Tiny and Oragami Houses

In today's economy, people are trying to save money any way they can. That means cutting back on eating out, shopping, utilities, and even square footage. I know personally that, besides student loans, my apartment and the associated utilities and upkeep are the most expensive part of my budget each month. It's no surprise then that people are moving towards smaller, cheaper houses.

Weburbanist, an architectural design blog, has been featuring these tiny houses for a while now. While small houses were once a necessity due to the cost and labor of building, today, many people continue the trend for the sake of simplicity or the environment. And the design of the tiny house has adapted at a rapid rate. Many now feature smart space-saving features, leaving no space wasted. Many of these houses are also built with salvaged, natural, and recycled materials.^{Image Credit: Tiny Texas Houses.}

Now, some may have taken the concept of the tiny house a little too far. The world's smallest house (potentially) is one square meter of living space. The house tilts and folds to reveal a bed, desk and lights complete with a widow and lockable door. The plans for the house are free online, and while even the designer said this wouldn't be ideal to stay in for a length of time, it is the perfect urban get away. The world's thinnest home is in Poland and is only 4 feet wide. It was built between two existing structures and is one story off the ground. I'll admit that it looks like an IKEA display, but the white furnishings make the space seem much more spacious than it is. Still, the 4 foot wide house features a bedroom, lounge, bathroom, and office.

^{One square meter house. Image Credit: Weburbanist.com}

The trend for tiny houses is not new in many parts of the world, and many in the US are catching on. In cities such as Seattle, the zoning laws are changing to allow the smaller homes to be built on the same property as larger homes. This allows homeowners to provide affordable housing in a crowded urban area, keep family nearby, and add some regular renter income to their bank accounts.

^{The thinnest house in the world. Image Credit: Weburbanist and Archdaily.com}

I don't know if I'm going to be moving into any of these tiny houses any time soon since I don't think my closet could fit in one square meter, but I do appreciate the efficiency of the design and most of them look pretty cozy. For everyone who agrees with me, there are other solutions to being creative and efficient with furnishings. The D* Table consists of four pieces that can be swung around into various functional settings that can fit most houses, regardless of shape or size. Every inch of the table is functional with drawers or shelves on each face. The D*Table has also translated into a transforming house which will move along a track in order to maximize seasonal weather. While I do see some potential troubles, I think this house is brilliant!

^{Image Credit: weburbanist}

Do you see yourself living in a tiny house? Or in an origami style house?