Could building your own tiny house be the answer for first time buyers priced out of the market and those struggling to pay off a huge mortgage?
The Tiny House Movement has been gaining ground in Australia recent years as property prices have continued to rise and household energy bills have risen with them.
These houses are exactly what they say, tiny. The floor space usually measures less than 30sqm. In some cases there is less space and others, a little more.
What is lost in area is made up for in budget. Building a tiny house means spending far less than investing in a full-sized house. Typically you’ll only need to spend somewhere in the region of $20-50,000.
Even better, these houses can often be fitted to a trailer, giving them an extra dimension. That means you could be enjoying sea views one week, then a mountainside outlook the next.
And an added bonus is that they are often environmentally sound. In some cases, tiny house owners have managed to live virtually off the grid, using recycled water, renewable energy and natural heat sources.
We at Handyman think they’re pretty cool, but what do you think? Could you see yourself building and living in one of these five tiny houses, or would such a confined space just drive you crazy?
1. Tiny Abode
The tiny house called, the Tiny Abode, was built by Rebecca Benson and her bestfriend Reece Brenan. It’s moveable, two metres wide, 3.6 metres long and 3.8 metres tall. Rebecca and Reece have been travelling all over Australia in the Tiny Abode.
Rebecca Benson and Reece Brenan outside theiTiny Abode. Image by: Haley Islip Photography via facebook.com/tinyabodes
Can you imagine travelling in a tiny house like this one? Image via: facebook.com/tinyabodes
2. The Pump House
The Pump House is situated next to a large dam. Image by Lakshal Perera via Branch Studio Architects
From the bedroom one can see views of neighbouring paddocks. Image by Lakshal Perera via Branch Studio Architects
3. The Tiny
The Tiny, was built by James Galletly (The Upcyclist) in association with The Bower. It is made from 95 recycled materials and was built on top of a 6×8 box trailer, making it portable. While inspired by the tiny house movement, The Tiny technically cannot be deemed a house since it does not include amenities like a kitchen and bathroom. After completion, The Tiny was sold to a couple who planned to use The Tiny as a bedroom while they renovated their home.
The Tiny. Would you consider this ample accomodation? Image by Alicia Fox via The Upcyclist
Inside The Tiny, the bed can be folded up to create more living room. Image by Alicia Fox via The Upcyclist
4. Our Wee House
Our Wee House is a tiny house in Canada that a couple named Collin and Joanna lived in. They kept a blog (Our Wee House) that documented life in their tiny house. In 2014 Collin and Joanna sold their tiny house due to their growing family. The house was priced at $29,000 Canadian dollars.
Collin and Joanna’s Wee house. Image via: Our Wee House
A wee kitchen. Image via: Our Wee House
5. Bird House
The Bird House is an American tiny house located in Asheville, North Carolina. It is listed on Airbnb and is available to any travellers who want to experiment with living small. The Bird House has three levels. The kitchen is located on the first floor, the second floor (the ground floor) contains a living area and compact bathroom, and the bedroom is located on the third floor. The Bird House is an example of a tiny house that contains the comforts of a larger residence, including WiFi!
Would you holiday in this tiny house? Image via: Airbnb
The Bird House is a small but modern tiny house. Image via: Airbnb
And Also
Check out this World War II bunker in the Netherlands that has been turned into a holiday house. The bunker is nine square metres with less than two metres head height. It was designed by Belgium architecture firm, B-ILD.
The entrance to the bunker. Image by: Tim Van De Velde via Design Boom
This dining table folds out from the wall and can be hidden away to create more space. Image by: Tim Van De Velde via Design Boom
