Tag Archives: tiny home

Baluchon’s Golden Hour Is A Fully-Functioning And Comfy Tiny Home That Is Only 20 Ft Long

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Expert tiny home builder Baluchon recently managed to fit a fully functional and commendable home into a space of 20 feet. It sounds like a tough task, but Baluchon not only made sure the home was operational but also pretty comfortable. Dubbed the Golden Hour, the home has been efficiently fitted with a couple of comforts such as a custom-sized kitchen customized to the owner’s personalized needs and requirements, as well as a cozy loft bedroom with enough headroom to stand without banging your head.

Designer: Baluchon

The Golden Hour is built on a double-axle trailer and is finished in red cedar. A neat mixture of cotton, linen, and hemp insulation is used for the walls, floors, and ceiling. It is powered by a standard RV-stool hookup. As you enter the home, you are welcomed by the living room, which is quite well-lit owing to its impressive glazing. The living room is equipped with a sofa and operable windows. There is some storage space integrated on the floor, and it also holds a coffee table, as well as a small wood-burning stove.

Baluchon was asked to focus on the kitchen by the owner, hence it is quite spacious and well-designed. It can be regarded as large when French tiny house standards are taken into consideration. The kitchen features an oven, a propane-powered two-burner stove, a sink, a fridge, and a generous amount of storage space. The cabinet has been lowered to cater to the owner’s required measurements. Another cool feature is a drop-down breakfast bar with stools that can seat two people. The kitchen and bathroom are connected, although the bathroom is quite minimum and small, amped with a shower, toilet, storage space, and no sink.

The bedroom of the Golden Hour is quite cozy and showcases a homely loft style. You can enter the bedroom via a floating staircase which has been combined with the kitchen cabinetry. The upstairs area is placed on a lowered platform, which enables the user to stand straight instead of moving around awkwardly on their hands and knees. The bedroom contains a bed, as well as some drawers, and is topped by a sloping ceiling.

The post Baluchon’s Golden Hour Is A Fully-Functioning And Comfy Tiny Home That Is Only 20 Ft Long first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Wooden Tiny Home Feels & Looks Like A Beachfront Getaway But Is A Full-Time Dwelling

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Tiny homes are one of the most popular home styles in 2023, and I’m pretty sure they’re going to make their way well into 2024. They had started off as a fun and cute trend, but now they’re a space-saving and environment-conscious housing option that is economical as well. They reduce the load on Mother Earth and are a simple and minimal alternative to the imposing and materialistic homes that are not preferred by everyone. And an excellent tiny home that I recently uncovered is the Beach by Raglan Tiny Homes

Designer: Raglan Tiny Homes 

Designed by New Zealand’s Raglan Tiny Homes, the recently completed Beach tiny home features a compact and cozy interior that instantly welcomes you in. The tiny house is non-towable and equipped with a welcoming indoor-outdoor lifestyle and aesthetic, which is accentuated by a part-enclosed deck area. The main section of the home has a width of 2.5m, with the covered deck adding another 2.9m, which covers a total width of 5.4m. The length of the home is 6m.

The exterior of the home is finished in Douglas fir, giving it a warm and minimal aesthetic. Although the layout of the home isn’t very typical and seems more like a beachfront getaway villa, it is in fact intended to be used as a full-time dwelling. An outdoor shower has been outfitted ahead of the entrance, which is teamed up with a small outdoor bathtub, that is concealed under a hatch in the floor. This functions as a quaint outdoor bath for some much-needed pampering sessions.

As you enter the Beach via sliding glass doors, you are welcomed by a combined living room/bedroom space that is equipped with a sofa, and a bed, as well as some storage store. However, this is the only space in the home, there are no other rooms or even a loft, which can be a bit limiting. The tiny home is equipped with a wood-burning stove, shelving, a diesel-powered heating system, and an off-the-grid solar panel setup. You can add an additional studio area if needed.

The post This Wooden Tiny Home Feels & Looks Like A Beachfront Getaway But Is A Full-Time Dwelling first appeared on Yanko Design.

