Monthly Archives: April 2010

Struggling home owners find inspiration in Tiny Houses

Posted on April 30, 2010 by Michael Janzen

Jay Shafer is featured on the cover of the current issue of Parade Magazine, which has about 70 million readers each week and can be found inside many Sunday papers. The article is titled, Help for Struggling Homeowners. Many of us … Continue reading →

Posted in Announcement | Tagged downsizing, jay shafer, parade magazine, small house, small house book, tiny house | 6 Comments

Green Shed Design Competition Winners

Posted on April 29, 2010 by Michael Janzen

Pandora Park Community Garden Society, In Vancouver, B.C., recently organized a garden shed design competition. Here’s how they describe what they were going after: “The primary objective is to demonstrate that natural, hand built, recycled, or otherwise sustainably produced building … Continue reading →

Posted in Design Concept | Tagged british columbia, canada, competition, Pandora Park Community Garden Society, shed, vancouver | Leave a comment

Reclaimed Space – Small House Builder

Posted on April 29, 2010 by Michael Janzen

Reclaimed Space is a small house builder in Austin, Texas. They specialize in creating factory built homes using reclaimed building materials on the outer facades and all new material for the structural framing and roof. Before the house is brought by … Continue reading →

Posted in Builders | Tagged austin, Reclaimed Space, texas | 3 Comments

The Living Wall in Buffalo, New York

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Michael Janzen

One hundred first year architecture students attending the State University of New York Buffalo are developing a collection of minimal dwelling unit designs. Each living space will have an entrance, sleeping space for 3 (minimum), and internal circulation. The units … Continue reading →

Posted in Projects | Tagged architecture, Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning, living units, shelter, Students, SUNY, The Living Wall | 3 Comments

Area 63 Productions – Airstream Restorations

Posted on April 27, 2010 by Michael Janzen

Uwe Salwender restores Airstream trailers in Orange, California. His company, Area 63 Productions, emerged out of a hobby at the beginning of the recession when his entertainment industry related work began to dry up and the number of people looking for … Continue reading →

Posted in Builders | Tagged Airstream, Area 63 Productions, Lee Schneider, restorations, shelter, trailer, Uwe Salwender | Leave a comment

Studio Shed – Affordable Shed Kits

Posted on April 27, 2010 by Michael Janzen

Studio Shed is a relative new tiny space builder. These prefab little sheds can be setup in a day and used as a backyard shed, or with some interior finish work, a nice backyard home office. Prices start at $4,900 … Continue reading →

Posted in Kits / Prefab | Tagged backyard, green, home office, kit, Shed Kit, Studio Shed, sustainable architecture | 2 Comments

Building a Tiny House Rental Collection on Airbnb.com

Posted on April 27, 2010 by Michael Janzen

I was recently contacted by the folks at Airbnb.com, a website that connects real people that own vacation rentals with real people looking for a place to stay. They would like to develop a collection of tiny house properties that are available … Continue reading →

Posted in Announcement | Tagged Airbnb.com, rentals, small houses, tiny house, vacation rental | 3 Comments

The Truffle by Ensamble Estudio

Posted on April 26, 2010 by Michael Janzen

The construction technique used to create this tiny space might set a new standard for alternative in the world of alternative housing. You have to watch the video below to understand how this unusual cave-like building was put together. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction Method | Tagged cave, concrete, Ensamble Estudio, Truffle | 1 Comment

SingPeace! Pilgrimage for Peace and Global Harmony

Posted on April 25, 2010 by Michael Janzen

Pushkara Sally Ashford, a resident of Whidbey Island in Washington, commissioned this handcrafted gypsy vardo which was built by Steve Habersetzer in collaboration with many many other artisans. Habersetzer built his first tiny home over 25 years ago and describes them … Continue reading →

Posted in Sustainable Living | Tagged gypsy vardo, Pushkara Sally Ashford, SingPeace, SingPeace! Pilgrimage for Peace and Global Harmony, Steve Habersetzer, tiny house | 8 Comments

Tiny House Garage Conversion in Seattle

Posted on April 24, 2010 by Michael Janzen

Visual and performance artist Michelle de la Vega turned this Seattle garage into a 250 square foot tiny house following a divorce. Initially she intended to live in the small house and rent out the big house in front to help … Continue reading →