The main goal of this project is to create a space that will draw talented artists to Sisters, Oregon and provide them with an enriching experience of the area while facilitating the creation of great works of art.

The living and working functions are separated into their own units which face a common porch providing an expansion of perceived space and a connection to the outdoors. The modular construction sits lightly on the ground and is easily transportable on the back of a flatbed truck. A steel exoskeleton provides a rugged structure to which Structural Insulated Panels are bolted, providing a continuous layer of insulation.

The project aims to have net-zero impact, through the use of PV panels, capturing rainwater, and composting all waste. Contact with each of these systems will enhance the user’s awareness of personal consumption.

More information about this and other projects can be found here: http://sistersmobileartiststudio.wordpress.com/

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]

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]

The new MK designs will use the Blu folding technology in their building construction, and will be available nationally. Blu is unique in that they ship and set their own homes with teams directly from their factory.

The newest product line from Blu is a small prefab called the Origin. Each unit is 17 to 20 feet wide and 24 to 35 feet long. This design has a wide variety of purposes including home offices, meditation spaces, media rooms, in-law apartments, granny flats, commercial office spaces, backyard cottages, exercise or art studios and weekend retreats. The Origin line has both commercial and residential applications, and are configurable to meet the customer’s needs. Origin units can also be combined into groups with connectivity through decks and pathways.

For their little size, the Origin is really stylish. The design features bamboo flooring, energy efficient heating and cooling and energy monitoring systems, interior doors, trim, low VOC paint and recessed light fixtures. Kitchen countertops, cabinetry, sinks and lighting are from IKEA and the standard refrigerator, dishwasher, washer and dryer and range are from Whirlpool. Bathroom cabinetry, faucets, baths and toilets, fixtures and floors are also from IKEA, Kohler and American Standard.

The Origin exterior specifications include several choices in addition to the standard materials:

Standard Exterior

• Helical Pile Foundation
• EPDM Roofing
• Hardie Soffit and Trim
• Hardie Siding
• Closed Cell Spray Foam Insulation
• Andersen Vinyl Clad Windows
• Exterior Glass and Sliding Doors

Optional Exterior

• Cedar Siding
• Decks and Foundations by a general contractor
• Roof Deck

Exterior Green Options

• Green Roofs
• Solar Panels
• Rainwater Collection
• Hybrid Plug-In

Pricing includes Origin factory costs, before shipping and site work. Depending on the location, Blu adds shipping, foundation and setup charges upon review of the customer’s site and needs. The Origin price breakdown is as follows:

24’ shell $64,000
28’ shell $72,000
35’ shell $83,000
Play 24’ $71,000
Media Room 24’ $74,000
Artist / Exercise / Yoga Studio 24’ $79,000
Music Room / Library 24’ $71,000
Home Office / Therapy Room 24’ $78,000
Big Kid Play Space 28’ $85,000
Cottage / Addition 28’ $102,000
Living Room/In-law Suite 35’ $114,000

Other Blu Homes are currently being built in the Colorado Rockies, California woodlands, Carolina coast and towns throughout New England and for corporations from coast to coast.

By Christina Nellemann for the (Tiny House Blog)

Northern Timbers built the microhome with design help from landscape architect and metal artist H. Keith Wagner.

Much of Northern Timbers’ work reinterprets the traditional Vermont vernacular by introducing new applications of diverse materials into the residential setting, resulting in homes with a practical yet creative aesthetic. The exterior steel of the building will weather in the extreme climate, giving extra character to the place.

Their design meets the challenges of a northern climate while creating a modern, energy efficient tiny home. Their company has achieved LEED Gold certification, while two other homes they built were awarded American Institute of Architecture awards for Excellence in Architecture.

Northern Timbers devotes personal attention to each stage of the job from planning to completion, working closely with homeowners and architects to achieve custom homes that reflect the unique tastes of the owner yet remain within the reach of modest budgets.

The Burlington microhome has also been featured on the Jetson Green blog and the Simpler Living blog of the Times Union of Albany, NY.

By Christina Nellemann for the (Tiny House Blog)

When I first saw these huts on wheels, they looked a bit like an alien vehicle from Star Wars. The more I looked at them though, the more I fell in love with these sleek little houses.

Designed as a modern alternative to camping by Tom Kundig of Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects in Seattle, the Rolling Huts are available for rent in the Methow Valley of Washington state. The huts are several steps above camping, while remaining low-tech and low-impact in their design.

The huts sit lightly on the site, a flood plain meadow in an alpine river valley. The owner purchased the site, formerly a RV campground, with the aim of allowing the landscape return to its natural state. The wheels lift the structures above the meadow, providing an unobstructed view into nature and the prospect of the surrounding mountains.

The huts are grouped as a herd: while each is sited towards a view of the mountains (and away from the other structures), their proximity unites them. They evoke Thoreau’s simple cabin in the woods; the structures take second place to nature.

Each hut comes equipped with a small refrigerator, microwave, fireplace and Wi-Fi. A sleeping platform is perfect for two, and the modular furniture in the living area can be reconfigured to sleep two more. Each hut has an adjacent portable toilet, and full bathrooms and showers are housed in the centrally located barn a short distance away. There is a water faucet outside of each hut and a picnic table in front of each hut that seats 12. You can stay in one of these huts for about $80-$100 a night.

By Christina Nellemann

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