Tag Archives: micro living

This Extremely Small Micro-Apartment Makes A Compact Tiny Home Look Spacious & Large

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This unique micro-apartment is probably one of the smallest apartments in the world, and it is named the Cabanon. The Cabanon measures around 74 square feet and is tremendously small, However, the home is equipped with a pretty clever layout and folding furniture, which allows users to make the most of such a small space. The home is much more equipped than you would expect and even manages to house a bath and a spa area. The name is inspired by a cabin of the same name, which is owned by the famous architect Le Corbusier. The home is designed by Beatriz Ramo of STAR strategies + architecture and Bernd Upmeyer of BOARD (Bureau of Architecture Research and Design), and they will make it their second home.

Designer: Beatriz Ramo of STAR strategies + architecture and Bernd Upmeyer of BOARD

The little apartment is built in a former attic space in a 1950s residential building located in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The room was initially used for storage, and if you compare it to a tiny home, you’ll find the tiny home quite spacious. The apartment has a height of 9.1 feet, a width of 6.5 feet, and a length of 11.9 feet. The entire space has been sectioned into four areas. The bedroom is elevated and can be accessed via a removable ladder, which is stored away on the bathroom door. The bathroom is equipped with a toilet and rain shower and is connected to a spa area, amped with two infrared saunas and a whirlpool bath.

The living room and kitchen are one section, and it includes a big storage unit that conceals a sink, fridge, table, and cooking facilities. The pictures give us a better look into how this space is designed. The Cabanon is a truly innovative design, however, the designers don’t see it as a viable plan for future housing, but it is a great example of how small spaces can be better utilized. The apartment focuses on cost-cutting initiatives while making the most of a lack of sufficient space.

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This charred wood self-built tiny home executes all the dont’s of designing for a small space

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This beautiful 16-foot-long tiny home in Byron Bay, Australia was designed and is home to a lovely couple Samara and James. Frank Macchia, a holistic designer, and Samara’s father helped them to design the home. All the design ideas and moves you wouldn’t execute in a small space were implemented in this tiny home. For example – its interior and exterior feature a dark theme, and there aren’t a lot of windows in the home. Despite these details, the house manages to have an air of spaciousness and balance to it, while retaining a harmonious connection with the site it is situated on!

Designer: Samara and James

The wood-clad home is inspired by Japanese design, especially by shou sugi ban, a method of charring wood to make it more fire and pest resistant. The home was designed similarly to Samara’s parents’ home which is also located on the property. So, a theme of consistency and continuity was maintained. The house includes three modules, consisting of a bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom. They can be moved and reconfigured if the home ever needs to be expanded in the future. The home’s noteworthy modular configuration creates space for little interstitial decks. The home is surrounded by potted plants and greenery, adding a chunk of green to the space.

You enter the home through a screened alcove, which creates a connection between the bathroom and kitchen. The kitchen includes a sink and an induction stovetop, as well as cabinets and open shelving. LED lighting strips have been placed underneath the cabinets. There’s also a handy wooden frame installed to store James’ DIY cold brew coffee tower. Once you exit the kitchen, you enter a cozy transitional space, which holds Samara’s closet. The closet is hidden beneath a skinny door.

You enter the bedroom by sliding open a door of wooden slats. A comfy bed, a small nook, and James’ closet occupy the space in the bedroom. A huge window in the room allows natural light to stream in. The window can be covered with a roller blind, which enables it to transform into a movie screen, with the help of a projector that is placed in James’ closet. The home also features a cool outdoor shower. A door separates the outdoor shower from the rest of the bathroom where the toilet and sink are located.

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Tiny Cabins designed to be the ultimate micro-living travel destinations!

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Tiny Cabin Architecture Designs for Micro Living

If there’s one architectural trend that’s blown up like anything – it’s tiny homes! As much as we absolutely love tiny homes, you know what’s even better than them…Tiny Cabins! Cabins have been a relaxing and quintessential getaway option for everyone for ages galore. They’re the ultimate safe haven in the midst of nature, if you simply want to get away from your hectic city lives, and unwind. And now they even come in tiny shapes and sizes! Tiny cabins are space-saving, economical, and sustainable, and not to mention great vacation spots. If you want a simple and minimal vacation, that lets you truly connect with nature, without any of the materialistic luxuries most of us have gotten accustomed to, then a tiny cabin is the answer for you! And, we’ve curated some beautiful and super comfortable tiny cabins that’ll be the perfect travel destination for you. From a micro resort in Finland that comprises of three prefab tiny timber cabins to a tiny cabin in the woods that is every book lover’s dream – these mesmerizing and surreal tiny cabins are the ultimate retreat, you’ve been searching for!

