Architecture

Parking space-sized micro-house is made for city life

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Architect Marco Casagrade imagines the Tikku serving as office, shop, workshop, hotel-room, and more
Jenni Gaestgivar/Iltalehti
Architect Marco Casagrande has designed an interesting little solar-powered micro-house that can fit into a parking space
Jenni Gaestgivar/Iltalehti
The micro house is called Tikku (which translates as Stick) and was recently installed during Helsinki Design Week 2017
Jenni Gaestgivar/Iltalehti
The Tikku has a total floorspace of 37.5 sq m (403 sq ft)
Jenni Gaestgivar/Iltalehti
The Tikku's interior is split between an office area, sleeping area and a small winter garden/on the top floor
Jenni Gaestgivar/Iltalehti
The Tikku comprises three floors
Jenni Gaestgivar/Iltalehti
The Tikku can be erected on a site overnight
Jenni Gaestgivar/Iltalehti
The Tikku has a footprint of just 2.5 x 5 m (8.2 x 16.4 ft)
Jenni Gaestgivar/Iltalehti
The Tikku's electricity comes from solar power
Jenni Gaestgivar/Iltalehti
The Tikku's uppermost floor
Jenni Gaestgivar/Iltalehti
The house is called Tikku (which translates as Stick) and was recently installed during Helsinki Design Week 2017
Jenni Gaestgivar/Iltalehti
The Tikku has a total floorspace of 37.5 sq m (403 sq ft)
Jenni Gaestgivar/Iltalehti
The Tikku's interior is split between an office area, sleeping area and a small winter garden/greenhouse on the top floor
Jenni Gaestgivar/Iltalehti
The Tikku can be erected on a site overnight
Jenni Gaestgivar/Iltalehti
The Tikku's exterior sports an emergency exterior ladder
Jenni Gaestgivar/Iltalehti
Architect Marco Casagrade imagines the Tikku serving as office, shop, workshop, hotel-room, and more
Jenni Gaestgivar/Iltalehti
The Tikku fits into a parking space
Jenni Gaestgivar/Iltalehti
The Tikku model pictured is the first prototype
Jenni Gaestgivar/Iltalehti
Casagrade imagines the Tikku serving as office, shop, workshop, hotel-room, and more
Jenni Gaestgivar/Iltalehti
View gallery - 18 images

With space at a serious premium in many cities, some think that downsizing may be the answer to housing growing populations. Few homes come much smaller than the Tikku (which is Finnish for Stick), by architect Marco Casagrande. It has a footprint of just 2.5 x 5 m (8.2 x 16.4 ft), making it roughly the size of a standard car parking space.

The Tikku was recently built for Helsinki Design Week 2017 and has a total floorspace of 37.5 sq m (403 sq ft), split over three floors. The prototype model shown is divided into a work area on the first floor, a bedroom upstairs, and a small greenhouse/living space on the top floor.

It includes a dry toilet and electricity comes from solar power, but there's no running water or kitchen. The idea is that thanks to its location in a city, the occupant should have easy access water and food and whatever else they need.

However, Casagrande has bigger plans for the Tikku and envisions it also serving as an office, shop, workshop, hotel, and more, swapping out the interior and amenities to suit. He's already started selling units and the starting price for a basic model comes in at €35,000 (US$41,500), not including transportation costs (nor of course some land to put it on).

Casagrade imagines the Tikku serving as office, shop, workshop, hotel-room, and more
Jenni Gaestgivar/Iltalehti

Casagrande reports that it can be built within a night and that its CLT (cross-laminated timber) construction also means that no insulation is required, even during a Finnish winter.

"CLT is five times lighter that reinforced concrete," says Casagrande. "With normal streets Tikku does not require any foundation, it will just simply stand on the street. There is a sand-box in bottom balancing the building. 10 cm [4 in] CLT is plenty for the structure and 20 cm [8 in] CLT is sufficient even for cold winters. No added insulation is needed."

The Tikku isn't the first parking space-sized home we've seen but seems a bit more practical than the SCADpad, even if it isn't for everyone.

Source: Casagrande Laboratory

View gallery - 18 images
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10 comments
kwalispecial
A tiny house designed by a guy named "Casagrande"?! You couldn't make this stuff up.
shopoutlet
Would be great on a small lot. The Green House top floor would be good in the winter. Unless the windows open would be very hot in the summer sun.
flyerfly
It looks good but I don't think it would last long in a cold wet environment. The exterior wood looks like it would get wet a lot and the roof just drips down the walls. It does not look like it even has flashing to keep the water from running right into the end grain on the panels.
In the winter the condensation in the top floor would be a real issue.
clay
The first thing that came to mind: Wow, lots of space in such a compact package, WELL DONE..
The second thing that came to mind:
Huh, I wonder how top heavy that thing is... I suggest anchoring it to the ground.
A strong wind or an excited pair of footballers could knock it over.
Victor-in-A2
Not really habitable without bathroom or kitchen- are people expected to bring water in buckets or shower at the Y? Spiral stairs are effective for space saving 16 ft sq ft. per floor, if each level had a serviceable exterior door for larger belongings to be moved in/out this would suffice. It would be difficult to heat with poor surface to space ratio and a roof of glass. How is it heated anyway? Solar power too, how many watts during the day time?
Fairly Reasoner
Once assembled in a group, should make for a handsome ghetto.
IvanWashington
no bathing facilities/running H2O? not suitable for 24 hour habitation, IMHO. why have a bedroom in it then?
S Michael
A litle house for "little" people, while the wealthy buy multiple lots, tear down the house and make a large house for the "big" people. Why are we seeing so many articles about small or tiny houses "for the people"?
AngryPenguin
@Clay
Dominoes.
RobertEhresman
Those trips to the parking meter are going to get very tiresome....