Rural Studio at Auburn University developed the 20K House project to address affordable housing challenges. The program asks: what kind of house can be designed for $10,000 in materials when the other $10,000 goes for labor costs and profit?
The Tumbleweed Loring is a 251 square foot cottage design built on a foundation. This small bungalow features a front porch, open great room, full kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping loft. An optional additional bedroom expands the home to 356 square feet.
Images © Tumbleweed Houses
The Maxwell cottage from Cabin Fever demonstrates the potential of prefab building kits for creating small structures. This 320 square foot design features a distinctive curved beam roof with interior height reaching 10 feet at the peak.
Photo Credit: Cabin Fever
Grandpa’s Cabin is a 396 square foot backyard cottage designed by Sidekick Homes, a division of Kephart Living. The design fits a bedroom, full bathroom, kitchen, and living area into a compact single-story footprint suitable for use as an ADU, guest house, or in-law suite.
