The term “compound” has taken on a much different meaning these days.
The term actually describes a property (usually rural) that has multiple buildings on one or several lots. Compounds are usually inhabited by multiple owners, family members, or business or organizational partners.
A compound is usually a multi-family property with multiple dwellings.
What once was a way to obtain a rural home for a lot less money has become a way to create community away from a typical town or city.
A compound signifies a secure space for all members to care for each other and the property. In addition, travel to visit other family members can be avoided and small businesses can be established to also avoid commuting.
Most of the time a compound is located on rural land.
Compounds can be used for various purposes. Some can be created as a multi-generational home to house many family members.
Some are built to maintain a portion of environmentally important land for future generations.
Some are built as live-work compounds where farming, livestock, small businesses, or short-term rentals (such as tiny homes) are available.
Some compounds use their space to add tiny homes for extra income.
Creating a successful compound will depend on multiple factors such as zoning, local laws, division of space, and cooperative community members.
While there are too many to list here, the website Rethink: Rural has a great article on the things to consider when creating a compound.
These four compounds come in all shapes and sizes and some even feature tiny homes.
Hopefully, they will inspire you to rethink the traditional house and come up with your own version of a compound.
Kentucky Tiny House Family Village
Rather than kicking their two teenage kids out of the house when they reached a certain age, the Brinks family built them tiny homes instead. The family lives on a 21-acre property in Kentucky.
The parents have their own 280 square foot home and the two teens have two of their own tiny homes. The “village” also has a double bathroom house with a guest bedroom, a pool house for games, and a tiny office.
Flock Finger Lakes
If you really want to get the scoop on what it’s like to buy and live on a conservation compound, then subscribe to the Flock Finger Lakes YouTube channel. Established by three friends from New York City, this 90-acre plot of land in Upstate New York will be home to them, their families, and as an ecological and educational resource for future generations.
The owners post regular videos on the buying process and their vision for the land.
Inn Plus Home Compound
Known for her entertaining videos on minimalism and decluttering, Rachel, aka, the Messy Minimalist lives and works on a compound on Lake Michigan. Her family’s property is not only her home, but also an inn for several guests, a chicken coop, a backyard vintage trailer, and an oasis from city life.
MJ’s My Tiny House Village
Built on a former Christmas tree farm in Oregon, MJ Boyle’s tiny house village is for sharing. While she also lives in a tiny house, she has several other tiny homes available for guests.
Each home is unique in style and nestled in the area’s wine country.
By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]
What are those little round houses called? Those are cool!
Hello Jack. The cabins are located at the Catawaba Falls Campground in North Carolina. They are just one option for round or arched cabins. Check out archedcabins.com for more ideas.
I apologize. I misspelled Catawba Falls in the above reply.
Have you ever seen the wine barrel hotel rooms in Portugal? Kinda reminds me of them. You can make a shelter out of anything. Google “wine barrel hotel Portugal” and it will come up.
Any available step by step process like rules and laws, governance etc? Just bought a family compound and realized that WE NEED RULES!!!! LOTS
Three couples that don’t want to burden their children when we reach our limits with driving to Doctor appointments, cooking meals providing companionship and “seniors sitting “. We have been friends for 20 years and are all in our early 60’s. We currently live in the GA mountains where we can purchase land at a reasonable price. Each compound home will be 2/2 1,000 sq ft max. We’re thinking a central pavilion to gather for meals movies and just hanging out. One friend is a nurse. Our goal is to stay out of $8,000 per month for profit assisted living facilities and nursing homes. One is very familiar with zoning, septic tank permits and of course drawing up a friendly HOA with a few common sense rules. Does anyone know any resources to further educate us?? Thanks all