Meet The World’s Smartest Tiny Home That Expands To 3 Times Its Size

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Tiny homes gained popularity a couple of years ago, and since then they’ve cemented their place in the world of architecture. What started off as a cute little trend is now turning into a serious option for home spaces. They are a space-saving and eco-friendly living solution that reduces the load on Mother Earth. They’re simple and minimal alternatives to the imposing and materialistic homes that seem to have taken over. And if you love exploring tiny homes, as much as I do, then you’ve reached the right spot. Podform’s newly launched Pod Studio might just be the tiny home you’ve been looking for!

Designer: Podform

California-based Podform just created the world’s smartest tiny home called Pod Studio. The unique tiny home can expand up to 3 times its original size! The Pod Studio’s original size is 161 square feet, however, it can transform to 454 square feet within 15 minutes! The tiny home is portable and easily transportable and requires no foundation owing to its built-in hydraulic legs. This enables effortless and efficient loading and unloading. It features solar panels and smart technology, which can be controlled via an app, and battery storage systems, and a built-in water and septic tank as well.

The Pod Studio is extremely durable! It is built using steel and aluminum and features a solar awning energy system, which provides protection against 100 mph winds and fire for up to 90 minutes. Security was also given priority for the Pod Studio since tiny homes can be moved around quite easily. The home is equipped with four built-in lens cameras and doors that are locked with Touch-ID technology. AI was utilized to analyze water, electricity, and weather data, providing residents with inputs such as “open the shades” and “turn on the heater”. A projection glass is also incorporated in the house which transforms the cozy home into a scenic haven.

If you want to experience the Pod Studio,  you can book a stay in the Pod Studio prototype situated near the Joshua Tree National Park in California. Guests can book their spot with a $50 deposit, for one night at a rate of $250, instead of the original price of $350.

The post Meet The World’s Smartest Tiny Home That Expands To 3 Times Its Size first appeared on Yanko Design.

French Tiny Home Has A Netted Loft Area Under A Skylight That Functions As A Cozy Reading Nook

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I love a good tiny home! They are a space-saving and eco-friendly living solution that reduces the load on Mother Earth. They’re simple and minimal alternatives to the imposing, materialistic dwellings that seem to have taken over. And they’re also notable for their ability and gift to maximize the use of limited space. And this adorable yet unique tiny home by French designer Baluchon completely caught my eye!

Say hello to Mina. One of Baluchon’s latest tiny homes, Mina combats its issue of limited available floor space by fitting in an additional netted loft area upstairs. This loft area is designed to be used as a reading space, and a general hangout area, that is topped up by a massive operable skylight.

Pros:

  • Maximizes space by integrating a cozy loft space
  • The staircase incorporates additional storage space as well

Cons:

  • If you’re afraid of heights, the netted loft area isn’t the best idea for you

Designer: Baluchon

The Mina Tiny House is supported by a double-axle trailer, which measures about 20 feet long. It is finished in red cedar, and aluminum cladding, and is powered by a standard RV-style hookup. Intended to be a single-person tiny home, most of the floor space available downstairs is occupied by the living room. This includes a large bench window seat with integrated storage that also doubles up as a bed for guests. Cabinets, a coffee table, and a compact wood-burning stove are included in this space.

The kitchen is located close, and it features a trendy Smeg fridge, an oven, a propane-powered four-burner stove, a sink, cabinetry, and a dining table for up to two people. This section is connected to a bathroom with storage space, a shower, and a toilet. Now onto the star feature of Mina – a netted loft area upstairs! The upstairs area is accessed via a staircase that incorporates storage space underneath. As you climb the stairs, you are welcomed by the netted section, which is quite uncommon in most homes. The netted area isn’t very large, but it does allow light to filter in from below. There is a skylight above the loft which opens up the space to the outdoors, allowing natural light to flow in as well.

This loft area functions as a ‘hammock’, but a larger and safer version of one. It functions as a quaint space to sleep, play, read, or even catch up on some light work. The Mina is a brilliant tiny home for those who want to maximize minimum space in a smart and efficient manner, while also catering to homeowners who love quirky and playful designs!

The post French Tiny Home Has A Netted Loft Area Under A Skylight That Functions As A Cozy Reading Nook first appeared on Yanko Design.

Versatile Tiny Home Browny Is The Ultimate Home Office On Wheels For Remote Workers

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I love a good tiny home! They are a space-saving and eco-friendly living solution that reduces the load on Mother Earth. They’re simple and minimal alternatives to the imposing, materialistic dwellings that seem to have taken over. And they’re also notable for their ability and gift to maximize the use of limited space. And this compact yet versatile tiny home by France’s Baluchon ticks a whole lot of boxes for me!

