Inhabitat » TOP 5 TINIEST PREFAB HOMES

June 22, 2007

TOP 5 TINIEST PREFAB HOMES

by Emily Pilloton

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As prefab housing takes hold as a viable, sustainable, contemporary building technique, one of the lessons we are learning is that bigger does not necessarily equal better. In fact, when is comes to simplifying your life and trying to tread lightly on the planet, we would argue that smaller is most certainly better. Some of our favorite prefabs here at Inhabitat have been those with the least amount of square footage. In an era of shoddily-built cookie-cutter McMansions, it’s nice to see a growing trend toward living small and efficiently, in a well built compact home. Read on for our Top 5 Tiniest Prefab Homes…

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1. WEEHOUSE
At just $125 per square foot, the WeeHouse is a single module that can be plopped on just about any site, including a rooftop. The basic unit is framed with steel and wood, and comes with tongue-and-groove bamboo flooring, and Ikea cabinetry, kitchens and sinks. Despite what the name implies, don’t let it size fool you- this is one awesome modern residence.

Tiny Tumbleweed House, Jay Shafer, top 5 prefab, prefab house, small prefab, tiny prefab, tiny home, Prefab Housing, Prefab Friday, Prefab

2. TINY TUMBLEWEED HOUSE
Founded on his personal philosophy and desire for low-impact living, Jay Shafer’s Tiny Tumbleweed House has represents what he calls “subtractive design,” rejecting typical spatial assumptions and opting for clarity through conscientious use of space. This tiny house ranges from 40-500 square feet and accommodates a whole slew of needs from home office to vacation home or full-time residence. They’re also road-ready for the ultimate nomadic portability.

3. SUSTAIN MINI HOME
The Sustain MiniHome is quite the compact green machine, packing a ton of green materials and technologies into a small but very livable space. No vinyl, formaldehyde, toxic adhesives or finishes, all water-based or plant oil-based finishes, FSC certification, natural ventilation… the list goes on and on. Not to mention, it’s portable, modern, and cutely compact!

Loftcube, Werner Aisslinger, Rooftop Prefabs, LoftCube, LoftCube house, rooftop housing, top 5 prefab, prefab house, small prefab, tiny prefab, tiny home, Prefab Housing, Prefab Friday, Prefab

4. LOFTCUBE
Not only is the LoftCube tiny, it can be strategically plopped on a rooftop so as to not consume any additional footprint. Especially in urban environments where there’s nowhere to go but up, LoftCube provides a small but clever solution to your housing needs. Built by Werner Aisslinger, LoftCube also boasts an affordable pricetag at just $55,000, and can be easily transported to your next rooftop location via helicopter.

MicroCompact Home, Prefab top 5 tiny homes, prefab house, small housing, Prefab Housing, Prefab Friday, Prefab, top 5 prefab

5. MICROCOMPACT HOME
This tiny residential cube packs a highly-functional punch, providing a double bed, bathroom, lobby, dining space for 4-5 people, and state-of-the-art entertainment technology, all for just 50,000 Euros. And size-wise, it measures in at a tiny 2.65 m cubed (roughly 77 sq ft), but incorporates everything a person needs in a home in its super compact design.

35 Responses to “TOP 5 TINIEST PREFAB HOMES”

Jac Says:

June 22nd, 2007 at 8:13 am

Tiny Tumbleweed House, Sustain Mini Home and Microcompact Home are my favourites. The first is just the country cottage straight out of fairytales, The second truly green. The last for its modern, minimalist take. Now if only i can buy one each as holiday homes…in Marseille, Scotland and San Francisco…*dreams on*

Eric Says:

June 22nd, 2007 at 8:29 am

This is a timely post given the announcement of the 4000sqft monster model home this week by Living Homes and Wired magazine!

Craig Says:

June 22nd, 2007 at 8:52 am

The manufacturers of the MiniHome, Northlander Industries, also make a contemporary park model trailer, a la Christopher Deam’s/Breckenridge’s Glassic Flat. Check out the Urbana @ http://www.northlanderindustries.com/

Unfortunately the PDF available at that site is the only coverage I’ve seen of it even though it looks like it’s a fine competitor to the Glassic Flat. I have no idea, though, if it would be legal for import into the US since it’s larger than US park model trailers.

djfred Says:

June 22nd, 2007 at 9:02 pm

According to the website US pricing is $111,000 for the LC39, $155,000 for the LC55, $136,000 & $180,000 for the LC39 & LC55 with bathroom & kitchen. Too bad. If it was really $55,000 for any of them, I’d be placing my order. As it stands now, I feel a weeHouse in my future. Thanks for the post, Emily. I don’t know why but I’m fascinated by small and modular.
Craig -thanks for the link. It looks interesting. Last I heard of the Glassic Flat, it still wasn’t being manufactured and Breckenridge was considering swapping the cedar siding for vinyl. Ugh.

djfred Says:

June 22nd, 2007 at 9:04 pm

Oops, that was according to the LoftCube website.

