Following are more details from Joel:

This is a project two years in the making. Since I (Joel) opened my design studio in January of 2010, I’ve wanted to design, build, and market affordable, modern, modular homes. This project is called the Beta Home 984 – it features two bedrooms and one bathroom spread over two levels – with a total of 984 square feet to enjoy.

The floor system is insulated to R40, with the walls sitting at R22, and the roof at R50.

The home also features bamboo flooring throughout both levels with a front load washer dryer in the bathroom.

Our goal is to provide a high quality product, at an affordable price range unlike many other architectural firms selling modern modular home packages.

If you’d like more information on the Beta Home 984 or Joel’s company, SMPLy MOD, visit Joel’s website here. http://www.smplarchitecture.com/

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This series of homes meets all of the fundamental criteria in a house. The space is sized to be functional while also allowing flexibility. The uses for these homes include high density small lot urban and suburban infill, relief housing, student housing, auxiliary dwelling units, and specifically, affordable housing.

The Shelter Series homes range in size from 340 square feet to around 1,400 square feet and are also designed to meet a variety of green certification programs with the real emphasis being on energy and water savings along with a superior exterior shell.

Available now is the Shelter 640. This small home features 2 bedrooms, a full bath, generous kitchen, and ample storage/closet space. The interior is filled with light from the standard and clerestory windows. The lot for this design may be as small as 30 feet by 60 feet, and the 640 can be built on a concrete foundation or a raised floor system. The Shelter 640 is priced at $47,300.

Also included in the Shelter 640:

• Prefabricated, insulated wall sections
• Insulated windows
• Metal SIP panel roof
• R-17 wall insulation and R-22 roof insulation
• Bamboo flooring
• IKEA brand cabinets and sinks
• Maple countertops
• Water conserving toilet
• On-demand, tank-less hot water heater

The Cabin Fever building packages contain everything that’s needed to build a modern cabin: pre-assembled wall panels, doors and windows, the roof system, siding, trim and the interior parts. Everything is precision cut and precisely labeled. Their prefab cabins and cottages can be assembled by an owner with building experience or by a professional contractor.

Photos courtesy of Cabin Fever

By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]

Trick

Trick is the name of this multifunctional furniture that can be used as a bookshelf, a chair, and a dining set. The minimalist multifunction furniture is made from Milan based industrial designer Sakura Adachi.

Arrigoni Teak Table

This teak drop leaf and teak seat ottomans are the latest addition to the hi-low table line of Arrigoni Design. Most of their designs are for boats, but they can be used in tiny houses as well. The ottomans provide seating in tight spaces and have hinged up cushions for extra storage inside. Storage is easy under each side of the standard 32 X 36 fold over hi-low table.

KEWB

The KEWB is an entire house of furniture in one small package. The Sit n’ Sleep KEWB is a table, a chair, a recliner, a side table, a bed and a dining set all in one. The entire unit collapses down to the size of a side table.

Tagei Coffee Table

A graduate of industrial design, Akemi Tanaka has designed some innovative furniture. One piece is the Tagei which looks like a coffee table but it can also be extended into a bench for additional company.

By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]

The Hummingbird has a living and kitchen area with a fire-ribbon fireplace (which requires no venting) and a large, covered deck which LEAP calls a “chill” space. A small bedroom and bathroom suite are also included. Plans for the hummingbird are priced at $995, the building kit is around $55,000 and an on-site built Hummingbird is about $80,000 which does not include the general contractor fee, building or permit fees.

Other green options included in the Hummingbird are:

• Cement board or teak siding
• Trex recycled content-engineered deck planking
• Low-mass Structural Insulated Panels
• Multi-unit sliding glass doors with dual-pane Low-E glass
• Simpson “Strong-Wall” seismic resisting brace-frames
• Low-flow plumbing fixtures
• EnergyStar rated Heat-pump HVAC system, lighting and on-demand water heater

LEAP Adaptive is a home design group in San Diego, California. Design director Brian Darnell has spent the last 22 years designing multi-million-dollar residential estates, but realized that “the lust for size and granduer has given way to the realization that the economics and ecology of our flattening world can no longer support such extravagance.” LEAP seeks to create environmental designs that are easier on the owner’s wallet as well as on the earth.

