If your looking for basic shelter with a very limited budget. Check out World Shelters U-Dome. a 200 sq ft 12 feet tall dome structure. This may be just what you are looking for to get started in a tiny house living structure.

The U-Dome is a versatile, all-weather shelter that can withstand extreme heat and cold, significant wind, and light snow loads with proper installation. They are made with materials that resist rot and mildew, patterns that can easily incorporate local materials, and they are re-usable. Joist floor plans, included with purchase.

Options include pre-hung screen and aluminum double door. Windows and vents. Use a highly efficient electric or propane heater. Off-grid options such as solar and wind, water collection and cistern and composting toilets, allow you to place this just about anywhere.

At $1545 plus options and your floor how can you beat this price?

To learn more visit the World Shelter site.

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I really like the ideabox, and I think for the price and style it is my favorite that I have found so far.

“It’s like a loft you can take anywhere.”

It’s Hip & Green.

Ideabox emphasizes good design, not square footage, and they make it very attractive. With Ideabox, you’re going to get the entire package delivered right to your site. It takes one day to install it, another day to build the deck, and your ready to go. Depending on your site, all you really need to do is set up the water, power, septic, and sewer systems.

The exterior of each ideabox comes with standing seam metal roofing, Galvalume & fiber-cement siding, and low-e windows. Inside, the ceiling, walls, and floors are fully insulated and sealed for maximum efficiency. Interiors include hard surface flooring throughout (bamboo, wood, marmoleum), contemporary cabinets and countertops. Each ideabox is wired for digital entertainment. Appliance packages include ENERGY STAR convection ovens, dishwashers, refrigerators, washers and dryers and even a built-in wine cooler.

There are two models in production: the Northwest Modern, a 400sf. 1BR built to RV/Park Model code (around $75k); the Confluence Modern, a 840sf. 2BR built to the Federal HUD Code/site-built modular codes (around $85k). Download a pdf file of Confluence Modern. (Note flyer says 803sf actual 840sf per ideabox)

They even have an off-grid and wireless option. Using Uni-solar panels and solar power system from Solar Summit - panels fit between standing seams on the roof; inverters, charging units and batteries are housed in a special box - and the rest of the house is wireless.

Transported behind a semi (built on a chassis) and brought in one piece to your prepared site.  It can be placed on concrete slab or gravel/pier blocks. Ideabox includes 100 miles of free delivery, otherwise it is about 5.00/mile (at todays gas prices).

A very attractive and functional modern small home. Based in Salem, Oregon and shipping all over the west. To learn more visit the ideabox site.

Following are a few pictures and a floor plan.

Floor Plan

Kitchen

Living Space

Exterior View

Build Your Own Community

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Shipping Pallet photo by Michael Janzen

Tiny Free House

I just found a cool blog, actually three cool blogs just started by another neighbor of mine. Well within a couple of hours of where I live. Michael Janzen from the Sacramento Valley is embarking on a little experiment. He is going to build a tiny house, 90 square feet, that’s a cross between Henry David Thoreau’s cabin at Walden Pond and a Tumbleweed-like Tiny House on wheels. But he is going to build it without spending any money. There will be some things he won’t be able to scavenge. For these items he plans to sell things he can find for free on craigslist.org. In the end he hopes to have a tiny free house. His blog Tiny Free House will be a record of the project. He also plans to write a book on his experience as well. Below are his plans.

Shipping Pallet Construction

Michael’s main source of lumber will from shipping pallets, that you can find free in many locations.

I will post updates as Michael progresses with his project. He plans to have it completed by this fall. To learn more visit two of his blogs: Tiny Free House and Tiny House Design.

6×15 Tiny Free House

Nine Tiny Feet

Michael is not stopping there in fact, I think that he will be building the smallest house out there called Nine Tiny Feet. A nine square foot home on wheels. Quoting Michael at his blog:

OH… WHY?

No I don’t intend to live in it. Building something like this will be an interesting journey and I plan to use it as a home office some or all of the time. I may also use the Tiny Free House as an office too, I just haven’t decided. The other reason is to show people how small, small can be. I’m beginning to develop a theory that nine square feet is all we really need and that every square foot after that is for added comfort, vanity, or people.

So the short version… I’m building a nine square foot house to explore the possibility to satisfy my own curiosity and explore my own values. If successful I hope it will act as a tool to help other people see that the least is the most.

View his plan below and go to his his blog at Nine Tiny Feet to follow his progress. He plans on building this after he has completed the Tiny Free House, so stay tuned.

Nine Tiny Feet Design

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