In Finland, homes with a 96 to 128-square-foot floor plan do not require a building permit, which opened the door for Falck to construct his very own “compact getaway” deep in the woods of Sipoo. In building Nido, Falck maintained a sub-100 square-foot floor area and took to local recycled building materials to construct his tiny cabin. Working with such a modest floor plan and recycled building materials made the entire undertaking a lot more affordable, clocking in at just around $10,500. Falck was also able to champion the home’s construction work on his own, only needing an extra set of hands for carpentry work on a window and door frame. The cabin comprises two levels and keeps a low profile exterior, with unstained wooden siding and white painted frame elements that tie the cabin together with a touch of elegant simplicity. A bare ramp walkway composed of wooden planks leads to the tiny cabin’s entrance and connects to the cabin’s side deck.

Tiny Cabin Architecture Designs for Micro Living

Tiny Cabin Architecture Designs for Micro Living

Perched somewhere in the rolling hills of Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, a tiny cabin dubbed ‘The Willow’ accommodates glampers and travelers alike inside a zany retreat that looks a lot like escape pods from old sci-fi flicks. With two rounded roofs, The Willow’s bulbous frame stands out against the sprawling green lawn where it’s situated. From the outside, The Willow appears like something straight from a science fiction cartoon, immediately drawing in its guests with its whimsical shape. Placed right in front of the tiny cabin’s wooden deck, two circular windows punctuate The Willow’s front-facing facade and provide unobstructed views of Pembroke’s countryside. Following the larger window inside the tiny cabin, guests are greeted with an open-floor studio layout, featuring a full living area with a television and sofa, a full-sized kitchen and dining area, along with a private bedroom, additional sleeping areas, and bathroom.

Designed by Polish duo Bartłomiej Kraciukand and Marta Puchalska-Kraciuk, this cabin is all about immersing yourself in your books and the woods which was their personal motive too! The angular 377-square-foot cabin is built on a wooded plot near the town of Mazovia which is just 31 miles outside Warsaw. The design and aesthetic were inspired by the surrounding lush forest and sand dunes. The fireplace, plush seating, and wooden interiors enhance the coziness and warmth – literally. It’s modern, minimal, and keeps the focus on your reading list or the scenic outdoors thanks to its sweeping glass windows.

Mini Blok is a freestanding, simple cabin with a footprint of 21.6m2 that doesn’t require a permit to build or own. Without any foundation anchoring Mini Blok to the ground, the tiny cabin can be positioned in any location, from the backyard to a warehouse. With fully glazed walls, Mini Blok brings you up, close, and personal with nature. Novablok felt inspired to design their collection of tiny cabins, including Mini Blok, to create isolated spaces where working professionals and even individuals looking for a bit of a solitary respite can retreat and work or rest however they like. Tiny cabins are more popular than ever right now, for their low impact on the environment and escapist personalities. Mini Blok boasts a low carbon footprint and with such a sophisticated exterior and interior design, the workday might just end up becoming a work-cation.

Tiny Cabin Architecture Designs for Micro Living

Tiny Cabin Architecture Designs for Micro Living

Monarch from The Bunkie Co., measures at 12′-6″W x 8′-6”D x 11′-6″H, comes complete with a fully glazed, floor-to-ceiling front-facade and standing seam steel metal cladding all around for a generally thicker grade of steel compared to typical metal cladding. While owners of Monarch have the choice of getting standard dual airflow vents installed onsite by the contractor, the rest of the tiny cabin comes outfitted with R22 insulated walls and floors, so Monarch could practically function as an escape from home on a year-round basis. Inside, Monarch can accommodate a small electric fireplace with heat control, as well as additional storage cabinets and table furniture like chairs and fold-out desks. UV-coated maple veneer plywood panels line the walls of Monarch, providing a warm ambiance to complement the cabin’s soft white lighting.