Bondwalker Says:

June 23rd, 2007 at 3:34 am

Brilliant!

donald Says:

June 23rd, 2007 at 4:11 am

Wow, nice houses. Wish i could afford one. I’m stuck building a website to ask for donations so i could buy a house.

Cosmin Chiru Says:

June 23rd, 2007 at 5:55 am

They look pretty nice.

Walt Barrett Says:

June 23rd, 2007 at 7:36 am

I’m for these tiny homes100%, and would put up an assembly shop to build them in a heartbeat. My problem here in Rhode Island is twofold.
1. Land prices and availability are both out of sight in RI. People should be allowed to build a second micro home on their property to be used as a rental unit. We have a severe shortage of reasonably priced rental units here. We are also restricted to using giant building lot sizes.
2. The zoning laws would have to be amended. Building officials here do not take too kindly to technology, or major style changes.
I believe that eventually the local and Federal governments (The number one enemy of small business) will have to make some responsible moves to enable the construction of these great little homes. I have considered starting an operation in the South Western USA, but that is an inconvenient answer as the rest of our business is centered here on the East Coast. We are still looking hard at the entire industry, and how we could fit in. Our designs include a totally off the grid model as we currently sell solar, wind, and hydro products.
Another thought would be to build a portable prefab assembly shop that could be temporarily erected on a site where a large number of these units were going to be erected. There are many such pipe and fabric buildings on the market.
Interestingly enough, I was brought up in a 700 sq ft home. Having been born in 1933 in the middle of a very bad depression. Our small home was the answer to our surviving the depression without freezing to death, and the vegetable garden didn’t hurt either.
I currently live in a super insulated home and in the hot summer it stay 20 degrees F cooler that the outside ambient with no air-conditioning in the home. The windows are also thermo pane double-glazed.
As you can see, we are giving the micro home business some serious thought.
Walt Barrett
President
http://www.chinadepot.com
The next billionaires will be green!

Cris Dias Says:

June 23rd, 2007 at 8:56 am

I think this type of housing is the future, but not for cities, for rural deserted areas. Cheap, comfortable, green housing is a very good way to promote eco-tourism in some protected areas with minimal environmental impact.

Mazlin Ghazali Says:

June 23rd, 2007 at 9:18 am

These houses are just fabulous. I’m an architect in Malaysia with a particular interest in quality affordable homes, and this article and the designs are inspirational.

irelynn Says:

June 23rd, 2007 at 9:51 am

awesome….wish they were available in Canada…or are they?

Pavel Upilev Says:

June 23rd, 2007 at 6:57 pm

It’s house like prison’s room in my country (Russia), but inside life 20 people with beds on the floor, toilet, bath etc. In my country this toilet will be cost approximately 200 us dollar, my be less, like little turkish shop for sale gaz woter. I don’t undestand, house materials cost 200 usd+LCD TV 1000 usd+2 bed 200 usd+microvawe 30 usd+kettle 5 usd+toilet&bath 100 usd = 1650 usd (approximateli)=1000 euro. 50 000 euro - 1000 euro = good cost. And in any non Europen country this house without metallic door and metallic window gate will be destroyd drunker peoples after 30 min witout guard security. Really :)

Dan Says:

June 23rd, 2007 at 8:19 pm

Nice idea, but the designs are not ideal for many parts of the world. Perhaps the addition of a seasonally adjustable canopy would help? They need to integrate more completely into the surrounding environment and it’s energy fluxes. They look fine in isolation, but how well would they work in a high population density scenario where there are additional problems such as privacy and noise pollution?

Fergus Says:

June 24th, 2007 at 12:13 pm

Loftcube transported by helicopter? For all your roof-hopping needs I think :)

Sandy Says:

June 24th, 2007 at 1:22 pm

In my part of the world, our answer to wee housing is the RV or recreational vehicle which can be bought used much cheaper than $10.000 or five thousand Euros and can be driven to a new location as needed as most people I know can’t afford the typical American home. These little homes are far too rich for my budget!

