A Vietnam based architecture firm, Vo Trong Nghia Architects, has began developing prefabricated housing for low income families in Vietnam. This concept of tiny housing would provide the people with not only a safe place to live but a durable long-term shelter too.
Since 2012 the firm has been working to create these houses for those who earn less than $100/month. Normally these people would be forced to live in temporary shacks. So the architects are creating what they call the S House 2 which can provide affordable, durable, low cost and low maintenance homes for those in need.
The current cost to develop one of these homes in Vietnam is $4,000. Below you will see that this 322 sq. ft. home is very basic. The only thing I’m concerned about is the bathroom which I wasn’t able to find but assume is located as a separate structure nearby (see below).
The S House 2 is a long structure with a sleeping area at one end, dining table in the middle, and a space for personal items at the other end. Please enjoy below.
$4k Affordable Tiny Housing in Vietnam
Images © Hiroyuki Oki/Vo Trong Nghia Architects
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Susan Moray enlisted the help of Jack Barnes Architects to help her convert her garage into a 550 sq. ft. ADU cottage that she now uses as a vacation rental in Portland, Oregon’s Ladd neighborhood. ADU, by the way, stands for Accessory Dwelling Unit in case you’re not familiar.
Together with Design Build Portland contractors they were able to get the job done for a total cost of $90,000, according to Accessory Dwellings. Now you can stay in the cottage if you’re ever in Portland.
Jack Barnes (architect) designed an amazing little cottage based on the already existing garage structure that’s so energy efficient it received a Platinum Award from Earth Advantage. And they had absolutely no trouble getting the plans approved by the city thanks to his expertise.
Related: Woman Downsizes to 557 Sq. Ft. Tumbleweed Cottage
Woman Converts Garage into Small Yellow ADU Cottage
Images © Sky Rocket Photography/Portland Vacation Cottage
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Right now I want to share this micro cabin with you that’s suitable for all types of weather. Architect, Mats Theselius designed this Henry David Thoreau inspired micro cabin for Arvesund. They call it The Hermit’s Cabin.
As Thoreau once said, “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life.”
With only 81 square feet to live in I believe you could truly embrace what Thoreau is saying here. Live deliberately with only the essentials of life.
This humble space is big enough for a peaceful getaway in the woods or used as a shed, writing cabin, backyard office or sauna.
Architect Designs Micro Cabin for Peaceful Getaway in Woods
Images © Arvesund
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Whether van dwelling and bus conversions are your thing or not I think you’ll still enjoy looking at Ryan Lovelace’s DIY 1948 Chevy bus to tiny home conversion.
He took this old funky bus and made it into a mobile micro home and you can see all of his personal touches inside.
With a tiny kitchen, a sleeping loft/pod and a small wood burning fireplace this is totally ready for full time simple living.
There are so many windows that bring in the natural sunlight and it looks like he even added an indoor gutter to hold various plants inside. Very creative.
Let’s take a look inside, shall we?
DIY Chevy Bus to Tiny Home Conversion
Images: The Cosmic Collider
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Just for fun I thought you might like this 64 sq. ft. micro cabin that is actually used as a sauna.
Yes, a sauna, but in Finland and other places in Europe having a sauna outside is a social thing.
The architects designed it for a client who wanted it during the winter months because it’s great after a sweaty run or after jumping in icy cold lake water. Plus it’s small enough that it can be moved on a sledge.
I’m thinking this would make a great private space for reading/writing/meditation? But if designed right, this micro cabin could even make the perfect tiny living space. Let’s take a look.
Mobile Micro Cabin in the Woods
Images: Tiina Tervo
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Check out this 350 sq. ft. low-maintenance and virtually indestructible modern cabin on stilts with steel shutters.
The owner’s hired Olson Kundig Architects to build a weekend cabin that could provide them with a rural retreat during their get-aways to Washington’s Olympic National Park. Since the cabin would be left uninhabited for weeks at a time steel shutters were used to completely enclose and secure the cabin when the owners are away.
As you walk up the stairs to the front door and through a small entry way you will see the bathroom on the left and straight ahead the main living space. The living room is very spacious and open with a dining area and compact kitchen. There is a ladder that leads up to the sleeping loft. The walls, floors and ceilings are lined in timber panels.
A large overhanging roof provides the balcony and windows shade from the natural sunlight. Exterior panels open and close using a custom steel rod with hardware that was originally designed for large barn doors. These steel panels can be opened using a mechanical system of gears, drive shafts and U-joints, which are set into motion by turning a wheel.
It was built using steel and structural insulated panels (SIPs). Most of the cabin was prefabricated off site to help preserve the natural landscaping.
The entire cabin is up on stilts to protect it from occasional floods. The cantilevered roof gives solar shading while protecting the structure from strong storms.
Modern Cabin on Stilts with Steel Shutters
Images: Benjamin Benschneider
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I think you will find this modern polygon cabin interesting. And quite possibly a cool place to live.
Built on a concrete foundation this small cabin serves two purposes for the owners. Used as a sculpture studio and to accommodate guests this small space was designed by Jeffrey S. Poss, Architect and WORKUS Studio.
You will see galvanized steel is used as siding that also extends upward where the architects continued the use of this material in a zigzag shape for the roof. The use of red cedar wood on the inside of the studio gives this space a warm feel.
The spacious creative area used to make sculptures is located on the ground floor with the guest room located in the loft. Perched up 130 steps from the edge of Lake George in upstate New York, I could see the beauty in living in this small space. How about you?
There is a powder room (although not pictured here), so all you would need to add is a functional kitchen and you are ready to live here full time. On the lower level in the main space you will see there is built-in storage on one wall for hiding away belongings and large sliding doors on the other side to invite nature in.
These large glass sliding doors provide beautiful views of the lake below and the ability to catch a nice breeze.
Let’s take a look at this one-of-a-kind small space.
Polygon Cabin with Loft in Nature You Could Call Home?
Images: Jeffrey S. Poss, Architect
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Do you think living simply could be easy with this tiny house? Although it’s only 100 square feet it has just about everything you need.
In this post I’m excited to share the Hummingbird Loft with you. It’s a 100 sq. ft.tiny house with a sleeping & storage loft made of steel-frame and it’s built on a foundation (not on wheels).
When you walk up the porch and through the front door into the main level you’re greeted by the living room and kitchen.
Keep walking towards the back and you’ll find the bathroom. The ladder takes you up to the sleeping loft and storage area. One of the sleeping lofts is above the front porch, the storage loft is over the living area, and the other sleeping loft is in the rear above the kitchen/bathroom area.
Ready to get the full tour including floor plan and all? I hope you’ll enjoy below.
Simple Living in a Hummingbird Tiny House
Images: Eagle Micro Homes
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I thought you’d like to tour Karen’s 265 sq. ft. backyard cottage in Berkeley, CA.
Karen originally intended to use her backyard tiny house for her own personal use but she soon realized renting it out would be a great way to earn extra income.
As you walk onto the front porch and through the french doors to go inside you are greeted by the living area, kitchen and bathroom. And when you go upstairs you have the sleeping loft with storage cabinets.
Karen had New Avenue Homes build this tiny cottage for her right in her backyard. Below you can take a full video tour of the backyard cottage filmed by our friends at Fair Companies.
Tiny Backyard Cottage for Extra Income and Asset-Building
Images © New Avenue Homes
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