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College Students Build 153 Sq. Ft. Tiny House


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At Andrews University students built this 153 square foot tiny house on wheels.

They call it the Bay View Tiny House. It’s built on a 18’ x 8’-6” trailer. And it has a 6’ x 8’ loft and an additional 4’ x 8’ loft.

Carey Carscallen, Dean of Architecture, Art & Design tells us about the Bay View Tiny House.

It is made of standard 2×4 stud construction, all cedar siding, and plywood paneling on the interior. It is insulated with spray foam insulation, R15 in the walls and R30 in the ceiling.

All cabinetry is custom built by our students. It has a 2 burner electric cooktop, provisions for electric heat, propane hot water, regular flush toilet, standard 32″ x 32” fiberglass shower, and pedestal sink in the bathroom. Black and grey water sewers can be separated. Windows are from Pella. The roof is a membrane, professionally installed.

This was a 2 semester class in our School of Architecture. The purpose of the class was to give our students the opportunity to learn hands-on design-build skills.

We are located in Michigan, so we chose to do a Tiny House – two in fact – that we could build in our warehouse and not be affected by the long cold winter.

As you can see, the students took this opportunity to demonstrate their design skills, and learned a lot about construction in the process. It is our plan to sell the Tiny House and repeat the process next school year.

College Students Build 153 Sq. Ft. Tiny House bay-view-tiny-house-001

Images © Levon Kotanko & Derek Peters

bay-view-tiny-house-002 bay-view-tiny-house-003 bay-view-tiny-house-004 bay-view-tiny-house-005 bay-view-tiny-house-006 bay-view-tiny-house-007 bay-view-tiny-house-008 bay-view-tiny-house-012 bay-view-tiny-house-011 bay-view-tiny-house-009 bay-view-tiny-house-010

Images © Levon Kotanko & Derek Peters

Time-lapse Video of the Tiny House Construction

Video credit: Nathan Lindstrom

This time-lapse video is just amazing. They did a great job capturing all the footage of the build of not one but two tiny houses.

The Bay View AU Tiny House is for sale. The asking price for this 153 sq. ft. tiny house is $30,000.

Check out their Instagram (@bayviewautinyhouse) for more photos.

For more information please contact Carey Carscallen, Dean, The School of Architecture, Art & Design (Andrews University) 269-471-6250 or [email protected].

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Andrea is a contributor for TinyHouseTalk.com and the Tiny House Newsletter! She has a passion for sharing tiny and small house stories and introducing you to new people, ideas, and homes.
{ 59 comments… add one }
  • Cahow
    May 23, 2015, 8:08 am

    Oh, Good Lord…this is SO beautiful! It brought a nice smile to my face. 😀

    Well done, students, well done! ~clap-clap-clap~

  • May 23, 2015, 8:14 am

    What a great job! The placement of the refrigerator is great! The eating nook, storage under the stairs and the slightly bowed roof/ceiling are all so cool and innovative. Accolades to this university, these students, and their instructor/s!

  • May 23, 2015, 10:46 am

    Nice job! I also appreciate the larger fridge, raised up a bit, plus the extra space created by the curved roof. Kudos for the program teaching the kids these usable life skills.

  • Adena
    May 23, 2015, 11:01 am

    Very cool! I totally dig the build in seating with table and well thought out use of every inch of the space 😉

  • Lynn Barnett
    May 23, 2015, 11:11 am

    I only wish I could own one of these. Well done! I especially love the shelves/stairs and the fact that there are two bedrooms!

  • Bruce
    May 23, 2015, 11:16 am

    WOW… just wow!

  • joyce
    May 23, 2015, 11:20 am

    I like this bay unit because of the bay window and standard bathroom. The only problem is no bedroom downstairs.

  • Nila Ridings
    May 23, 2015, 12:21 pm

    Impressive! One of my favorite ever Tiny Houses!

    Truly spectacular design. I love the arched roof and the dark stained wood accent strips. The bay window at the kitchen sink and the big storage drawer under the refrigerator are such nice features as well as the storage under the eating benches. Perfect use of space and design excellence!

    Standing ovation to the students and their instructor!

  • Eva
    May 23, 2015, 12:26 pm

    I have to add my compliments as well. Lovely.

  • Jacqueline
    May 23, 2015, 12:43 pm

    What a superb design!! I love how open the kitchen/dining area is, and the fantastic use of built-ins for storage space. One of the absolute best tiny house designs I have seen. I wish I could afford to buy it!

    Bravo to everyone involved!