Image Courtesy of LEAP Adaptive

By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]

This concept is based on a cooperation between Denmark and Sweden and choosing high quality materials from both countries. The system includes decks and deck covers as well as an indoor or outdoor kitchen, a mini bathroom, beds, wardrobes, full insulation, plumbing and electrical fittings.

The ONE+ is built with sustainable Scandinavian materials that require minimal maintenance. The thin outer panel is made from Superwood, which is a Danish invention where Swedish wood is impregnated into the kernel while being environmentally friendly. The modules are fully insulated with energy efficient windows and sliding doors from Velfac for low heating costs.

The cost for the basic unit with a deck and deck cover is about 250,000 Swedish kroner or $36,500. The basic unit with a deck, deck cover and kitchen costs about 350,000 Swedish kroner or about $51,000. Additions and transportation cost extra. The idea behind the ONE+ is to not consume more than you need at the moment, but to grow your home slowly.

UPDATE

At this time, the ONE+ is not being exported to the U.S. However, Susanne Aarup of Add a Room said that they will soon have a version that can be broken down, ordered from Sweden and exported to the U.S. The house will be built to Scandinavian standards so it is up to the buyer to make sure their ONE+ meets building standards in their area.

Photos courtesy of Add a Room.

By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]

Each 800 square foot cottage has 7-foot tall windows that frame the ocean view of the Atlantic. They each contain two bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, one bathroom, two decks, a wood stove, dining area, living bay and custom tile and maple floors. They rent for between CAN$1,500-$1,995 a week. The entire site, along with the studio and the historic octagonal barn can also be rented for events and are ideal for art workshops, weddings, equestrian vacations, family reunions or corporate retreats.

Photos courtesy of Boutique Homes and Shobac Cottages

By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]

The E-den is hand built by skilled craftsmen in Somerset using a combination of timber and steel framework, locally sourced materials and incorporating modern timber frame construction techniques. They each include a wide door for people with mobility problems, a large roof window for natural light, and electricity can be added into each E-den. They are each constructed in a workshop and delivered as a complete unit on a trailer. To launch the project the company has decided to sell the first 10 E-dens at cost to establish them in the marketplace, therefore the prices below are a genuine special offer and will be offered on a first come first served basis.

The E-den’s exterior is 14 feet long by 9 feet high and 11.6 feet long by 6.9 feet high on the interior. The bunk is 5.6 feet deep and 6.9 feet wide with 16 inches of storage underneath. A standard unit costs £6,875 or $10,700.

The Hut is also constructed off site, can be built to your specifications and can be delivered and installed in one day. It’s fully insulated, wired and constructed from reclaimed and sustainable sourced materials. A green roof can be installed and opportunities for solar panels are available.

The Hut’s exterior is 14 feet long by 7.6 feet wide by 9.4 feet high and 12.6 feet long, 6 feet wide and 7.2 feet high on the interior. The cost of the Hut is £6,500 or $10,200.

By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]

The cabin was designed and built by Olson Kundig Architects, the designers of the Rolling Huts. Three sides of the cabin have custom-designed Shutter-Decks, designed in collaboration with Turner Exhibits. The Shutter-Decks lower to become an outdoor living space and rise to provide privacy for the occupants and to secure the cabin when it is unoccupied. The south Shutter-Deck can be opened independently of the other two, while an interior fireplace can be rotated 180 degrees to be enjoyed from the exterior.

By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]

Several details of this design make it unique to other prefab designs. The “kinetic facade” rain screen, which consists of tall louvered panels, can be closed over the passive solar windows to insulate the interior and protect the E.D.G.E. when unoccupied. It contains two lofts with full staircases, and the furniture is custom made for the house and is multi-functional. In fact, the dining room furniture transforms into a bed.

