Tiny Houses

Leaf House Version.3: A tiny house for sub-zero temperatures

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Version.3 by Leaf House (Photo: Laird Herbert)
Version.3 measures 4.9 m (16 ft) and comprises an interior floorspace of 9 m (97 sq ft) (Photo: Laird Herbert)
Version.3 by Leaf House (Photo: Laird Herbert)
Though Version.3 requires a grid-based electricity hookup to run the heating, Herbert told Gizmag that the next iteration of the home would run off-grid (Photo: Laird Herbert)
Once available for purchase, Version.3 will be sold at around US$30,000 to $40,000 (Photo: Laird Herbert)
Version.3 was actually completed in the early part of 2014, but Herbert wanted to put the tiny house through its paces and ensure it could withstand a harsh Canadian winter (Photo: Laird Herbert)
Version.3 also sports quad-pane windows, energy-efficient electric radiant heaters, and a Lunos E2 Heat Recovery Ventilator (Photo: Laird Herbert)
The interior features a custom Murphy Bed (Photo: Laird Herbert)
A mirrored wall is installed in a bid to evoke a greater sense of space than there actually is (Photo: Laird Herbert)
The kitchen area includes a double stove, sink and small fridge freezer (Photo: Laird Herbert)
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Back in 2012, we reported on Version.2 by Canadian small living firm Leaf House, which is headed by Laird Herbert. Now Herbert is back with a new and improved tiny home that he intends to use as a case study for small living in cold climates. Version.3 is designed to take temperatures of -50 °C (-58 °F) in its stride, and also packs a number of other benefits over its predecessor, including increased interior space and decreased weight.

Version.3 measures 4.9 m (16 ft) long, and comprises an interior floorspace of 9 sq m (97 sq ft). The towable tiny home is part-built using sustainable and reclaimed materials, including Forest Stewardship Certified wood and repurposed metal mesh. The interior is lit with LED lighting and features a custom Murphy Bed, and a kitchen area which includes a double stove, sink, and small fridge freezer. The diminutive home also includes a small shower and composting toilet.

A mirrored wall is installed in a bid to lend a feeling of increased space, and weight was saved wherever possible. For example, a lightweight countertop lends the appearance of a full slab of concrete but is actually a foam board with a concrete top, while curtains were used to hide storage spaces instead of using cupboards.

The kitchen area includes a double stove, sink and small fridge freezer (Photo: Laird Herbert)

Version.3 features Panasonic Vacuum Insulated Panel (VIP)-based insulation, which boasts a claimed R-Value of R30 per 1.27 cm (0.5-in). The VIPs insulate the floor and roof to an impressive R68, while the walls are insulated to R38 (for those unfamiliar with R-Value, it's a measure of thermal resistance by which insulation can be judged).

The tiny home also combats the cold with quad-pane windows, energy-efficient electric radiant heaters, and a Lunos E2 Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV), which offers fresh air and helps reduce heating requirements. A 113-liter (30 gallon) water tank is also connected to a vent-free tankless propane water heater.

Though Version.3 requires a grid-based electricity hookup to run the heating, Herbert told Gizmag that the next iteration of the home would run totally off-grid, and would feature a wood-burning stove.

Version.3 was completed in the early part of 2014, but Herbert felt that he wanted to put the tiny house through a harsh Canadian winter before calling it a job well done. To this end, he is currently living in it full-time in a small northern town, a few hours north of Whitehorse, Yukon, and monitoring the home's performance with energy and temperature sensors. So far, it is reported to be performing very well, and it will eventually be put up for sale for somewhere between US$30,000 to $40,000 (it cost slightly over $30,000 in materials to build).

Source: Leaf House

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3 comments
Wombat56
Per the Wikipedia reference included, you've failed to specify whether you're referring to US or SI R-values.
Going by the high R-value numbers quoted I'd guess that you're using the US version. From Wiki "R-value (US) = RSI × 5.678263337"
Germano Pecoraro Designer
It's very smart to use of interiors colors: white walls and mirrors.
RehRek
While I think that it's cool that people are making these types of things and I think that it would be fun to do myself, it's still just a home built trailer. I have to imagine that the manufacturers that build the ready to buy 5th wheels and trailers commercially all started out similarly.
My point is, this is not new technology or cutting edge.
Also, since it's for extreme Sub Zero temperatures there was no info given on how pipes and water system were designed into it as I would have expected.