Tiny Cabin Architecture Designs for Micro Living

Tiny Cabin Architecture Designs for Micro Living

Designed to function as a meditative space, Santosuosso’s Silence Amplifier works like a funnel for audio, similar to that of a megaphone. Silence Amplifier is a cone-shaped micro-hospitality cabin that collects the sounds of the surrounding forest through its large main opening and then amplifies them as they reach the cabin’s apex. The sloped tiny cabin works like a megaphone would so that guests can enjoy a sensuous and audiovisual experience in a natural environment without having to step out into the cold. Santosuosso and Kimmel designed the Silence Amplifier both to offer a place of respite for those of us who’d like to be one with nature and mediate from a distance and to create an architectural organism that blends with nature with a synergistic, collaborative angle.

This tiny hotel is nestled in remote Finland and is made of three prefabricated cabins. Studio Puisto is a Helsinki-based architecture firm that designed a new, modular accommodation that can enable people to open boutique resorts anywhere! Post the pandemic, this is pretty much the dream job that combines social distancing and remote work. The studio collaborated with nature tourism entrepreneur Kari Vainio and installed the first prototype in the forest of Hyvinkää, Finland. One 1,205-square-foot, U-shaped villa is the core of the layout and consists of two accompanying studio units. All three units come with a keyless check-in system and ready-made furniture. Uni means “dream” in Finnish and it alludes to the dreams that aspiring hospitality entrepreneurs will be able to fulfill their own micro-resorts that won’t require the big capital investment that hotels do.

Tiny Cabin Architecture Designs for Micro Living

Tiny Cabin Architecture Designs for Micro Living

The cabin design studio, Den, has a range of flat-packed DIY-style kits that let you assemble your own A-frame cabin in a few days. The average size is 115-square-foot (10.68-square-meter) with models that are larger and smaller depending on what you are looking for. Once assembled, you can see the slanted wooden walls and a floor-to-ceiling triangular window just like how we drew a picture of a cabin as children. The space is minimal and can be transformed into a cozy getaway, a yoga studio, or a creative retreat! The prefab pieces for the cabin are made in New York and come with pre-drilled holes, all wooden structural parts that lock together, bolts, and even door hardware. They are super easy to assemble and the details make the cabin stand out from other flat-packed structures. It is well insulated and can be set up wherever your heart desires. Even though it is a semi-permanent shelter, it has all-season compatibility.

Tiny Cabin Architecture Designs for Micro Living

Tiny Cabin Architecture Designs for Micro Living

A Hungarian company called Hello Wood has designed a tiny minimalist cabin that you can assemble yourself for creative space solutions or just an escape from your living room. The prefabricated cabins start at $10,200 and have been crafted in a way that anyone can put together, it is truly the ultimate DIY project. With the tiny home market ‘growing’ rapidly, the Kabinka cabin is positioned to be like IKEA furniture – easy to assemble with an aesthetic that is loved by most. The Kabinka cabin comes in four sizes that range between 129 and 215 square feet. It is a tiny cabin but it has high ceilings – over 12 feet high actually – that bring a sense of spaciousness and luxury to the otherwise simple structure. The ceiling space is well optimized to give the cabin a loft-like setup that can be used as storage space or a cozy reading nook.

If you are looking for an unconventional staycation, this 3D-printed Urban Cabin could be it! It has transformed a former industrial area in Amsterdam from a vast empty space into an urban retreat with a pocket park for picnics and an outdoor bathtub that will teach you to not focus on what others might be thinking. The compact sustainable dwelling is actually born from research about building in urban environments. It is entirely 3D printed with bio-plastic and can be fully recycled to be reprinted in the future! The compact sustainable dwelling is actually born from research about building in urban environments by Amsterdam-based firm Dus Architects. DUS designs indoor and outdoor furniture, interiors, and architectural installations using 3D printing to accelerate a new way of building – smart, 100% circular, and on-demand.

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Tiny Home Interiors designed to make micro-living setups feel anything but tiny!

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2020 was a major wake-up call for the world, and since then everyone’s been aspiring toward’s eco-friendly and mindful ways of living. As a result, tiny homes have been taking over the architectural world and they continue to grow popular by the day. What started off as a cute little trend is now turning into a serious option for home spaces. And one thing is for sure – tiny homes are here to stay! And just because they are tiny in size, does not mean they cannot be beautifully done! This collection of tiny home interiors are major inspiration goals, proving big things come in small packages. Warm, peaceful, and organic – these interiors will have you drooling over them!