Called Browny, this adorable-looking tiny home is a tiny home that ranks high on versatility, as it manages to accommodate a home office, exercise area, and a guest bedroom all within a length of 6 meters. The home was commissioned by a client who had been working from home for nine years in a rather awkward and uncomfortable home office and wanted a much better space to work in.

Pros:

  • Squeezes in a bunch of amenities in a small space
  • Functions as an excellent home office
  • Features integrated storage space

Cons:

  • Lacks a proper kitchen and bathroom
  • The home isn’t suitable to live full-time

Designer: Baluchon

Browny is installed in Loire-Atlantique, western France to offer the homeowner an improved space to work and live in. Founded on a double-axle trailer and finished in red cedar accentuated by aluminum accenting and a roof, Browny is one good-looking tiny home. It has been equipped with an ample amount of glazing to maximize the natural light within. The entrance is sheltered by a removable wooden awning.

Although the Browny has a great working space, it does lack a proper kitchen and bathroom, but this also provides for a generous amount of floor space, making the home feel quite open and spacious. So, the downstairs section of the home is quite airy and comfortable and is finished in spruce with a solid oak floor, which creates a welcoming and warm aura inside. As you enter the home, you’ll be surprised to find an area for exercising, in place of a living room. This space holds a treadmill and an electric heater for warming up the space in the winter.  A dining area with a coffee machine, cabinetry, and a drop-down table is also located here.

The majority of the home office is located behind a dividing wall, and it includes a desk, multiple-monitor setup, and more glazing. The bedroom is a cozy space for the homeowner to take a midday nap in, or to host guests. You can access the bedroom via a storage-integrated staircase, and it has a relatively low ceiling and a double bed – features that are quite typical of a tiny home.

The post Versatile Tiny Home Browny Is The Ultimate Home Office On Wheels For Remote Workers first appeared on Yanko Design.

A two-story tiny home that redefines micro living setups + more sustainable architecture for environmentalists

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Living in a sustainable, conscious, and smart manner has become not only a necessity but our moral obligation and duty toward the planet. Our homes should seamlessly integrate with, and nourish the planet, not drain her resources and reduce her lifespan. Being at one with Planet Earth, while taking rigorous care of her has never been more of a priority. In an effort to encourage an eco-friendly way of life, sustainable architecture has been gaining immense popularity among architects. They have been designing sustainable homes. These homes aim to harmoniously merge with nature, co-existing with it in peace, and allowing us to live in equilibrium with the environment. They reduce their carbon footprint and encourage a sustainable and clean lifestyle. And, not to mention they’re aesthetically and visually pleasing as well! From a two-story tiny home that redefines micro-living setups to a hostel in Shanghai built using recycled red bricks, natural clay, and reed bundles – these amazing designs will convert you into a sustainable architecture advocate!

1. The Vagabundo Flex

Constructed using timber framing, wood fiber insulation, double-glazed wood aluminum windows that have been laminated with safety glass, and three-layer fir wood for the interior paneling, the Vagabundo Flex is a special tiny home that extends over two levels, all thanks to an automated lifting root system, that elevates the comfort and functionality of this unique home.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Vagabundo Flex’s innovative and unique design supports the roof in rising to an impressive height of 20.3 ft, in turn creating a spacious interior that occupies 300 square feet. Vagabundo’s ingenious solution is designed to ensure that bulky elements do not disrupt the aesthetics and beauty of the home.

What we like

  • The bulky elements have been smartly concealed in the corners and tucked away in cupboards
  • The tiny home has been amped with all the essential amenities, as well as massive panoramic windows and timber furnishings

What we dislike

  • Heavily priced

2. The Coodo

Mark Dare Schmiedel procured the design rights of the ‘Coodo’ home concept. The Coodo was created by a group of Slovenian architects, and it is a modular home that attempts to bring you closer to nature, to a space that is away from the crowds, where you can truly relax and unwind and enjoy the beauty of a moment.

Why is it noteworthy?