    • Marcy
      May 23, 2015, 8:34 pm

      I agree with you – being so open really makes the space feel larger and free-er somehow. I had been thinking I wouldn’t want my tiny house smaller than 200 sq. ft., but this design makes me rethink that.

  • Ria
    May 23, 2015, 12:43 pm

    Great design! I love it

  • Martha
    May 23, 2015, 12:59 pm

    It is beautiful and looks so comfortable as well as liveable! I think I could easily live in this tiny house!

  • Steve
    May 23, 2015, 1:52 pm

    Bravo! One of the finer layouts I’ve seen on THT yet. In classic architectural fashion, form followed function, but what great form. Attention to detail incredible. It is so nice to see academia embracing what is being accomplished in the real world. All to often young adults are burdened with $100,000 student loans and no understanding of how their degrees can be integrated into the reality of the real world. These students were fortunate enough to have a professor who is embracing real world skills with those taught academically. I applaud the university for giving the professor the freedom to provide these students an opportunity to participate in the construction industry they will be entering, should they graduate. Excellent idea to sell the end product to make the opportunity available for the next group of students. Could I say “sustainable” without being accused of using an overused cliche.

  • Mary
    May 23, 2015, 2:33 pm

    I absolutely LOVE it! The cabinetry, built in table and chairs are beautiful. Excellent storage space and lovely appliances. The bathroom is amazing for a tiny home. And since I love cozy spaces I would love to sleep in the loft! I would be very happy living in that space. Congratulations to the students and professor on a job well done!

  • Kate
    May 23, 2015, 2:48 pm

    This is beautiful! I’m wondering if it’s sold already and how much it sold/is selling for?

  • Dennis Reynolds
    May 23, 2015, 3:00 pm

    I’ve seen so many tiny homes built by “students” and have never been really impressed. This one, however, is very impressive. It seems as though this was actually designed be someone who has actually lived in a tiny house ! Previous ones I’ve seen don’t seem very well thought out. The only changes I’d make in this house is a propane oven/cooktop and a propane heat source. It just make better sense to have a portable tiny home that it’s truly portable and not totally dependant on electricity. I understand that the expense of a propane fridge is to much for some people but the oven/cooktop cost about the same as an electric one and is usable whether hooked to electric or not. But the actual build of this was an A+ job by these very capable students !

  • Lisa E.
    May 23, 2015, 3:09 pm

    Wow! Fabulous! I just loving this Flatback build; looks marvelous!
    Great job, guys! Bravo!

  • Shirley
    May 23, 2015, 3:22 pm

    Love this house! Students did a great job. Have they decided on a price to sell?

  • Gracie
    May 23, 2015, 3:32 pm

    I’m so impressed. This tiny home will inspire countless people to go tiny.

  • Janie
    May 23, 2015, 4:06 pm

    OK — This is possibly my all-time favorite. I love everything about it. The “real” toilet, the larger fridge, the dinette, the stairs AND ladder at the other end, the garden window in the kitchen, the beehive window by the stairs, etc. It is just beautiful. Since I am also in Michigan, I’d love to see this tiny house. How much are they selling it for?!?!?!

    • Lori
      May 24, 2016, 7:48 pm

      The beehive ‘window’ is actually a mirror arrangement if you look closely. It reflects the other side of the room. I’ve never seen a mirror like that but it makes the place look bigger and I bet it reflects light coming in the other windows all around the place. Very nice work students!
      Wish the students around my town did something like this….

  • Elizabeth Smith
    May 23, 2015, 5:39 pm

    As a former builder, I appreciate the Plumbing, Electrical and Carpentering skills. I see so many home plans that are very difficult and expensive to build.
    The design is really good and the students did a great job all around.

  • Trish
    May 23, 2015, 5:47 pm

    Very nice kitchen and layout. It looks like a professional job. Kuddos to the students.

  • Lynnette
    May 23, 2015, 7:11 pm

    Very nice and it appears spacious and has everything you’d need!!! A++++

  • Dean
    May 23, 2015, 8:34 pm

    …and speaking of kitchen layouts, I’m spotting something I’ve seen in a couple of recent articles that Alex has posted. That little storage box UNDER the refrigerator.
    Creates a shelf that lifts the refer off the ground.
    EVERY HOME IN THE WORLD SHOULD HAVE ONE OF THOSE.
    I never realized just how far down the bottom of the refrigerator was until I saw my mother struggling to get something out of the one of the drawers in the bottom. When I knealt down to help her I realized that as one gets older, this could make life a real chore.
    Having it lifted 6-8 inches off the ground would make the WHOLE refer so much more useful. As long as its not too much of a reach to get to the back of the freezer, you should be golden.
    Whoever thought to do that first deserves a gold star and a life of leisure for their thoughtful idea.