The interiors of the Banjo Tiny House by Little Byron are super warm and homely! Wooden flooring, bar stools, and a cozy bed, nestled next to stairs that lead to an intimate chilling spot, make it a space that may be tiny but still extremely fulfilling. An abundance of windows makes it an open and free-flowing space!

Composed of five shipping containers, Rosie’s tiny home benefits from natural eco-insulation and an industrial build that’s long-lasting and durable. Four of the five shipping containers are dedicated to actual living space, while the fifth shipping container only keeps the home’s mudroom. The mudroom primarily functions as a transitional space between the outdoors and indoors. Inside, Rosie houses the batteries, inverter, and power board for the solar panels that line the roof, keeping the hum of the inverter an appropriate distance away from the bedroom. Unfinished plywood panels line the one bedroom of the house, highlighting the panoramic view of the surrounding environment, as seen through the double-glazed, floor-to-ceiling windows.

Ohariu was built by First Light Studio and Build Tiny from a client’s brief calling for, “a refined tramping lodge on wheels.” That’s code for hiking, for all us Americans. With plenty of open interior space, when the french doors open up, the interior seamlessly blends with the outside. Poplar plywood line the walls and furniture of Ohariu’s interior living spaces for the bright, sunlight-drenched room.

Inside Gawthorne’s Hut, rich and textured timber panels stretch over the walls and ceilings, giving the home a cozy, nesting atmosphere. Gawthorne’s Hut’s micro floor plan of 40m2 feels larger than its measurements thanks to an open floor plan that extends throughout the home, with the one exception being the WC. Throughout the tiny home’s interior, repurposed bricks and rich timber panels line the walls, ceiling, and furnishings. The king-sized bed’s head post, for example, was handcrafted from recycled brick leftover from the lot’s previous building.

Ecuador-based Jag Studio designed La Casa Nueva – a timber camper that is also a fully functional tiny home so you can set up your base anywhere. It includes a bed, a roof, workstations, a kitchen, and a bathroom making it a comfortable shelter for two people. The interior is divided into five zones based on the structural modulation of the six frames that are located at every two feet to divide the camper according to its functions. The first two modules correspond to the raised bed and storage, the third module is meant for a flexible dining and desk space, and the fourth and fifth modules create a corridor and service area including a kitchenette and bathroom.

Studio Atelier Luke renovated an old row house in Kyoto, Japan. The small terrace home was transformed into a contemporary house with a black-stained timber ceiling. Deemed Terrace House, the interiors of the home are a harmonious blend of contemporary Japanese and Australian design philosophies. The dark roof is the star feature of the narrow home!

Designed so that you can have a cabin in the woods, a house on the lake, or a property on the beach whenever you want, the Time Holiday is a mobile home that’s focused on what designer Chester Goh calls ‘futuristic sustainability. The front and side, constitute full-frame floor-to-ceiling double-layer laminated glass panels that provide extravagant 360-degree unobstructed views of the outdoors while helping insulate the interiors. The entire structure is designed to telescopically expand/contract, allowing the house to assume a compact form in transit, and extend outwards to create larger spaces and an extra guest room.

Built on a client’s wish to have a cabin that feels like climbing a tree, Helen & Hard designed Woodnest to bring that feeling to life for its residents. Stationed high up in a pinewood forest somewhere in Odda, Norway, Woodnest finds its nesting place 6 meters above the forest floor. Inside, the treehouse is warmed up and coated with black alder panels. The lighter hue of black alder works to brighten up the inside of Woodnest. Warm, ambient lighting turns the treehouse into a lantern come dark.

A Forest For Rest is a flexible prefab cabin with a tubular steel frame that can be suspended from trees or set on light foundations making it versatile – think tiny house meets dream treehouse! The 19.3-square-meter tiny house is lined with timber slats and features an open-plan living space with a separated bathroom on the ground floor and an adaptable sleeping space on the upper floor that is comfortable for three people.

Cube Two is a 263-square-foot home that is designed for the future and smart living. The exterior has smooth curved corners that give it a friendly vibe and the interior offers enough space for a family of four to live comfortably with two bedrooms and an open living area. To make it feel roomier, there is a skylight that runs across the ceiling and floods the space with natural light, and also provides a wonderful frame of the night sky. The minimal interiors will resonate with all the modern homes you’ve seen with an elegant black and white theme.