It features a curved, minimal steel frame with rounded edges and stunning floor-to-ceiling glass walls. The beautiful glass walls allow a generous stream of sunlight to enter the home. Whether on rooftops in the city, on beaches, on mountains, or alongside a river, the Coodo can be easily installed almost anywhere.

What we like

  • Integrated utilization of smart home technology.
  • Adherence to Passive House standards.

What we dislike

  • With its focus on natural settings, we wish there was a way to enclose the open patio space to close up when away from the home

3. Tree House by the Lake

Called Tree House by the Lake, this stunning home is located on the shores of Da Bang Lake in the Chau Duc District in Vietnam. The home is built using recycled metal sheeting and repurposed wood and glass and was commissioned by an elderly couple.

Why is it noteworthy?

The home is designed to bring the couple and their grandchildren closer to nature, helping them build a deeper connection to it, and immerse themselves in greener surroundings. The Tree House by the Lake is surrounded by the forest and was in fact constructed using local scrap materials to reduce the impact on it.

What we like

  • The home is inspired by a tree house
  • Constructed using recycled and local scrap materials

What we dislike

  • The home merges completely with its natural surroundings and may be difficult to spot by birds

4. The New Forest House

For the past 10 years, PAD Studio has been conducting a study on the true environmental impact of low-energy homes. The studio has been studying the New Forest House for the past decade.

Why is it noteworthy?

The home is located within an 18.5-acre plot, which is situated adjacent to ancient woodland and heath, in the New Forest National Park. The building was carefully constructed to ensure that minimal disturbance was caused to the surrounding site, as well as the site’s sensitive landscape. The residence features the main house and a guest annex.

What we like

  • The New Forest House is a 97% less expensive house to run as compared to a house built in accordance with 2021 building standards
  • The house utilizes 110% less energy as compared to a home powered by gas

What we dislike

  • The aesthetics of the home are quite old-school and traditional
  • The glass pane walls mean there is low privacy/security in the main house

5. BioHome3D

The world’s first 3D-printed home built entirely from bio-based materials such as wood flour or fine sawdust, mixed with a binder made from corn was created by the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composite Center (ASCC). It is called the BioHome3D, and was specially designed to resolve labor supply chain issues that elevate the costs of homes and reduce the availability of affordable housing.

Why is it noteworthy?

The technology used to build the BioHome3D ensures that the home is primarily manufactured off-site using automation, which leads to less time for off-site3 building and setting up the home.

What we like

  • Tackles the issue of labor shortage and supply issue
  • 3D-printed

What we dislike

  • No roof space to allow for vertical growth

6. Floating Bamboo House

Called the Floating Bamboo House, this architectural prototype by Vietnamese studio H&P Architects is exactly what it sounds like! The floating home is built from bamboo and is designed to withstand rising sea levels.

Why is it noteworthy?

It has been created with the intention to provide locals who are living in and around the Mekong Delta in Vietnam with a suitable model for climate-resilient housing. The Floating Bamboo House is designed to be a three-compartment home equipped with a square ground floor plan that occupies six by six meters. The home also has a first-floor story in its roof eaves.

What we like

  • Inspired by the vernacular Rông House, which is a traditional and rural Vietnamese building typology amped with a tall and steep thatched roof

What we dislike

  • The structure is designed to float and may have weight limitations which don’t allow for expansion in the space.

7. The Octothorpe House

This expansive home is called the Octothorpe House and is located in the Oregon high desert near Bend. It was commissioned by a couple Mike and Catherine to Mork-Ulnes Architects and was designed to perfectly blend in with the desert landscape, and to be as environmentally friendly as possible.

Why is it noteworthy?

To meet the client’s desire for a sustainable home, Mork-Ulnes Architects decided to use ‘cross-laminated timber’ in the construction of the home. What makes this timber sustainable is the fact that it has a strength-to-weight ratio that’s similar to concrete, but it is five times lighter as compared to it. CLT is pre-cut off-site, which also reduces construction waste immensely.

What we like

  • The architects utilized CLT to build the interiors and the exterior of the Octothorpe House, this prevented them from releasing almost 15 metric tons of greenhouse gases into the air

What we dislike

  • The central courtyard has an open design, which we hope has a retractable roof

8. Algonquin Highlands Cottage

This picturesque wooden cottage is called the Algonquin Highlands Cottage and is located on an island peninsula in the lake of Algonquin Highlands. Designed by BLDG Workshop, the idyllic cottage is adorned with a lovely view of the rocky outcrops and shorelines of the Great Canadian Shield, and functions as an amazing getaway location.

