Tiny House

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ubergeeknz

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#147330 16-Jun-2014 14:22

Last night watched an interesting doco on the Tiny house movement (called "Tiny") - it follows a guy who built his own trailer house, about 124 square feet, to live in. It also talked to a few other tiny house owners and designers. (it's on Netflix if anyone's interested).

I kind of get it - very cheap to build, even cheaper to furnish, basically it's about paring life down to the basics. Typically people build the places themselves, so there's also the experience of living in something you made with your own two hands. I think on balance, I'd be happy living in a tiny house. I already kind of do ;)

I was wondering what people here felt about living in a tiny house. Could you do it? Where would you live / what would you do if you had a tiny, somewhat portable house?

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#1066649 16-Jun-2014 14:34

My decadent lifestyle dictates I must have space for the sake of space, just so I can fill it with junk. Sorry dude :(

But I do see the upsides!

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jonb

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#1066651 16-Jun-2014 14:37

A nice interview in the Herald with someone doing this:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11218486

wellygary

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#1066652 16-Jun-2014 14:37

The fact that every one of the "Tiny houses" I have seen in NZ has been built as a Caravan (ie has wheels), is a damning endictment on the planning laws and council beuracracy that has pushed up the cost of housing.

This type of house would not exist in NZ if it was built on a regular foundation ( and was thus liable for building permits, consents and everyother council charge under the sun)

Inphinity

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#1066654 16-Jun-2014 14:38

Sorry, not so keen on living in a cupboard :P

PhantomNVD

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#1066655 16-Jun-2014 14:39

Haha... my wife is currently on about the financial benefits of doing this. we looking to move to a 2 acre plot we bought recently, and build on it (once our current house sells) and she's trying to convince me that our family of 4 (2 boys age 3 and 5) would do better a 60 foot 'Tiny house' so we wouldn't have a morgage and could go on holidays overseas twice a year (I'm 'just' a school teacher)

I got into all sorts of trouble when i literally "Laughed out loud" thinking she was kidding.... though she wasn't (!)

kiwirock

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#1066658 16-Jun-2014 14:40

I like the one's that have a loft or small second story for the bedroom, they'er a good space saver idea.

I've been following the Tiny House stuff for a few years now. They had an article on the news or something here only a few months back up north.

I'd prefer to just buy a motorhome or caravan and a few sections (which is my current plan) than to buy a house. I think it's a safer way to live if you can make your home portable. If there's a flood, move your home. If there's an earthquake, go live somewhere else.

People are so wrapped in in western culture now no one knows what a bit of extra freedom in their life is all about. When I say that, I'm meaning those working more than they want to too service a mortgage that's going to imprison them for a number of years (here's hoping no natural disasters or massive drops in house pricing with a high mortgage - insurance companies and the government aren't that great, ppl in chch are still waiting to get back to where they were).

ubergeeknz

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#1066659 16-Jun-2014 14:41

PhantomNVD: Haha... my wife is currently on about the financial benefits of doing this. we looking to move to a 2 acre plot we bought recently, and build on it (once our current house sells) and she's trying to convince me that our family of 4 (2 boys age 3 and 5) would do better a 60 foot 'Tiny house' so we wouldn't have a morgage and could go on holidays overseas twice a year (I'm 'just' a school teacher)

I got into all sorts of trouble when i literally "Laughed out loud" thinking she was kidding.... though she wasn't (!)

I'm not sure 4 people could physically live in a 60sqft house :P that is very, very small.

beachgeek

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#1066661 16-Jun-2014 14:42

On 3 news last night was a story about a couple living in a 25 sq small movable house as a starting out option. I like the idea of this but more as an modular option. Being able to start off with a small accommodation and then adding more modules as needs arise would be an ideal situation to me. This would make it cheaper to get people into adequate housing.

MikeB4

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#1066662 16-Jun-2014 14:43

With the cost of mortgages and traditional homes prices I can see a day in NZ that we have US style trailer parks

PhantomNVD

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#1066671 16-Jun-2014 14:48

ubergeeknz:
PhantomNVD: Haha... my wife is currently on about the financial benefits of doing this. we looking to move to a 2 acre plot we bought recently, and build on it (once our current house sells) and she's trying to convince me that our family of 4 (2 boys age 3 and 5) would do better a 60 foot 'Tiny house' so we wouldn't have a morgage and could go on holidays overseas twice a year (I'm 'just' a school teacher)

I got into all sorts of trouble when i literally "Laughed out loud" thinking she was kidding.... though she wasn't (!)

I'm not sure 4 people could physically live in a 60sqft house :P that is very, very small.

well... technically the kids are still just 'pint sized' but the fact we're moving out of an 80 sq/meter house due to space is what made me think she'd really flipped her lid when suggesting putting a 60 sq FOOT house (esp on 2 acres of land????)

she's slowly fading on the idea, but seemed really serious to start with...

timmmay

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#1066672 16-Jun-2014 14:49

I just booked a suite in Fiji for my next holiday that's around 750 square feet. I'm not sure I'd be all that keen on living in a tiny house, though I can see advantages I like space and privacy.

PhantomNVD

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#1066673 16-Jun-2014 14:49

beachgeek: On 3 news last night was a story about a couple living in a 25 sq small movable house as a starting out option. I like the idea of this but more as an modular option. Being able to start off with a small accommodation and then adding more modules as needs arise would be an ideal situation to me. This would make it cheaper to get people into adequate housing.

check out "container homes" on google for this 'modular' idea in action :)

http://ecohabitat-pv.blogspot.co.nz/2011/11/4_18.html

kiwirock

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#1066678 16-Jun-2014 14:52

I've seen families of 4 in a 25 foot caravan before. I wouldn't want to do that, that's for sure.

Something like this I could handle: http://www.tinyhousedesign.com/molecule-tiny-homes/. As long as it's on wheels.

Or a boat, I think it'd be more expensive to live on but certainly cheaper to go for a cruise in a sail boat.