapes and be made with different types of materials, although in general sustainable construction methods are sought.
Those who adhere to this movement know that construction is one of the activities that consumes the most resources. Building a house requires wood, cement for the foundation, and petroleum-based products for the roof. It also uses a lot of energy, which increases carbon dioxide emissions. On the contrary, small houses require far fewer resources.
In addition to taking care of the planet, these small spaces allow for closer ties between people. While in larger houses there is always the possibility of locking oneself in a room and avoiding the rest of the inhabitants, in a micro dwelling it is necessary to talk and establish clear rules of coexistence. Thus, it is expected that communication will be stimulated, an essential element to keep a family together.
At the same time, the small houses lead to a reduction in stress levels. These are largely based on financial concerns generated by difficulties in accessing a home of their own. Since these houses use mostly recycled elements, the costs are usually low. Also, when space is tight, think twice before purchasing unnecessary items.
10 beautiful and original micro-homes
1. Minimod
Minimod, or Minimal Modular, is a sustainable housing project developed by MAPA Architects. The homes are built in a factory and then moved to the land where they will be located. Each casita measures 27 m2 and has a bedroom, a living room, a kitchen and a bathroom. Its simple rectangular design is supported by a lightweight steel frame covered in plywood and glass. To make it sustainable, it has a green roof, rainwater collector and is illuminated with LED lights. It can also be equipped with solar panels and ecological toilets.2. Home bus
Tired of drawing buildings that would never be built, architecture student Hank Buititta bought a school bus and converted it into a 20m2 house. To avoid feeling hemmed in, he avoided placing furniture or mounting structures above the bottom line of the windows. Thus, he managed to create a continuous space, in which it is possible to see from one end to the other. This house-bus is equipped with a bathroom and a kitchen. Thanks to a series of mobile platforms, it has the capacity for six adults to sleep inside it.3. Small concrete house
The Ábaton architects studio designed the APH80 transportable house. It measures 27 m2, has capacity for two people and can be located almost anywhere. It has a living room, a kitchen, a full bathroom and a bedroom with a double bed. Sliding glass doors on one side of the house make the space appear larger. On the outside, it is covered with cement and wood. Inside, the walls are clad in wood. ÁBATON architecture project (www.abaton.es) BATAVIA interior design project (www.batavia.es) Photographs by ©Juan Baraja 4. Micro traveling house
This little mobile house measures 2.44 m wide by 6 m long. Most of the materials used to build it were recycled and reconditioned. It has been parked in a cedar forest for a few years, but it is possible to move it to another place since it is equipped with wheels.5. Jenga House
Architect Sou Fujimoto used cedar blocks to create this unique house on the banks of the Kuma River in a Japanese village. The house measures 15.1 m2 and has no separations between the floors, the walls and the ceiling. A wooden slat can first become a chair, then a ceiling, and later a wall. It all depends on the position of the individual. The spaces that remained open on the sides were closed with glass windows. At the top, they serve as skylights.6. Little family cabin
Kayak instructor Brian Schulz built this Japanese-style family cabin in Nehalem, Oregon. To make it, he only used reclaimed wood from the forest. Some pieces he found while kayaking and others he recovered from fallen trees after a big storm. After a year of work, he managed to make this 4x5m house habitable.7. Nomad
Thanks to its large windows, this 3m x 3m cottage looks extremely spacious. In addition, it is created in such a way that the rooms seem to merge. To do this, the separation between one space and another was avoided. This is NOMAD, a sustainable micro house developed by designer Ian Lorne Kent. It has a living room, a kitchen, a bathroom and a bedroom. Its construction is extremely simple: it can be assembled in less than a week with the work of two people.
8. Little house on wheels
Tired of feeling consumed and dominated by the need to have a big house, Andrew and Gabriella Morrison discarded 90% of their belongings and created “hOMe”. These are 186 m2 homes on wheels. These small houses have all the comforts that can be found in larger and more ostentatious homes.
9. Micro modular housing
Violinist Geoffrey Warner built this 31m2 shelter on the Minnesota prairie. In order to enjoy the scenery, he equipped it with large windows. Inside, he completely covered it with fir wood. The design is part of the weeHouse project, another prefabricated modular housing system. By building the houses in a factory, accuracy is improved, time is reduced and wasted materials are avoided. It is an economical and environmentally friendly form of construction.
10. Log Cabin
Pianist Hans Liberg moved his studio to this beautiful, rustic cabin built from scrap wood. The design corresponds to Piet Jein Eek. The cottage is located in Hilversum in the Netherlands and while it looks rustic on the outside, it is modern on the inside.
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