Why is it noteworthy?

The cottage was constructed while paying special attention to the relationship between indoor and outdoor space, and the natural landscape of Ontario. The natural elements of the site were amplified and elevated – for example, the sun patterns on the peninsula since they are related to the morning and evening light.

What we like

  • The studio incorporated a large indoor-outdoor space at the front peak of the home, which overlooks the lake and the stunning landscape

What we dislike

  • The location of the cottage is a bit remote, making it difficult to access

9. SOM LAND

The ‘SOM LAND’ was designed by Chinese design studio RooMoo by transforming a pre-existing building to a hostel on the Chongming Island of Shanghai. The hostel was named after the traditional Chinese color of warm green, which signifies the gaps found in between tree shadows and is a celebration of slow-paced life.

Why is it noteworthy?

The construction of the hostel involved the utilization of local customs and handicrafts and caused minimum damage to the surrounding land. In fact, it incorporated the surrounding environment into the architectural scheme.

What we like

  • To incorporate sustainability into the structure, it was built using recycled old wood boards, wasted red bricks, tree branches, reed bundles found on the site, and bamboo and other locally sourced and discarded materials

What we dislike

  • Despite being renovated, the aesthetics of the hostel are old-school and can be considered out of style

10. LILELO

LILELO or Little Leisure Lodges consists of a group of four lovely wooden cabins that are tucked away in the center of Piedmont, Italy. Completely surrounded by vineyards and woodlands, the adorable cabins make for an excellent vacation getaway.

Why is it noteworthy?

The cabins are inspired by traditional haystacks, creating a triangular silhouette, which is supported by a trunk-like base. The cabins have been elevated off the ground, ensuring they don’t touch it, in an attempt to adopt a sustainable approach. This approach lays an emphasis on energy efficiency and eco-compatibility materiality.

What we like

  • The elevated cabins ensure that there is minimal impact on the ground, while also beautifully complementing the sloping topography
  • The eco-cabins artfully merge with their surrounding, creating the impression that is it at one with nature around it

What we dislike

  • There’s only one door in the entire cabin, which can lead to a lack of privacy

The post A two-story tiny home that redefines micro living setups + more sustainable architecture for environmentalists first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 tiny homes that are the perfect micro-living setups for you

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Tiny homes gained popularity a couple of years ago, and since then they’ve cemented their place in the world of architecture. What started off as a cute little trend is now turning into a serious option for home spaces. You could say that 2022 was the year of tiny homes! And I do believe this will continue well in the future. They are a space-saving and eco-friendly living solution that reduces the load on Mother Earth. They’re simple and minimal alternatives to the imposing and materialistic homes that seem to have taken over. And if you love exploring tiny homes, as much as I do, then you’ve reached the right spot. We’ve curated an eclectic and exciting range of micro homes that will totally satisfy your love for tiny homes! From a 40′ highly insulated converted shipping container tiny home with a pocket-friendly price tag to a tiny wooden cabin in Cape Town – there’s a tiny home here for everyone!

1. The Vagabundo Flex

The Vagabundo Flex is a super special tiny home, as it can be extended over two levels, thanks to an automated lifting root system, that elevates the convenience and comfort of this unique tiny home. The tiny home was built using timber framing, wood fiber insulation, double-glazed wood aluminum windows that have been laminated with safety glass, and three-layer fir wood for the interior paneling.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Vagabundo Flex’s innovative and unique design supports the roof in rising to an impressive height of 20.3 ft, in turn creating a spacious interior that occupies 300 square feet. Vagabundo’s ingenious solution is designed to ensure that bulky elements do not disrupt the aesthetics and beauty of the home.

What we like

  • The bulky elements have been smartly concealed in the corners and tucked away in cupboards
  • The tiny home has been amped with all the essential amenities, as well as massive panoramic windows and timber furnishings

What we dislike

  • Heavily priced

2. The Coodo

Designed by a group of Slovenian architects, the Coodo is a modular home that is designed you bring you closer to nature, to a space away from the crowds, allowing you to truly enjoy the beauty of a moment.

Why is it noteworthy?