Trailer designs to transform your next outdoor adventure into a comfortable and cozy one!

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I know, I know… traveling seems like a far-off concept at the moment, but hey what’s the harm in daydreaming or planning a little? As much as I love jet setting across the globe on flights, touring around in a camper or a trailer also holds a special place in my heart. There’s nothing more comforting or exciting than lounging about in a cozy camper while you explore the countryside. You never feel out of place, because these little trailers manage to feel like a home on wheels! Fill it up with your dear belongings, and it’s your home away from home. Not to mention the trailer designs today are super innovative and inventive! These resourceful campers manage to cater to almost all of our needs, solving various problems, and turning our camping experience into a fulfilling and comfortable one.

Bradbuilds is a Los Angeles-based concept artist who reimagines many automotive designs with a crazy twist. Apart from the BMW M4 camper, his other viral works include a Tesla roadster safari as well. BMW is associated with luxury, not with adventure but this concept really turns the brand image on its head to give us a sporty yet sleek coupe camper. To accommodate the trailer, the designer has taken out the backseat from the car and optimized for time off the grid. The vehicle is a 500 horsepower single-bed camper. The interiors include all elements ideally needed for a road trip – a bed, a pair of solar panels, and a kitchenette. The suspension has been lifted and the tires have been replaced with robust BFGoodrich ones which makes it ready to take the road less traveled.

W2 Architecture’s revolutionary trailer design, Romotow, the name an amalgamation of ‘room to move’ contains all the usual RV features but with an innovative 90-degree twist. With the press of a simple electric button, it swivels open, rotating at 90 degrees, to reveal an open synthetic teak deck, and 70% more living space. Measuring 30 feet by 8.5 feet and offering 290 square feet of living space (the same as a lot of tiny apartments these days), the caravan comes along with a living area, bedroom, kitchenette, and bathroom, all with stylish fixtures and spacious interiors.

The Z-Triton Electric Houseboat was created as a vehicle that could serve as an alternative to the traditional camper. It is comfortable enough to house two adults for a weekend getaway and the choice of land or water is up to the travelers. The amphibious nature of the modern camper fits into the flexible lifestyle we lead today, especially since air travel is not on the cards anytime soon it is opening up a lot of avenues for local trips in less popular/offbeat locations. The durable houseboat measures 3.6 meters in length, 1.2 meters in width, and 1.55 meters in height.

Nissan NV350 Caravan Office Pod Concept is your ticket to freedom when it comes to working productively after witnessing the most mesmerizing sunset from your favorite picturesque location on the outskirts of the city or maybe even on an adventure trip. The mobile office pod housed inside the back of the electric van is something you’ll be so desperate to jump right into. In ways, it can rival the most jaw-dropping work from home setups without a semblance of doubt. The smartphone-controlled office pulls out from the back of the van out in the open and is for sure a dope for people who love working amidst natural settings. When you’ve worked enough for the day or simply want to take a short break between work, just climb on top of the luxurious roof balcony with a rooftop deck for relaxing in style.

The Solo 01 was inspired by the designer’s own dream to travel the world and own a house – a dilemma everyone in this generation can relate to. It is a compact 6 x 6 feet space that includes all necessities that a person needs to turn a house into a home they can comfortably live in. It is the perfect modern home on wheels for the solo adventurer, “This ingenious small space design transforms a customized 3 wheeler into a comfy mobile home/commercial space. We’ve maximized the total area to give you value that isn’t minimalist but fully utilitarian. The concept is the fruit of research into actual needs; we’ve outwitted complex challenges with simple solutions” says Arun while describing his project.

Haaks ‘Opperland’ camper is something I haven’t seen before – an expandable trailer! This cool camper turns into a tiny two-story house! This durable camper is actually a hidden tiny home that brings exceptional comfort and enhanced capabilities while you choose your views. The compact structure is capable of being transported on a flatbed truck so you can bring your home and turn it into a vacation home in any place you like. A flexible lifestyle goes hand in hand with pop-up home designs like the Opperland camper that offers a sleeping loft as well as a lower section open for meal preparation, dining, relaxation, and other activities. A triangular pop-up roof transforms the wood-clad camper into your tiny home with all amenities and appliances.

