Tiny Houses

Baluchon's Ostara puts the tiny back into tiny houses

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The Ostara takes its name from a stable that it will be located next to in Toulouse, France
Baluchon
Detail shot inside the Ostara's bathroom
Baluchon
The Ostara's bathroom includes a shower 
Baluchon
The Ostara's bathroom includes a composting toilet
Baluchon
The Ostara's kitchenette includes a sink, fridge, and stove
Baluchon
View towards the Ostara's kitchenette and bathroom
Baluchon
View of most of the Ostara's ground floor
Baluchon
The Ostara's loft has a net to stop fitful sleepers from rolling off at night and doing themselves an injury
Baluchon
The Ostara's loft bedroom includes a double bed
Baluchon
Another shot of the Ostara's loft bedroom
Baluchon
Top-down view of the Ostara
Baluchon
The Ostara includes a wood-burning stove
Baluchon
The Ostara's dining area
Baluchon
The Ostara includes a wood-burning stove in the dining area
Baluchon
The Ostara gets its power from a standard RV-style hookup
Baluchon
The Ostara features sheep's wool insulation in the floor and cotton, linen and hemp insulation in the walls
Baluchon
The Ostara's living room is dominated by a large 1.8 m (6 ft) couch
Baluchon
Lighting for the Ostara is LED throughout
Baluchon
The Ostara takes its name from the stable in which it is located in Toulouse
Baluchon
Access to the Ostara is gained by these small steps
Baluchon
The Ostara is clad in cedar 
Baluchon
The Ostara takes its name from a stable that it will be located next to in Toulouse, France
Baluchon
The Ostara gets its power from a standard RV-style hookup
Baluchon
The Ostara measures 6 m (19 ft)-long
Baluchon
The Ostara's main living area
Baluchon
The Ostara is clad in cedar and topped by a metal roof
Baluchon
The Ostara measures 6 m (19 ft)-long
Baluchon
View gallery - 26 images

We've seen lots of very large tiny houses lately and towable dwellings do seem to be getting steadily larger on the whole, but for those who prefer a tiny house that's, well, tiny, French firm Baluchon's latest model may be of interest. Named the Ostara, it measures just 6 m (19 ft)-long but packs in a surprisingly livable layout.

Baluchon has been pretty busy over the last couple of years, steadily producing pint-sized dwellings like the Essen'Ciel and Escapade. Each one conforms to the same style but looks different enough to keep things interesting.

The Ostara has already been sold and takes its name from a stable that it will be located next to in Toulouse, France. It's based on a double-axle trailer, clad in cedar, and topped by a metal roof.

Visitors enter into the living room, which is dominated by a large 1.8 m (6 ft) couch that doubles as a guest bed (it's not clear whether it's a proper sofa bed or just a big couch). To the right of this lies a small kitchenette split into two sections and including a sink, fridge, shelving and stove.

View of most of the Ostara's ground floor
Baluchon

Continuing past the kitchen and hidden behind a door is a small but functional bathroom which includes a shower and composting toilet. Over on the other side of the tiny home, meanwhile, is a nice little dining area and wood-burning stove.

A storage-integrated staircase leads up to a small sleeping loft which has a net installed to stop fitful sleepers from rolling out at night and doing themselves an injury.

The Ostara gets its power from a standard RV-style hookup and features sheep's wool insulation in the floor, and cotton, linen and hemp insulation in the walls. The lighting is LED throughout.

Unfortunately, Baluchon hasn't revealed how much this one cost to build.

Source: Baluchon (in French)

View gallery - 26 images
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2 comments
Tom Lee Mullins
I like that. It looks comfortable without being cramped; from what I can see of it.
Doug Elliot
It would benefit from a pocket door to the bathroom.