It features a curved, minimal steel frame with rounded edges and stunning floor-to-ceiling glass walls. The beautiful glass walls allow a generous stream of sunlight to enter the home. Whether on rooftops in the city, on beaches, on mountains, or alongside a river, the Coodo can be easily installed almost anywhere.

What we like

  • Integrated utilization of smart home technology
  • Adherence to Passive House standards

What we dislike

  • The roof is purely ornamental. It doesn’t block direct sunlight and it’s useless in rain and snow. Your porch/deck is always exposed to the elements

3. McGee’s Tiny Home

Designed by Alexander McGee, this tiny wooden home is nestled at the bottom of a rocky hillside and is surrounded by cypress trees and buchus. It occupies 390-square-foot of space and overlooks the Muizenberg – one of Cape Town’s best-known surfing spots.

Why is it noteworthy?

The stunning view can be enjoyed owing to the windows seat that has been added to the space. It was designed by architect Alexander McGee and is located next to his South African home.

What we like

  •  No gutters have been added to the roof, and this allows McGee and his family to watch the rainwater run off the roof from different angles

What we dislike

  • The home isn’t sufficient or big enough for larger families

4. The Romotow

Created by New Zealand-based design and architecture firm W2, the Romotow seems a very innovative design for a trailer, with a fixed chassis that features a rotating closed living unit capable of swiveling around the full 90 degrees to create an extra outdoor living space.

Why is it noteworthy?

In transit, the 30.5ft Romotow remains closed and when it’s stationed for overnight camping, the main living unit with panoramic glass windows on both sides can swivel open: this form factor creates two sections, a large deck, and a sleeping/living cabin.

What we like

  • The T8 is powered by a 200Ah lithium battery and also features a 395W solar panel on the roof

What we dislike

  • The trailer needs to rotate a complete 90 degrees, and that free space may not always be available

5. Napoles House

PJCArchitecture designed a micro-home in Napoles, Ecuador with two interesting brick forms that are connected via a glass bridge that relies deeply on passive heating and cooling. The weekend home occupies 700 square feet and was built using locally sourced brick, steel, concrete, and glass.

Why is it noteworthy?

“The design is based not only on the client’s needs but on her desire to embrace the local environment, culture, and vernacular,” said lead architect Nandar Godoy-Dinneen. “It was also heavily shaped by the availability of construction materials and by working within the local traditions.” The home quite interestingly looks like a single solid brick form.

What we like

  • Built using locally sourced materials
  • Constructed by local crew and craftsmen

What we dislike

  • No active systems, which may be inconvenient for some people

6. Samara and James’ Tiny Home

This beautiful 16-foot-long tiny home in Byron Bay, Australia was designed and is home to a lovely couple Samara and James. Frank Macchia, a holistic designer, and Samara’s father helped them to design the home. All the design ideas and moves you wouldn’t execute in a small space were implemented in this tiny home.

Why is it noteworthy?

Its interior and exterior feature a dark theme, and there aren’t a lot of windows in the home. Despite these details, the house manages to have an air of spaciousness and balance to it, while retaining a harmonious connection with the site it is situated on!

What we like

  • The wood-clad home is inspired by Japanese design, especially by shou sugi ban, a method of charring wood to make it more fire and pest resistant
  • The house includes three modules, consisting of a bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom. They can be moved and reconfigured if the home ever needs to be expanded in the future

What we dislike

  • The home  only features an outdoor shower, which some people may not be comfortable with

7. Ark Tiny Homes

Designed by Ark Tiny Homes, this delta model of one of their shipping container homes is a tiny and cozy house that occupies 40 feet of space, and is highly insulated while feeling super spacious. It is also priced at $59,500!

Why is it noteworthy?

The tiny home has been equipped with premium quality amenities and generous living space. This tiny home is an excellent option if you’re looking for an environmentally friendly home that has been outfitted with great quality amenities while going easy on the pocket. The layout of the home manages to provide an element of spaciousness and openness to the 40′ insulated home.

What we like

  • Appliances have been placed cleverly opposite each other, providing residents with the ultimate cooking experience
  • Economical price tag

What we dislike

  • The aesthetics of the home are out of date

8. 3×3 Retreat

Called the 3×3 retreat, this tiny cabin is nestled away in the rainforest landscape near Southern Chile’s La Unión city. The home was designed with the intention to create a sense of cohesion and harmony between the ‘radical geometry’ of the structure, and the natural and organic essence of the site.

