Could a 750 square foot house be the wave of the future? Advocates of the tiny or small house phenomenon think so. In this day of supersized homes, so-called McMansions, many people all across the US are building homes that are just the opposite– tiny houses measuring just 50 to 750 square feet. Jay Shafer, an Iowa designer has been at the forefront of this movement since 1997, when he built a 100 square foot tiny house which he called, “tumbleweed”.
But it didn’t stop there, he actually downsized, in 2004, to a house just 40 square feet, calling it the Weebee or XS (extra small).
Today he continues to build tiny houses for people all across the country. Each house is used differently depending on the needs of the individual. Some ways tiny houses have been used are as studios in the homeowner’s backyard, as a full-time residence, as weekend hide a ways, as a free standing addition for use by guests, elderly parent, adult child or office space. Each house is made to order and costs on average between $25,000 and $40,000. The homeowner or contractor will need to connect the water, sewage and electrical hookups. It takes from 10-16 weeks for the house to arrive once an order is placed.
The movement for tiny houses is an environmental concern. Tiny houses have fewer emissions, there’s less construction waste, less fuel consumption and more green space. People who live in tiny houses own fewer possessions, consume less, have lower utility bills, require less building material and use less land. In addition, it costs less to purchase, maintain and live in a tiny house.
For more information check out these resources:
www.tumbleweedhouses.com
www.smallhousesociety.org
www.tinyhousecompany.com
www.tinyhouses.net
www.fabprefab.com
www.treehouse-company.com
www.cottagecompany.com
www.insitebuilders.com
www.minicabinplans.com
The Small House Book by Jay Shafer
Mini House by Alejandro Bahamón
A Tiny House to Call your Home by Andy and Patricia Foreman
Treehouses by Peter Nelson
Home Tree Home by Peter Nelson
Tiny, Tiny Houses by Lester Walker
The New American Dream: Living Well in Small Homes by James Gauer