Tiny Houses

Shed-like tiny house embraces rural off-grid living

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The Long Shed costs around £135,000 (US$170,000), depending on options chosen
Echo
The Long Shed costs around £135,000 (US$170,000), depending on options chosen
Echo
The Long Shed has a total length of 10.7 m (35 ft) and is based on a triple-axle trailer
Echo
The Long Shed includes a retractable deck area that's stowed away when not in use
Echo
The Long Shed gets power from a roof-based solar panel array
Echo
The Long Shed includes the main entrance, the sliding glass door, and a third door at the bedroom
Echo
The Long Shed's interior is filled with natural light thanks to its generous glazing
Echo
The Long Shed's open interior is warmed by a wood-burning stove
Echo
The Long Shed's bathroom includes a shower, sink, and composting toilet
Echo
The Long Shed's kitchen includes a two-burner propane-powered stove, oven, fridge, sink, and cabinetry
Echo
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Scotland's Echo recently completed a new tiny house named the Long Shed. Featuring a fully off-the-grid setup, the dwelling connects to the outside with a large sliding glass door and deck, and sports an open layout inside, all arranged on one floor.

The Long Shed is based on a triple-axle trailer. It has a length of 10.7 m (35 ft) and a width of 3.15 m (10 ft). Due to its large dimensions and UK towing laws, the model shown was transported to its rural site on the back of a large truck and then towed into position. An Echo representative told us that a road-towable version should also be possible.

The exterior is finished in corrugated tin with a rubberized coating and is defined by its generous glazing. However, it can also be totally closed up using sliding shutters when not in use, making it resemble a simple agricultural shed. Visitors enter the home through a stowable gangway and rear entrance, plus a deck next to the large sliding door offers some additional outdoor living space.

Its 28 sq m (roughly 300 sq ft) of floorspace is arranged around an open plan living area clad in unfinished timber. A wood-burning stove provides interior heat. A kitchen is nearby and includes a two-burner propane-powered stove, oven, fridge, sink, and cabinetry.

The Long Shed's open interior is warmed by a wood-burning stove
Echo

Next to the kitchen is the bathroom, which is divided into a separate space for a shower and another for a composting toilet, with a sink in between the two. The room hosting the composting toilet has been carefully designed to maximize airflow and reduce any potential odor.

There's just one bedroom in the Long Shed, which has ample headroom to stand upright and includes a bed and yet another access point – a stable-style door.

The Long Shed gets all required power from four roof-mounted 415-W solar panels and two 12-V batteries. Some 725 liters (191 gal) of water is also stored in tanks to feed the water heater, taps and shower.

The Long Shed's kitchen includes a two-burner propane-powered stove, oven, fridge, sink, and cabinetry
Echo

The Long Shed model is available for sale at a cost of around £135,000 (US$170,000), depending on options chosen.

Source: Echo

View gallery - 9 images
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3 comments
Pupp1
As soon as I saw "tiny house" in the title, I knew it would be EXTREMELY overpriced. The profit margin on this ugly, and very simple unit, must be incredible. Though, perhaps not... I wonder how many of these actually sell? If they sell 0, then the profit margin is 0.

Most people who have the money to afford something like this are not stupid. Part of why they have money, is because they don't grossly overpay for what they want.
Rusty
Almost 200,000 (with taxes & delivery)...better off buying a REAL house (unless you live in CA or one of the other overpriced real estate areas of America)
KrakaTaoJones
@Rusty: There is no such thing as "overpriced" in real estate, IMO. The selling price of real estate in California (or any other location you believe is an "overpriced real estate area" is determined by what buyers are willing to pay at the time they make their written offer. If what they're willing to pay is more than what you would pay, it doesn't mean the property is therefore overpriced. It simply means that what you would find an acceptable price to pay has been exceeded, and that there is at least one other buyer in the market who is willing (and able, presumably) to pay more. For that buyer, your limit didn't determine the "right price", thereby making his higher bid "overpriced."

The simple concept of the market determining the correct price through the free exercise of supply meeting demand as expressed by willing buyers and sellers is what makes economics such an easily understandable and elegant phenomenon. Only a free market can determine the "right price" of anything.

Otherwise, yes, I agree with you . . . $200K for this particular "tiny house" is probably not going to attract a lot of interest from potential buyers.