  • Cindy Corder
    May 23, 2015, 9:25 pm

    Nice, nice nice!!! This is beautiful. The craftsmanship is stunning. These college students rock!

  • Jenna
    May 23, 2015, 10:40 pm

    Amazing, beautiful build. We are looking at moving to Michigan, too.

  • Mary J
    May 24, 2015, 1:12 am

    very fine little th, love the feeling it gives me looking inside at the colours and also on looking out the windows too. It appears to suit it’s surrounds! the kitchen looks so useable and not to squashed or unhandy. the stairs become part of the furniture which is a good thing to me because it means the whole space becomes useable. bathroom fits very nicely at the opposite end to the kitchen which is great, no need to be thinking about all bathroom related things when cooking is happening right next door. and I don’t mind the little table and chairs, I could see how easy it would be to make both the table and chairs extendable so that it could become a setting for five – if you should happen to entertain…..of course, there’s the whole outdoors to do that if you should want or weather should happen to invite you outside for bbq and dinner under the blue sky or night sky.

  • Barb B
    May 24, 2015, 12:39 pm

    I don’t make a lot of comments but couldn’t pass making one on this little jewel! What a fabulous job the students did on this TH. Kudos to the teachers involved as well! I love everything about it….maybe next time they can design with seniors in mind. I would so love to live in this TH! The outside design is so welcoming too. Give yourselves a big pat on the back for a job very well done!

  • Sparrow
    May 24, 2015, 2:27 pm

    Wow, everything about this little house dazzles with charm! How refreshing! I even like the bathroom, which is usually the place where most tiny houses fail. The arched roof is especially nice. The only thing I’d change is to put a railing on the stairway – it could be a decorative railing that would only add more charm. I WANT this house! How much????

  • Lisa
    May 24, 2015, 4:36 pm

    I have noticed that to make tiny homes seem more spacious, there is a lack of railings on the lofts. Does no one fall out of these? Why do so many of these homes lack any type of railing or divider or anything to let a sleepy non-morning person know that they are about to break their neck? As a non-morning person, I often literally fall out of bed to wake up (not actually on purpose, but I can verify it is successful in the whole wake-up process!). One of the things that strikes me with these homes is that they are for people who do not roll around in their sleep. Do you have any that are engineered for us careless persons who tend to operate on autopilot?

  • Dean
    May 24, 2015, 4:49 pm

    $30K, Sparrow.

  • Catherine Wilson
    May 24, 2015, 7:53 pm

    Lovely design with great kitchen. Looks spacious.
    I just hope that Michigan is not as cold as Quebec because I wouldn’t want R15 walls up here.

  • Pam
    May 24, 2015, 8:31 pm

    While I might have a spacial problem, I have been inspired to eliminate 60% or more of the extra STUFF I have accumulated over 20 years. We have a 1880 sqf house with enough goods for twice that size. I have had great difficulty parting with STUFF. I enjoy each and every newsletter and admire the creativity.

  • Andrea Hardy
    May 24, 2015, 9:22 pm

    I’m drooling…

  • Emily Casselman
    May 24, 2015, 11:45 pm

    Love it!!! Very imaginative and inventive, and modern with a touch of whimsy. I plan to be a writer when I leave school, and I was worried about being able to support myself without having to get another job. It was such a blessing to find tiny house talk and the small house catalog, which show me that there are beautiful houses for prices within my budget. These inspiring people have surely changed my future financial situation for the better. 🙂

  • Rue
    May 25, 2015, 5:35 am

    In general I agree, the students did a great job managing lots of storage space and a just-right sized usable kitchen.

    I guess one of the lofts would have to be lounge space, though, since I don’t see even the usual tiny house cushioned bench to kick back on at the end of the day. Maybe I’m too fond of my couch…. 😉

  • Janie
    May 25, 2015, 6:59 am

    Will you sell the PLANS…????? If so, where and how can I purchase?

    • Mary
      June 6, 2015, 6:49 pm

      I’d also love to see the plans for this tiny house. 🙂 I’m doing the research to construct my own!

      • Danielle
        September 11, 2015, 4:49 pm

        The plans are on the Facebook page for the college.

