Living Large in a Tiny House
Project overview
This creative endeavor was a design submission to an international competition, namely Tiny House 2022. The interior footprint could not exceed 300 square feet. Among other program requirements, sustainability, durability, and energy-efficiency were important factors.
Sustainability, in this example, stems from the standpoint of long-term gains for occupants and the building—for instance, durable materials, climate control, and creature comforts, among others.
In this temperate climate, cold winters last for months. Solar harvesting is often an overlooked solution. Since stone masonry is an ideal material to store solar radiation, a more permanent, sustainable solution seems justifiable.
One particular idea is the use of the heat sink effect within a “stacked” building. During daytime, solar radiation passes through glass whereby heating interior stone masonry. During evening, the heat is released to the building’s interior and rises up into the sleeping area.
In order to have a visceral connection to the land (while also reducing construction cost), a consideration would be to use the site's native sandstone for the interior masonry walls.
For flexible arrangements in the living area, a fold-down desk, a retractable in-floor TV cabinet, and use of mobile, lightweight furniture adapts the room for multiple functions. This design is not compliant with building code but it does lend itself to conveying architectural ideas while it informs us that small doesn't necessarily need to appear too simplistic, spartan, or small-for-small's-sake.
In this temperate climate, cold winters last for months. Solar harvesting is often an overlooked solution. Since stone masonry is an ideal material to store solar radiation, a more permanent, sustainable solution seems justifiable.
One particular idea is the use of the heat sink effect within a “stacked” building. During daytime, solar radiation passes through glass whereby heating interior stone masonry. During evening, the heat is released to the building’s interior and rises up into the sleeping area.
In order to have a visceral connection to the land (while also reducing construction cost), a consideration would be to use the site's native sandstone for the interior masonry walls.
For flexible arrangements in the living area, a fold-down desk, a retractable in-floor TV cabinet, and use of mobile, lightweight furniture adapts the room for multiple functions. This design is not compliant with building code but it does lend itself to conveying architectural ideas while it informs us that small doesn't necessarily need to appear too simplistic, spartan, or small-for-small's-sake.
Client
Residential
Location
A rocky hillside somewhere in Wisconsin
Date