The LandTraveler Cybertruck doesn’t just look futuristic – it even scores high on the camping trailer aspect. It is well equipped with all the necessities for a night well spent in the outdoors. The camping trailer is made from composite aluminum on the outside and comes complete with a bathroom, a kitchenette, dining cum sleeping area, and lots of skylights to ensure the compact interiors are well lit throughout the day and present a panoramic view by the night. For some off-grid capabilities, the LandTraveler is fitted with roof-top solar panels, a 100-liter water tank, and a heater to keep you warm when away from home. Ideal for a couple, the LandTraveler has a dining table that folds to include the seating and transforms into a double bed.

The Bushcamp Offroad Trailer is a capable camper that would allow you to set up camp instantly, prepare a light meal, and let you sleep in a comfortable, insulated cocoon while you’re spending some precious time in the outdoors. This customized mini caravan is your mobile campsite with minimalist gear storage and possible luxury on wheels. The trailer is equipped with emergency tools on the outside while the inside remains a quaint space which is a luxury for the millennial on the road. Want to prepare a quick yet gourmet meal before you retire for the day? Slide the kitchen out to reveal an efficient setup and cook and cool your drinks while you’re at it. Daytime arrives, just fasten it to your rig and go where the trip takes you. Designed for everyone from an experienced traveler to an occasional fisherman, this durable off-road trailer can withstand any climate and terrain type – providing a very comfortable and secure place, off the ground, for a sleepover.

The all-terrain Mink 2.0 Sports Camper focuses on minimalism while not sacrificing on functionality and quality of built – making it a good option for people who long for infinite freedom. While the camper may look small from the outside it makes use of the interior space quite well. The camper has an expansive panoramic viewing roof balanced out by the contoured windows on each side for enjoying nature’s grandeur en route to an adventure trip. For sound sleep, there is a bunk bed that doubles as extra storage space and has a queen size comfy mattress. To stay clear of cold weather during the night time one can go for the additional oil and solar-powered heating system. What personally appeals to me is the pop of yellow that makes this trailer stand out from the crowd of greys – appealing to the millennial-friendliness of this design!

The Scout camper features lightweight composite sandwich-panel construction and starts with the Compact model, which is the smallest livable module measuring 65cm wide and 1.44m long when folded. The Scout Compact unfolds to 60x190cm giving a rider just enough space to lie down. The Scout Center is slightly larger with a sleeping space of 90x190cm, other dimensions are nearly similar with a width measuring 95cm when folded. The Comfort is the most spacious variant but is planned for launch in the future. The trailer will measure 95cm wide and 1.64m long and should be able to transform into a two-man shelter with a 120x200cm playing field. Interestingly, the campers also offer a small covered tent with standing height. Attached to the main Scout body with a canvas supported by telescoping poles. This area either serves as an entryway awning or transforms into a tent with optional waterproof canvas draped around the sides.

This foldable 400-square-foot micro-apartment can function as a bed, home office, closet, library & bar!

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What is bigger than furniture but smaller than an apartment and yet serves the purpose of both? This 400 square foot studio in Manhattan! I love tiny houses and MKCA is a New York-based architectural firm that designed the Unfolding Apartment is my latest obsession. Designed for a client who is a young single man that loves to entertain and host guests while occasionally working from home. Now here was the real challenge – accomodating all the zones you will find in a large apartment (for entertaining and working) while keeping it compact, it is Manhattan after all! So rather than diving an existing small space into even smaller pieces with dividers, MKCA relied on the core principle of flexibility and transformed a pumpkin into a carriage!

The main piece is one oversized custom cabinetry installed against a wall. This cabinet is basically Narnia, it holds all of the functionalities of a larger apartment complete with a bed, a nightstand, a closet, a home office, a library, kitchen storage, a bar as well as most of the lighting for the room. All of these pieces are flexible, modular, and multi-purpose. Everything can be neatly packed revealing an open loft-style space. Parts of the apartment can be expanded with time and adjusted using a series of reconfigurable doors and panels which slide and pivot open to create more individual spaces. It has been thoughtfully designed keeping privacy in mind, so you will notice porous elements and reflective secondary panels that open to reveal perforated lacquered metal screens. The lighting has been incorporated at top of the cabinet without any visual fixtures giving it a seamless and clean look.

