Dogtrot Friggebod
One of my regular readers sent me his small house dream. David is a ex-Aussie living in Sweden and was inspired by a combination of my dogtrot tiny house concept and a friggebod. In Sweden you can generally build a friggebod (small habitable adjunct building) without permits if it is smaller than 15 square meters and no taller than 3 meters. Using Google SketchUp he was able to brainstorm different variations quickly. Pictured here is David’s most recent iteration.
Modesthouse Mini
This very modern and green house was designed by architect Jeffrey McKean. It’s built with lots of high-performance insulated glass, structural insulated panels (SIPS), and FSC certified structural framing. It features a rain water collection system, ground source heat pump, green roof, and photovoltaic panels.
Many of the components are prefabricated off-site making on-site assembly faster and should reduce the impact on the building site. The extreme use of glass is ideal for a location with 360-degree view. There are two sizes available, pictured here is the smaller of the two. At 850 square feet this house is not tiny, but it’s definitely small and appears to be a very simple two bedroom house with centralized plumbing and space to entertain guests.
How-To Create A Living Roof
A reader named Mark passed this onto me the other day. It’s a how-to article on setting up a shed roof for growing plants. This seems like an excellent idea for those with limited space and a shed or tiny house. I’ve always been a little skeptical about anything on a roof except roofing material because I grew up in a house with a partially flat roof and leaks. Adding a living roof seems like a good way to invite trouble.
But I must say the idea is definitely worth some research and consideration because of the numerous benefits of a rooftop garden.
- Adds home insulation
- Provides food if you grow edibles
- Attracts wildlife like birds
- Blocks exterior noise
- Utilizes rain water that would otherwise run off
Of course there are some important considerations like can the existing structure support the additional weight of the living roof and the work that’s needed for waterproofing and drainage. But if the right circumstances are in place a living roof might be a great addition to any shed or tiny house. Visit mirror.co.uk for the complete article. Photo credit mirror.co.uk.
