What caught the attention of many people in Dee William’s original tiny house video was that she said her home was smaller than a parking space. Now, the students of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) are actually building tiny houses into parking spaces in empty parking structures.
Designed and built by 75 students and 12 faculty from various academic disciplines, the 128 to 135 square foot SCADpad homes are experiments in urban living, design and technology, but are being used as small apartments. The pads include private courtyards, sleeping lofts, work and study spaces, living rooms and kitchens, bathrooms and showers. The lighting and smart glass film windows are run by an iPad app.
Each home is whimsically decorated with original art, round windows and one even has interactive musical walls. They are also eco-friendly and include grey water recycling, a waste processing system and composting bins. Each home costs around $40,000 to $60,000.
Each pad shares space and a community garden with other SCADpad renters. These tiny apartment communities have also popped up in Asia and Europe and have been featured on Tiny House Nation and the TODAY show.
Photos by SCAD
By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]
Wow, that is such a great idea! You would never have to worry about the inclement weather, a leaky roof, views would be greatly limited but still if they are empty parking structures it makes sense to utilize all that wasted space.
Although I am a believer in a tiny house I opposed to “experiments” like this.
I have no problem with the size and structures themselves but somehow I sense that things are not really as they appear.
I fear that the purpose of living small will be defeated by the transition of units like these being used for very expensive high density housing with much government control and big returns for developers and owners.
I think the key words here are Profit and Control.
For these reasons I am against these type of conversions and would encourage people to explore the tiny house movement on their own.
Wow — what a great idea! And the execution looks top-notch as well. Even though the price is steep, especially for a student budget (but as rental units, perhaps they’re cost-effective for the school).
The only thing I wonder is: can these THOWs be moved out of the parking structure? Most public garages I know have ceiling-height clearance restrictions of 8 feet or less.
But if the designers have accounted for this — and if others could do the same in their own vacant venues — then what a great thing they’re onto here!
I understand that SCAD is famous for having reclaimed and renovated a lot of different older buildings (even a firehouse, I think) around Savannah for use as classroom/study/studio space. These folks have something special going on. Bravo!
I think the price tag for these seems very reasonable. I love this idea, and I hope it spreads. It would solve so many problems for people who don’t want to spend the rest of their lives in the money pits known as apartments, or on paying off huge mortgages. Bravo to the students of Savannah!
I LOVE these houses! I’ve passed by them several times on the I-85 access ramp in Midtown. I wish I could take a look inside… There was a video somewhere on Youtube with a tour… There are several lots and decks around Atlanta that could totally pull this concept off. Way to go, SCAD!
these apartments looks cool and nice. this shows the creative and innovative thinking.
insulation