Why is it noteworthy?

The cabin aims to function as a comfortable, cozy, and functional dwelling in the raw rainforest, without disturbing or causing harm to the forest in the least. It is placed on a slope, that subtly overlooks the Radimadi River. This was a genius move since it allows the cabin to provide its residents with stunning views of nature.

What we like

  • The entire cabin was constructed by using common and economical building materials, such as standard pre-dimensional pine wood
  • Local construction techniques were utilized

What we dislike

  • The small footprint may not be suitable for everyone. Some people may find it too tiny

9. Kjerringholmen Cabin

Called the Kjerringholmen Cabin, this quaint cabin occupies 63 square meters and is located in the Hvaler archipelago. The design of the cabins has a sufficient amount of space to give it an airy and spacious vibe.

Why is it noteworthy?

Kjerringholmen is proof “that large houses don’t necessarily mean more quality of life. In just 63 square meters, with smart planning, it still has plenty of usable space,” said the studio. Occupying 63 square meters, the cabin is supported by steel pillars and surrounded by a dusky rocky landscape.

What we like

  • Blends perfectly with the natural landscape
  • Designed extremely efficiently to support a smart way of living

What we dislike

  • Birds may not notice the home and could crash into it since it merges so perfectly with its surroundings

10. The Dufour

Called the Dufour, this tiny home is a magnificent wooden house that was built by German tiny house creator Berghaus. It is a spacious cabin that provides the ideal blend of rustic charm and modern luxury.

Why is it noteworthy?

Dufour, named after the highest peak in Switzerland, now measures roughly 26 feet in length, which makes this model considerably larger than the previous Berghaus designs – thus the name, signifying dominance of size. Packed with modern-day luxuries, the length is not the only significance of the Dufour 780; it features two loft bedrooms each with a staircase of its own from the main floor.

What we like

  • It can be used as a family home or, nestled in the heart of a forest, as a comfy vacation rental
  • The tiny house is topped with solar panels and maintained for fresh and gray water tanks aboard

What we dislike

  • It lacks a terrace (expandable or fixed) that can provide a viewing space when in transit

The post Top 10 tiny homes that are the perfect micro-living setups for you first appeared on Yanko Design.

This two-story tiny home redefines modern micro-living setups

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I love a good tiny home! They are a space-saving and eco-friendly living solution that reduces the load on Mother Earth. They’re simple and minimal alternatives to the imposing, materialistic dwellings that seem to have taken over. And they’re also notable for their ability and gift to maximize the use of limited space. German builder Vagabundo has elevated this gift to a whole another level with the Vagabundo Flex – a two-story tiny home that can expand over two levels!

Designer: Vagabundo

What makes the Vagabundo Flex super special, is the fact that it can be extended over two levels, owing to an automated lifting root system, that further enhances the convenience and comfort of this unique tiny home. Constructed on a sturdy steel platform, the Vagabundo Flex was built using timber framing, wood fiber insulation, and double-glazed wood aluminum windows that have been laminated with safety glass, and three-layer fir wood for the interior paneling.

The Vagabundo Flex’s innovative and unique design supports the roof in rising to an impressive height of 20.3 ft, in turn creating a spacious interior that occupies 300 square feet. Vagabundo’s ingenious solution is designed to ensure that bulky elements do not disrupt the aesthetics and beauty of the home. In fact, the bulky elements have been smartly concealed in the corners and tucked away in cupboards. The oak pillars have been installed upstairs, to provide safety redundancy.

The interiors of the Vagabundo Flex are modern, comfortable, and minimal. The tiny home has been amped with all the essential amenities, as well as massive panoramic windows and timber furnishings. The ground floor of the home features an open-plan layout, equipped with three folding doors that extend out to the outdoor terrace, as well as a lounge area, a modern kitchen, and a bathroom with a shower and an incineration toilet.

The second floor of the home showcases an expansive bedroom space with a porthole window and an additional nook which is excellent for people who work remotely. However, at the moment the Vagabundo Flex currently does not feature any safety railings on the stairs or upper level, creating potential safety issues for residents. The Vagabundo Flex is available for sale in Germany and within Europe with prices starting from €179,987 (about US$195,500).

