For months now I’ve been totally obsessed with the idea of living in a tiny house. Not just small, but tiny. Like under 100 square feet tiny. This affliction is not new. I’ve been falling in and out of love with travel trailers and other mobile hermitages for years now. But something about a tiny home, not just a weekend at the campground, has me inspired to re-examine what I really need to live a happy, fulfilled life.
My infatuation with tiny houses started innocently enough. Several years ago I visited Dee Williams’ little house that was temporarily moored in the parking lot of The ReBuilding Center. The tour of the home’s 84 square feet didn’t take long, but it left a lasting impression. I really appreciated that Dee built the home herself and her pride of craftsmanship was evident throughout. I was fascinated that someone could whittle their belongings and needs down to fit in such a small space, but I didn’t realize then that this tiny house was part of a much bigger movement. [I am skipping the details of Dee's story because you can hear them for yourself this Thursday at ReThink or through a quick search of ye olde Web.]
A notable figure in the tiny house movement is Jay Schafer of Tumbleweed Tiny House Company. Dee’s house is based on one of his plans, but the company offers several other models, some as large as, gulp, 130 square feet. There are also plans for larger homes, but all less than 900 square feet, which is tiny compared to today’s average home size of 2400 square feet. Jay offers classes and detailed schematics on how to build these units or complete homes that are ready for occupancy.
On the local front, I’ve started to see a few builders and developers building small within our sometimes restrictive zoning and building code. Eli Spevak of Orange Splot Cohousing Development recently constructed two 12′x14′ accessory structures on a single family lot with an existing (and also small) home. Known as the Garden Cottages at Ruth’s House, these two homes feature a full bathroom (with a clever sink/toilet unit to save space and water), a sleeping loft, a small area for food storage and prep (not quite a full kitchen) and a generous deck that extends the living space outdoors. Since visiting these cottages, I look at all the opportunities throughout the city to add a unit or two to standard lots. Imagine how many people we could house in an affordable way if only one in fifty households added an accessory structure! [Note I did not say "accessory dwelling unit" because that triggers a whole new set of codes and restrictions that are difficult and expensive to navigate.]
Another example of “Little House in the, ahem, City” are the sweetly-named “Tupelo and Sassafras” that brighten up a street in the N. Mississippi Historic District. Builders Jeff and Brad unleashed some serious creativity on these 364 square foot homes. From the metal siding made from flattened tomato sauce cans to the sliding patio doors that completely seal up the bathroom and shower, every detail in these homes is as practical as they are, innovative, colorful and inspiring. If you end up finding these homes, make sure to heed the sign out front and respect the occupant’s privacy by gawking at their beauty only from the sidewalk.
For me the tiny/small house movement is about clarity. The clarity to know that we don’t require much to shelter ourselves in a dignified way. And that we don’t need rooms full of belongings to belong. And that we would do a lot better for our planet if we didn’t have to heat, cool, clean and maintain all that extra square footage that isn’t truly necessary. You’re probably wondering when I am moving into a tiny house of my own. I have admit that at this moment in my life it’s not in my cards. However, I imagine that one day I might just find myself living in an Epu or Tarleton, and for now that’s enough to keep my imagination, and dream, alive.
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