  • sc
    May 25, 2015, 8:36 am

    Very nicely done! At 18′ its an excellent design, but I would expect no less for architecture students. Not sure it has adequate closet storage space. I would need 24 feet for more closet and work/office space and a washer/dryer.
    I dont like built in eating areas because I can never fit comfortably in them, stomach gets in the way…LOL! But I will say that these are nicely done, especially the way the seat next to the door has built in welcome shelving behind its back. Thats a nice touch, there should be some kind of place when you come into a house where you can lay your keys and stuff.

  • BEVERLY FRYE
    May 26, 2015, 8:46 am

    This Tiny House is Awesome. Great Job. Wish they would come modify my Tiny Home with the steps and bench table

  • Denise
    May 26, 2015, 11:14 am

    Beautifully done, spacious, loft more accessible for people with creaky bones, a real sink in the bathroom for better personal hygiene rather than being stuck washing hands in the kitchen, maybe a real flush toilet (?), all of these qualities scream *’Buy Me’ and I will promise you comfort while living small*.

  • Gordon Deisting
    May 27, 2015, 12:21 am

    Hell,Give the kids a standing ovation and clapping for they done something that they know how to do for themselves.Very good top honours.

  • cm
    May 27, 2015, 3:17 pm

    Nice job! One suggestion: It looks like the dining table support is permanent. It would be nice if the support was removable and the tabletop could come down to rest on the seats to form a “couch” when not being used as a table. (Of course, the seat edges would need to be modified so the couch surface would be flat.)

    • Janie
      May 27, 2015, 9:03 pm

      cm — that’s a really good idea. In RV’s most of the dining tables become beds. In this tiny house design, the “dining room” could double as the sitting room/living room since there really isn’t one in this design. That would be the perfect solution…!!!

    • sam
      May 29, 2015, 12:36 pm

      no what they really need is an adjustable support so that it just comes down

  • Allin
    June 8, 2015, 6:24 pm

    This is great you’ve done a good job on this tiny house. Would like to see a floor plan and maybe (?) some more photos. Please

  • Nina Peddle
    July 8, 2015, 5:52 pm

    I’ve been looking at a lot of tiny houses and this by far is my favorite. I live in Maine and I love this house and I want to know if you think maybe the plants will be sold in the future. Great job!

  • Charlotte Sproles
    July 8, 2015, 6:38 pm

    Is this still available for purchase? If so I want it! !

  • Charlotte Sproles
    July 8, 2015, 6:39 pm

    Is this still available for purchase? If so I want it!

  • Rebecca Telkamp
    July 9, 2015, 7:53 pm

    I want to build my own tiny house and this one is perfect. Hopefully, the summer of 2016 I can start preparing to build. Great pics and video. Thank you for sharing.

  • michael
    July 10, 2015, 11:14 pm

    Awesome! Is this tiny house still for sale?

  • Marsha Cowan
    May 24, 2016, 4:15 pm

    This house is so awesome that I am ashamed to use that overworked word to describe it. I love it to pieces!

  • Saga
    May 24, 2016, 4:16 pm

    I love everything about this tiny house…almost. I would have omitted the build-in dining nook, and used chairs and a fold down table in stead. That way the space could be more flexible and be used for other purposes, when you werent eating.
    Maybe a design where the eating area could become a “living room” area.

  • Kurt
    May 24, 2016, 4:20 pm

    I don’t care for the dining area setup. I would much prefer a setup that is moveable.

  • Kathy
    May 25, 2016, 2:05 am

    This little charmer has gone directly into My Favorite Tiny Homes Pinterest board. I am in love! For a teensy 18′ long, it is one of the better planned out tinies I have come across. I totally am in love with the birch (?) ply cabinetry – the colors used for this and for the dining, the stairs and walls impart a much more spacious feeling than you could get otherwise in only 18′. I agree with others that a stair handrail and a loft railing would be a good idea! I am guessing that the designers thought that the occupants might use the smaller loft as a lounging space since there appears to be no room on the first floor for a sofa. In one of the photos it looks like possibly the lowest step has been extended across what little space there is toward the bathroom wall; maybe this is fitted out as a sort of sofa. I have seen this done in other tinies. So, my only wish for this great tiny would be to add maybe 2 feet to make a more comfortable sofa a possibility.

  • CJR
    May 26, 2016, 9:03 pm

    Like this design the best of what I’ve seen, but I would like to see if someone could design a “portapotty” for the loft bedroom. As I look at all these lovely designs for loft bedrooms, having to rush downstairs to the bathroom looks daunting

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