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Tiny wooden cabin in Cape Town was assembled on-site in three weeks

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Nestled at the bottom of a rocky hillside is a tiny wooden cabin surrounded by cypress trees and buchus. The little home overlooks Muizenberg, one of Cape Town’s best-known surfing spots, and occupies 390-square-foot of space. The stunning view can be enjoyed owing to the windows seat that has been added to the space. It was designed by architect Alexander McGee and is located next to his South African home.

Designer: Alexander McGee

“We’re spoiled in South Africa with some of the most naturally beautiful sites found anywhere in the world. As an architect, I view it as my responsibility to demonstrate an alternate solution to settling in these environments,” said McGee. And, this is the reason why the roof of the home has been topped with solar panels – to provide the cabin and the main home with power. No gutters have been added to the roof, and this allows McGee and his family to watch the rainwater run off the roof from different angles.

At first, the home was an interesting experiment for McGee. How well and how fast could he craft a house in a remote location? To do so, McGee and his team built the entire home off-site in a warehouse, where they could play around and experiment with the details and make different modifications and customizations, before finally assembling the cabin on-site. McGee abandoned the traditional brick-and-mortar and instead opted for lightweight cross-laminated timber (CLT) to construct the home. The home provides excellent thermal and sound insulation and creates almost zero waste during the construction process. “Some view it (CLT) as the building industry’s only savior in achieving a near carbon-neutral footprint,” said McGee. The home took less than three weeks to assemble on-site!

The home features a 45-degree pitched roof with huge eaves which creates sufficient space for a standing mezzanine level, that can be accessed via a retractable ladder. “Even though the bed does not have a base, the elevated nature of it makes you feel incredibly safe. It is almost nestlike,” added McGee. The home has been outfitted with plenty of storage space. It features a Wawa wood surfboard, handcrafted in Muizenberg, as well as loads of hanging space for clothes. Salvaged materials were introduced wherever possible in the home – for example, the cedar shelving in the bathroom comes from a scrapyard, whereas the reclaimed travertine sink in the kitchen was taken from a stonemason friend of McGee’s.

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Surreal glass house in Holland is ‘the designer greenhouse’ vacation home of your dreams

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Nestled in North-western Netherlands, in Venhuizen, Noord-Holland is a stunning greenhouse-style home, that is a far cry from the conventional holiday homes most of us frequent. Located forty-five minutes away from Amsterdam, the cute little glass house was designed in 2020 by a Dutch/German couple Marielle and Tobias, and was listed for rent on Airbnb. Yes, the home is available to rent! If you’re able to find a reservation spot, hopefully.

Designer: Marielle and Tobias of Familie Buitenhuys

The home was artfully designed, so that it subtly blurs and merges the boundaries between the interiors and the exteriors, hence creating a space that is highlighted by sunlight, where natural light is its best accessory. Since the transparent glass walls of the home, and the greenhouse-ish facade capture most of the attention, the designers chose to adorn the home with minimal furniture, and a neutral palette that elevates the view, while allowing the space to have an open, free-flowing and dynamic appeal. This also helps the home to seem larger than it is!

The listing includes two vacation homes, one of which is the glass house. The glass house features an open-plan bedroom that lets guests cozily sleep under the stars. It also features a vanity, washbasin, and a fireplace that keeps the space warm and comfy during the winter season. The window treatments of the home are kept to a minimum. The windows have been adorned with simple white curtains, that provide privacy to the space, while also allowing light to generously stream in through the day.

The home creates a surreal indoor-outdoor connection with its translucent walls, hence truly elevating the definition of outdoor living. In adherence to today’s trends, the vacation home is what you would call a ‘designer greenhouse’, and designer greenhouses are anticipated to be one of the most innovative and exciting garden trends of 2023. It seems like more and more people want to stay in homes equipped with modern amenities while featuring a rather outdoorsy and nature-oriented aesthetic, and this tiny glass house certainly merges these two traits magnificently! I don’t know about you, but falling asleep under the Dutch night sky, in a cozy little glass house sounds like vacation heaven to me.

The post Surreal glass house in Holland is ‘the designer greenhouse’ vacation home of your dreams first appeared on Yanko Design.