The house also features rainwater harvesting, geothermal heating and cooling, air to air heat recovery ventilation, a butterfly roof that minimizes solar gain, triple insulated glass, and a thermal radiant floor heating system. Locally grown white oak is used for the rain screen and CNC cut Baltic birch plywood is used in the interior of the home.

The house is 320 square feet, which does not include the floor area of the upper sleeping lofts, and costs between $60,000 and $150,000.

An overnight experience in the E.D.G.E was written about by Mary Louise Schumacher of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and she documented her stay in the tiny house with a video. She answered more questions in an additional post.

Photos by Dan Hoffman. Courtesy of Revelations Architects/Builders Corp.

By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]

The smallest design is the MatchBox, a studio that packs a kitchen, living room and bath into 400 square feet. It can fit into a lot that is 17 by 27 feet and starts at $79,500. A larger design is the SandBox, a one story backyard cottage with kitchen, living room, bathroom and one bedroom. It is 600 square feet and is designed for simple and minimalist living on one level, and will fit on most city lots at just 17 by 37 feet. The SandBox starts at $86,500. Each of these houses are custom architect-designed and you can choose from three finish levels.

What I really liked about these designs (besides the sleek, cool look) was the space allocated for a mechanical area within the house, which is sometimes lacking in other small house designs. Backyard Box also offers several finish options they call Elements:

Essential – half bath, open floor plan, garage-style door – with basic finishes, this works for a retreat, office, studio, or future living quarters.  Easy to upgrade to full finish package over time or do it yourself.

Complete – full kitchen, full bath, built-ins, one level – this is the complete finish package, move-in ready.

Luxe – upgraded kitchen cabinets, countertops, bath tile package, and diamond polished concrete floors.

Accessories – add these and more to customize your Box:

• Aluminum and glass garage door opening
• Smart Box – Net Zero Energy
• Rain garden
• Bega exterior lighting package
• Corten steel backyard firebowl designed by John T. Unger
• Interior LED lighting
• Solar hot water
• Solar electric panels
• Smart Home Energy Dashboard
• Green roof
• Hydronic radiant heated floors

MatchBox Floorplan

SandBox Floorplan

Backyard Box also offers a larger design called the BigBox, and they can also create a CustomBox for your backyard or lot. All the Box homes are eco-friendly, and every Backyard Box incorporates sustainable features, such as pre-wiring for solar power, super-insulated walls and windows, non-toxic paints, and rain screen siding.

Founder Sloan Ritchie launched Backyard Box in response to the cultural shifts taking place today where consumers find themselves in need of a little extra space for a home office or studio, aging parents or boomerang kids, income via a new rental property, or a mix of these over time. Having developed his own backyard into a single family home, Sloan saw an incredible opportunity to help other local homeowners make the most of their home investment and living choices. And today, adoption of backyard cottage ordinances makes it much easier.

Sloan has been at the forefront of green and sustainable building in the Seattle area for several years, building some of Seattle’s first LEED certified homes. He and his experienced design team are dedicated to pushing the envelope in sustainability and energy efficiency, environmentally appropriate material selection, and innovative development practices – at affordable prices. Backyard Box homes reflect a personal commitment and passion for sustainable, quality living.

BLIP Design – Architect Jim Burton, AIA, LEED A.P., has 18 years of experience in residential, institutional, office, and other project types. He is a Certified Passive House Consultant, member of the US Green Building Council, Cascadia Chapter GBC, Built-Green, Solar Washington, Passive House Northwest, and the NW Eco-Building Guild. He is currently serving as the President of the Central Puget Sound (Seattle) Chapter of the NW Eco-Building Guild.

All Backyard Boxes are designed and built to Passive House standards, the most advanced energy efficiency practices anywhere in the world. That yields a 90% reduction in heating and cooling energy versus typical construction.

Pricing includes everything except foundation and utility hookups, as that will vary depending on your lot. They also leave appliances up to the customer since personal tastes vary widely. The base models come complete with high-end durability and sustainable features including rain screen siding, solar PV pre-wiring, standing seam metal roof, and the most energy efficient designs in the world.

Expanded distribution now includes the West Region: Washington, Oregon, California, British Columbia, Nevada, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]