Introduction:
Smallest Houses Around the World. Choosing a smaller house reduces energy consumption and building material usage, decreasing your ecological impact. Although challenging, letting go of a spacious lifestyle has its advantages, such as owning fewer possessions and enjoying open skies. Additionally, living in a smaller home promotes intimacy with family members and loved ones.
- The One SQM House
The “One SQM House” created by Van Bo Le-Mentzel, a Berlin-based architect, is likely the world’s tiniest house.
Made of wood, it occupies precisely one square meter of space.
The design is remarkable as it allows the space to transform into a resting area by flipping the structure.
Despite its small size, the lightweight construction is multi-functional, providing areas for eating, sleeping, sitting, and working. The wooden frames are lightweight and portable, making them easy to transport.
Assembling the structure is a breeze with everyday household materials.
- Roll It Homes
Experimental modular homes designed by students at the University of Karlsruhe in Germany are an elegant solution to compact living.
Small homes combine bed, table, exercise cylinder, and kitchen into one space.
The cylindrical structure adapts to changing needs by rolling like a hamster wheel.
The futuristic design offers a bed, lounge chair, table, shower, toilet, and kitchen sink.
The exact size of the “Roll It” home is unknown but appears slightly taller than average.
- 196-Square-Foot House
Divorce is a challenging and emotional process that can leave you feeling hopeless and unmotivated. However, for architectural designer Macy Miller, it was a turning point in her life. When faced with foreclosure on her 2,500-square-foot home after her divorce, she took the opportunity to build a new, 196-square-foot house, which she now shares with her partner, newborn baby, and Great Dane. Despite only costing $11,400 to construct, the small home has proven to be a valuable and fulfilling living space for Miller and her family.
- House On Wheels
Several years ago, a young couple felt unfulfilled by their jobs and dreamed of becoming travel journalists. They took a leap of faith and quit their jobs to pursue their aspirations. To make their travel dream a reality, they constructed a small house on wheels and left their regular-sized home behind to hit the road. Although they remain uncertain about their post-travel plans, they hope to continue their journey indefinitely if it does not result in significant financial losses.
- MuMA Hut
Constructed by Romanian volunteers, this 15 sqm household has the distinction of being the world’s smallest. To revitalize traditional and vernacular materials, the project utilized locally-sourced materials. It is situated in an orchard within the old Village in Armenia in Romania, offering inhabitants a unique outdoor living experience from within the cottage’s confines. The idea for the house was born from Danu’s vision of building a treehouse amidst the wilderness, which was then brought to life with the assistance of architect Miodrag Stoianov, who supported the WWF’s initiative in the area. The cottage is an effort to construct a dwelling that integrates with natural landscapes and promotes environmental awareness.
- Twelve Cubed Mini Home
Twelve Cubed, a Canadian-based company out of British Columbia, offers tiny homes in 10- and 12-square-foot models. These homes boast a modern oven combo, microwave, dishwasher, bedroom, bathroom, and closet, all within a compact space. Ample natural light streams through the large doors and windows, adding to the home’s allure.
The company’s objective is to promote sustainable living by providing individuals with a simple and environmentally conscious housing option. However, the sleek and attractive design of these tiny homes is tempting in its own right.
- The Flatiron Building
Located in downtown Portland, this building resembles the iconic shape of New York City’s Flatiron building.
The builders constructed the smallest commercial building on the West Coast in 1916, which occupies less than one acre of land. The National Register of Historic Places now protects it despite its diminutive size, and it continues to operate as a commercial building.
The building’s caretakers ensure it receives a fresh coat of paint and touch-up every few years, maintaining its pristine appearance since its construction. Preserving and maintaining this historic building is crucial to ensure that future generations can appreciate and understand the cultural and historical significance of the area.
- The Quay House in Britain
The Quay House, located in Conway, holds the distinction of being the smallest house in Great Britain, a record recognized by the Guinness World Book of Records. Dating back to the 16th century, this house has stood the test of time.
People lived in it until the 19th century when they deemed it unsuitable for proper habitation. The last occupant of the house was a fisherman who passed it down to his descendants, who continue to look after it today.
Its floor area is only 10 by 6ft, making it too small to live in, but it has become a major tourist attraction.
However, the caretakers do not allow visitors on the unstable upper floor to ensure their safety.
- The Keret House
People quickly repurpose available spaces in central Warsaw due to limited space.
Vertical units are particularly prominent in the city’s real estate scene. However, the Keret House stands out for its innovative use of its small space. Despite standing over 30 feet tall, its width is only four feet at its widest point, earning it a spot on our list.
Despite its narrow design preventing some features from being incorporated, it manages to include a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen.
- The Gap House
The Gap House is a prime example of sustainable architecture in an urban setting, situated within a conservation area in the trendy Bayswater neighborhood.
It still manages to feature 185m2 of living space despite being nestled in a mere 23.3 meters gap between two buildings.
Designed by architect Pitman Tozer, the building incorporates eco-friendly technologies such as maximum insulation, rainwater harvesting, and passive solar gain. As a result, its energy bills are around 30% lower than other houses with a similar floor space. Despite its small footprint, the house boasts 4 bedrooms, a central staircase, a rear courtyard, and a sleek appearance.
Conclusion:
These houses exemplify the notion that space is a luxury that many homeowners are willing to forego. They also present a possible and potentially sustainable solution to the issue of overpopulation in the near future. There is a growing population of tiny home dwellers who have completely rejected the idea of large homes.
Small homes, whether they provide an escape from modern excess or offer full-time living accommodations, certainly provoke thought.