Nicholas DL Says:

June 24th, 2007 at 4:40 pm

Only socialist libs would consider these Ikea privies the ultimate living; I for one enjoy my life in a 4,700 sq ft home.

Matt Hawthorn Says:

June 24th, 2007 at 5:53 pm

Check out the Festival of Extreme Building in Birmingham, UK. I’m a commissioned artist there.
I stayed in the MIcro Compact House last night, it was an interesting experience a little disorientating because it was in the middle of the city, but the space is set up very well making dual use of every cube inch.
50,000euros is a bit of a bargain, I haven;t got it though.
Have look at http://www.festival-xtremebuilding.org.uk
cheers Matt

Walt Barrett Says:

June 25th, 2007 at 7:59 am

I have noticed that several people have commented about the cost of the micro homes, and I would like to comment that as an experiment we have been gathering used and surplus materials for free. We find that in our area there are literally container loads of practically new sheets of plywood and many other types of construction materials going to the landfills on a daily basis. Also, there are many people and contractors trying to get rid of used tempered glass sliding doors and windows that will go to the landfills. My calculations indicate that a
16′ long X 8′ high x 10′ wide exterior shell can be built for practically zero dollars using these recycled materials. The worst-case scenario is that you might have to spend $300.00 for additional materials to finish a shell. The recycled sliding glass doors will save a fortune in siding etc. That leaves a great deal of money for someone to do a custom interior design for his or her own particular requirements.
Another thing that bothers me about the published costs of these tiny homes is that you can purchase a deluxe larger size aluminum camping trailer for two thirds ($37,000.00) or less of the published cost of many of these homes at $50,000.00 or higher. There is even one camping trailer advertised in Germany for only $6000.00 and two people can easily live in it. What makes a micro home cost, in this case nearly ten times the cost of a metal camping trailer that is even larger? Personally, I think a little more research into the costs is needed by the consumers. These tiny homes can be massed produced on a low dollar basis, and a business can still make a fair profit doing it.
We also need more research into newer materials that have hit the market recently. There is a honeycomb material that is currently being used in the construction of truck cargo compartment bodies. It will give you an exterior and interior wall all in one unit. The only sacrifice is that the wiring would have to be exterior mounted on the walls and ceilings. There are several attractive products for that purpose on the market now. Low voltage LED lighting can also be used for a great savings in power.
Of course, the problem of land costs remains the greatest problem in our area. We have to get a handle on that. I believe that eventually the powers that be will have to make changes in how the available space in neighborhoods will be used to relieve the pressure in the housing market.
http://thenextbillionaireswillbegreen.blogspot.com/

Monica Larson Says:

June 25th, 2007 at 12:24 pm

Looking at the website of the Lofthouse, I can’t help but think that it is primarily a concept design and not a pratical one. For example,
Cool shower head, but you just know it is gonna spray all over the place when the water hits the leaves from that height.
How does the stove vent? (Or does my fab space get covered with cooking grime in about 2 months?)
Where do I hang my winter coat? Or my cocktail dresses for that matter? With a rooftop view of New York I’ll be giving lots of parties…

Rob Says:

June 27th, 2007 at 5:39 pm

Reminds me of le Courbusier’s cabanon built back in the 50s:
http://www.designboom.com/snapshots/milan06/le_cor.html

Andrew Says:

June 28th, 2007 at 8:36 pm

Here’s another example, the ‘MiniHome’ now on display on the Toronto waterfront. It’s designed as compact, mobile (i.e. doesn’t require a foundation), and energy self-sufficient. It would be perfect for getting a home on land without hyrdo service. The guy who designed it spent 10 years living in homes like this and refining the design.

http://www.sustain.ca/wpblog/

salowski Says:

July 5th, 2007 at 9:01 am

loftcube..what about the toilet?? McDonald across the street??

Byron Says:

July 7th, 2007 at 1:07 pm

My solution( ok, divorce helped me come to conclusion) was to sell my 3300 sf bungalow here in Louisville(260k price range) and buy a $21,000 fixer upper over the river in New Albany. 700 sf cape cod with working class (mostly retired ) neighbors. I also have 700 sf in basment and approx 500 sf under the roof rafters. Since I’ll have my kids every other weekend,I’ll finish the upstairs as a beanbag, computer, library lounge space. Considering how small the house looks and I wanted to really scale back, this total of 1900 s.f. is almost palatial compared to my other experiments in tiny houses. Best part is it’s paid for and it lies in an already defined neighborhood in the city. With all the spare time i’ll have not trying to pay for everyone else’s lifestyle(sorry ladies) I’ll take long breaks up in the woods with my tinier home(my tent!).

