Simple Solar Homesteading

MY TINY HOUSE DESIGN CONCEPT: THE LIVING TINY HOME

This contest was a no brainer as far as which category I was going to choose. I have been planning/researching tiny house idea plans for a while and a design contest was just what I needed to get it going. As far as design, I wanted to do something that was different in terms of a small house layout. I wanted to maximize every ounce of 160 sq feet of living space as I could as well as create multifunctional rooms for living. The structure has a flat roof taking advantage of maximum road height requirements of 10' 6", and it also has a custom made low boy trailer letting occupants gain extra inches in head space.

The first thing I did before I deciding on a design was browse the endless amounts of Pins and photos online, and found inspiration in some of the micro sized apartments you see in New York and overseas. What striked me as the most important elements of good (small) design were: Multifunctional spaces. use of both under and overhead space, and transforming furniture. Since this home would also be designed for myself and my son (as well as family and friends visiting) I wanted this space to feel bright, open and spacious. I also wanted more storage space for clothing, shoes, etc, so I made sure to utilize every ounce of space imaginable. People who don't want to climb ladders but want additional living space for loved ones will appreciate the converting queen sized bed. In addition to spacial needs, the home is very multfunctional, as evidenced in the way of a pull out wardrobe which also serves as a room divider, and first floor couch that transforms into a queen sized bed at night, a closet that also serves as an office and dressing room, and a roof that becomes a mini yard, compete with a low growing garden. Outside walls create a space for a vertical garden which is perfect for growing vining vegetation, and indoors were left for growing herbs. Since the plant life didnt stop at the outdoors, the space is flooded with light from windows reaching almost every inch of the space inside. The home is also animal friendly in that it features a cat observation deck at the rear of the structure which is contained underneath the kitchen appliances, accessible by feline entry through a cat door, and accessible by human entry from the outside. In a space so small, this was necessary in maintaining a fresh home. Litter cleaning duties are kept outdoors which is also a great advantage. Since this contest also required the use of off-grid/low-cost/sustainable living, I incorporated many important features including solar power which is attained by a solar panel on the roof, a solar hot water heater, a rain water collection system, a living roof which vegetates low lying vegetables with vining vegetation of the outside kitchen wall, and more.