10 of the world's best tiny homes

The Tiny House Movement is all about living small, but it’s growing in popularity. These diminutive dwellings provide an affordable alternative for those looking to downsize, embrace minimalism or go off-grid. Small enough to be easily transportable (many are on wheels) or quick and easy enough to construct, they make ideal holiday homes. Best of all, the design community is in on it as well so here are ten of the best tiny homes from around the world.

1. Danish Design, Swedish Locale

“The concept is is simple: you provide the wilderness and we take care of the rest” says Vipp CEO Kasper Egelund. He’s not kidding, everything right down to the towels and toilet brushes are included in The Shelter, which takes glamping to a whole new level as it will set you back well over half a million. This double level, prefabricated steel grid structure is 55 square metres and takes three to five days to install. Interior colours have been deliberately kept dark so as not to disturb the view of nature flooding in through the glazed walls. It’s all about inviting nature in, even at night screens retract on the roof so you can sleep beneath the stars. Although Vipp are industrial designers based in Copenhagen, the display model is in Sweden with their next day trip scheduled on Dec 11.

See more here.

Photos: vipp.com

2. Brisbane Bed Brilliance

Using lots of recycled Australian hardwood from Queensland cottages, this tiny house was built in Brisbane. Greg Thornton, Lara Nobel and Andrew Carter – two graduate architects/apprentice carpenters and a builder – are the brains behind this design. It has 18 metres of floor space and a 3.5 metre ceiling, with the genius being the remote controlled floating bed, which rolls the bedroom and lounge space into one. When the bed is lowered, the back cushions of the lounge become the headboard of the bed, leaving three metres of headroom above, and when retracted it forms the ceiling to the living space.

See more here.

Photos: tinyhousecompany.com.au

3. Fabulous Japanese Pre-fab 

Muji, masters of minimalism, are moving from homewares and into actual homes. The Japanese retailer launched a trio of tiny huts at design festivals in Tokyo last month – the Hut of Cork, Hut of Aluminium and the one pictured, the Hut of Wood. Muji had already moved into this space with the 27 square metre light filled Tree House [link: http://www.muji.net/store/pc/user/ie/kinoie.html] but Naoto Fukasawa’s Hut of Wood is much cosier. It features floor-to-ceiling glass windows, a large traditional Japanese bath, wood-burning stove, kitchenette and simple cot with a price tag around $25,000 once they go on sale in 2017.

See all three huts here.

Photo: muji.com

4. South African Solar Power 

In South Africa, they call them nano-homes. At least, that’s how architect Clara da Cruz Almeida refers to The POD-Idladla. Prefabricated modules are 17 square metres, so can be configured to create larger dwellings. However, the basic Pod comfortably sleeps two on the mezzanine level and downstairs is referred to as a ‘task room’ given that it has multi-functions. There’s also a shower area at the rear, a deck at the front and that pitched roof is so you can maximise your solar power.

Photos: mblife.co.za

5. Brazil 

The surrounding Brazilian Atlantic Forest dwarfs ARCA, making it look small, although it is actually 130 square metres – big for a tiny house although still only half the size of an average Australian home. Designed by Atelier Marko Brajovic, ARCA can comfortably house two couples and their kids and is intended as a recreational and professional creative retreat, so the spaces can adapt for living or workshops or training. The self-supporting shell structure allows minimal impact on the surrounding area and only took a week to construct, which means it can also be easily dismantled and relocated. You know, if they get sick of the Perequé waterfall nearby or something.

Photos: Victor Affaro

6. Modernised Rustic Barn

This Californian couple, who also run design practice Stonorov Workshop, decided their own home should be their first project once they quit their jobs at big architectural firms and went out on their own a few years ago. They turned this 100 year old, 37 square metre double-level barn into a cosy home with modern rustic charm.

Photos: Aya Brackett

7. Washington Waterhaus

From Green Pod Development, based in Washington state, comes The Waterhaus, a prefabricated 41.8 square metre mini home which is all about sustainability, focusing on healthy interiors (you can opt for clay wall finish if you want to avoid fumey paint), natural light and energy efficiency.

Designer Ann Raab also uses movable walls and interior glass to visually enlarge living spaces and the clerestory windows help flood the space with light.

See their other designs here.

Photos: greenpoddevelopment.com

8. Mini Mid-century 

Tucked in the hamlet of Chappaqua, New York and nestled amongst the rock outcroppings and trees is this little bit of mid-century inspired magic. Called Studio Retreat and designed by Workshop/APD, this 27 square metre dwelling has plenty of timber cladding, decking and finishes to integrate into its natural environment and the many windows make the most of the views.

See more here.

Photos: workshopapd.com

9. Floating Maine Mountain Cabin

Maybe the next best thing to owning your own island is a floating home that could double as one? This North Haven couple took a decade to construct their 22 square metre off-the-grid mainland escape. They ferry water across daily for shower and kitchen but collect rainwater for the plants, propane fuels the fridge, stove and hot water while a mix of solar lights and candles are used for illumination. Given the weather in Maine, this is just a summer home although they have been known to fire up the driftwood-fire grill for a picnic on deck on winter days.

See more here.

Photos: mainehomedesign.com

10. Swedish Sauna

The traditional ritual of sauna involves baking together and then nipping out for a quick dip in a cold stream but this converted holiday house for a Swedish family only had a piddly creek on the property so a small pool was built adjacent to the sauna. Called The Mill House, and designed by Swedish architect Gert Wingardhs, it has a sauna and related spaces for undressing, washing and relaxing plus kitchen and sleeping quarters all set in the lush scenery.

See more here.

Photos: James Silverman