Robert Walther
This 'off the grid' claim seems somewhat pointless. As for 'blending in' with the landscape', it would fit in perfectly in as a scrap yard waste bin. 12 weeks construction? What, one guy tinkering in the evening? It looks like a trailer, but costs the same as about three of such. Hopefully the structure is better than it looks, but it still looks like an uglier than usual recycled container.
Michael Flower
Price is a little on the steep side for what is essentially two standard Cargo Containers welded together. Unless all Self-Contained Power Supply System is included?
Dax Wagner
Couldn't agree more, Robert. And at US$243/square foot, what's the point?
ccdog
Seems a little goofy this trend of "small" homes that are "green", the greenest thing they could do is recycle one of the many existing trailers that are available. Maybe upgrade the insulation and update the mechanical systems to be more efficient. But the hipster idea of build a shed and call it a home, or build a super expensive trailer is caused by them not getting out to the real world for a bit before they need to express themselves. Who funds this junk?
Kyle McHattie
Sorry but this builder is so far behind the times and this article is completely out dated. Tiny homes, including those made from containers, have been around for years and they emphasize living simpler. This home could have been made for 1/10 the price listed. Ridiculous.
aajay
I agree with all of the above. What's the point in making a expensive tiny house? I would think the stand alone system which would probably have a genset backup and ample battery storage could easily eat up 50k. I can't see the structure costing more than 100k. It could be built onsite quicker with a pre-fab steel frame.
Completely missed the mark and a decade behind where micro architecture is today.
johanschaller
Robert, if you were familiar with the region this house is in, you'd understand that it fits perfectly with its environment. The aesthetic is similar to shearing sheds, barns and farm outbuildings.
I'm sure if you wanted it to look like a spaceship that had just landed in a paddock, Modscape could probably do that for you as well.
Rockxman
Hey everyone. Thanks for all the negativity. I suppose everyone posting lives in Australia and knows what things cost. I guess every single person on the planet knows about Tiny Homes, small spaces, and the feasibility off off-grid living. AND, it is so important that your tastes and sense of style is more important than anyone else. I am happy to see some free publicity promoting sustainable lifestyles. Perhaps if more people were building small, prices would decrease as well. This is not a do-it-yourselfer build by amateurs, without building code standards and inspectors. FYI, there is a concept called economies of scale, which will always impact construction costs. Thanks for the article Bridget. I know many people will enjoy it.
Don Duncan
I see three big drawbacks. Price, remember, shipping is not included. No insulation figures are given, making it hard to tell how much it will cost to heat/cool. And last, but important where water is scarce, why not use a compost toilet?
What is the life of systems?
In the construction time spent, an earth home could be built with passive solar design requiring no heat/cooling. These last forever.
Cyndysub
This is TLTL.