John biggs Says:

July 17th, 2007 at 4:24 am

I like the idea of the micro homes from a design perspective…some of them look really cool, but like some of the others have said… Land cost is a big problem…….and also the need for more density. Having a single house sit on a piece of land may not be the most sustainable approach to land use. On the other hand, from a design perspective, if these modular homes could just be put together, then we might end up with a land of Moshie Saftie (sp?) clusters. In Romania, the solution may not be micro-houses, but instead finding a solution for all of the existing concrete ex-communist blocks…….if the design effort for these micro-houses could be put into an effective solution for existing concrete-frame housing blocks, then there might be some interseting outcomes.

Tonia Says:

August 2nd, 2007 at 2:05 pm

Anyone know of any models/companies that are a little larger so they can accommodate a wheelchair plus special needs equipment? Thanks for any information listed.

Bobby Says:

September 10th, 2007 at 1:14 am

Question: Why would I pay these OUTRAGEOUS prices for so few square feet when I can buy a 1000 square foot prefab, commonly called a “double-wide”, but those in the industry call them “modular homes”, for less than $40,000 U.S. dollars? And that price includes DELIVERY, SET UP, and installing a septic system, hooking up the water and power, and central heat and air! Thanks, but no thanks. I’d rather build my own, (again).

Dave Says:

November 17th, 2007 at 3:33 pm

I agree that the prices listed for these tiny homes are ridiculous. Any honest contractor in the Midwest could put these things together for MUCH less. After all, the design is not the least bit complex; they are basically upgraded yard barns. As someone who is familiar with construction (I remodel homes for wheelchair-accessibility), I have not been particularly impressed with the microhouses I’ve seen on the Internet, especially at the cost. In Indiana, you can buy used modular homes (around 1500 square feet) in fair condition for around $10,000. Or just have a garage built and add anything else you want…

bradley Says:

November 17th, 2007 at 10:10 pm

i like the small houses. prices are kind of steep. as for affordable land, why not make them stackable and share the land?

Kate Says:

December 6th, 2007 at 11:46 am

I love the “idea” of the tiny home, and would be perfectly comfortable in about 200 sq ft of living space……..but I think I would build my own……..the prices for these tiny homes is outrageous! They come on wheels……..why not buy a used RV (that would be recycling) for 1/4 or less of what they want for one of these tiny houses. To be energy efficient in colder climates, these tiny houses on wheels would have to have skirting and insulation around the bases (the same thing can be done to a camper or 5th wheel Rv)
I think hay bale construction of a tiny house with salavaged materials would be WAY cheaper than purchasing one of these homes.
I’m all about conservation, but not too hot for exploitation (which is what it appears to be by the manufacturers preying on eco-conscious yuppies)

Gail Says:

January 5th, 2008 at 11:05 pm

I agree with Kate, Bobby, and the others who say that the prices for these tiny houses are outrageous. Wow! Plus most of them are ugly, and they don’t have pitched roofs for those of us who live in snow country. And anyone who has seen a tornado will agree that they have to have a basement. Amen especially to that! (Where do I store my potatoes?)

julie Says:

January 8th, 2008 at 8:00 pm

I love them would anyone in San Antonio be willing to build a couple of them.

William Kastrinos Says:

January 14th, 2008 at 12:43 pm

Sharon and I have left the “large house construction industry”, and are manufacturing a cute 120 square foot rustic cabin. For those of you who are handy, we will be offering a kit that probably could be assembled in a weekend, starting at $6,500. Typical models, depending on options, will run in the $15,000 to $28,000 price range. We are in Southern California, drop us an email and chat. bkastrinos@gmail.com

Zeichman Says:

February 25th, 2008 at 10:58 pm

With all due respect to the above designs, the problem that I see is that each structure requires that the occupant conform to its design, including its flaws. Good architecture is just the opposite. The house plan hould be designed to meet the needs of the individual and their unique lifestyle. It is nearly impossible to mass produce a single floor plan that will work for everone. Almost everyone comments about how much they want to embrace the tiny home movement but not one of these plans will fit their needs exactly. I think the best approach is to design a community with each tiny home customized to suit the needs of the individual homeowner. I invite you to check out the work of Ross Chapin, Architect. I think it may change your perspective on the tiny home movement.