MKCA shows how you don’t have to compromise on living essentials because of the size of your apartment – good design is the solution. Imagine telling someone in Manhattan that you live in a 400 square foot studio and it has a full-sized bed, home office, closet, library & bar – can you imagine the look on their face?

Designer: MKCA

The blue adds a pop of color to the tight space without being loud – it is visually refreshing and aligned with the minimal aesthetic.

When the bed is opened, you will see a fully functional nightstand tucked away in the back surface featuring a shelf for nighttime reading as well as power outlets.

“The mass of the blue cabinet is broken by a series of aluminum billets recessed into the surface. The width of the aluminum elements varies according to body positions and heights, creating grips and handles with which to operate the cabinet. They function to subtly choreograph movement across the surface,” explains the MKCA team.

“The width of the aluminum elements varies according to body positions and heights, creating grips and handles with which to operate the cabinet. They function to subtly choreograph movement across the surface,” said the architects.

A flip-down panel serves as a bar when the cabinet is closed and guests are coming over – the central location of this console makes it a perfect place to put those chips and dips. It doubles as a desk for work/study when the pivoting panel is open and aligned with the cabinet at the end.

Even the end corners of the overall cabinet are optimized for storage. Slide the partitions to create separations if needed.

The Unfolding Apartment cabinet is designed to fit within the existing layouts of small city apartments so it doesn’t require additional construction work or risking your security deposit.

Trailer Designs that convert your camping life to glamping!

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Camping, or planning my next camping experience has been one of my favorite past times over the past few months – I have tons of Pinterest boards to attest to that! Even though camping in a group now seems a relatively far-off experience, the temptation to buy my own trailer and take off into the sunset brought me to this point – featuring the best of trailer designs! Each design here solves a unique problem- be it doubling your space by rotating or create a more energy-efficient travel system, there is a trailer here that is your perfect partner in crime!

W2 Architecture’s revolutionary trailer design, Romotow, the name an amalgamation of ‘room to move’ contains all the usual RV features but with an innovative 90-degree twist. With the press of a simple electric button, it swivels open, rotating at 90 degrees, to reveal an open synthetic teak deck, and 70% more living space.

The Mobi X camper by Mobi Nomads is a multi-application trailer camper that comes packed with its latest features and customization options. The tiny trailer’s most distinctive element is the rooftop tent! Mobi X can host up to six people with enough sleeping places, a toilet, a shower, and a kitchen. Mobi Nomads is a South-African company and has incorporated some of their road trip experiences into the selection of certain features like the trailer’s rear hatch that lifts to reveal a shallow galley, with a swing-away that accesses a large slide-out which brings out a fridge and storage cabinet – how amazing is that?! It also has a drop-down side hatch that exposes a dual-burner stove and work surface complete with large pantry space for utensils and ingredients. Cooking outdoors is a big part of the experience and Mobi makes the most of it!

In the future where land is scarce, oceans would be the real estate of value and a concept like this is the trailer of the future. The idea of the Ocean Community vessel is to extend a city’s coastline. By existing not more than 800 meters from the coast of a city, the dwellers of the Ocean Community can easily make their way to the city to access facilities and enjoy a normal city life before heading back to their sea-based home. “The creation of these new structures will serve as fully functional living spaces connected with existing land infrastructure so that new ocean communities become a natural extension of coastal cities”, says Morsztyn, designer of the Ocean Community concept. The vessels will also rely on the abundance of sun, water, and wind to harness energy, helping them live off the coast but also off the electric grid.

The Haaks ‘Opperland’ camper because it is something I haven’t seen before – an expandable trailer! This cool camper turns into a tiny two-story house! This durable camper is actually a hidden tiny home that brings exceptional comfort and enhanced capabilities while you choose your views. The compact structure is capable of being transported on a flatbed truck so you can bring your home and turn it into a vacation home in any place you like. Flexible lifestyle goes hand in hand with pop-up home designs like the Opperland camper that offers a sleeping loft as well as a lower section open for meal preparation, dining, relaxation, and other activities. A triangular pop-up roof transforms the wood-clad camper into your tiny home with all amenities and appliances. There is a small bathroom at the back of the camper including a shower and the staircase opposite it that leads to the upper level where a double mattress fills the space illuminated by a whimsical triangular window located in the pitch of the roof.

Studio Edwards’ Base Cabin gives the micro-living designs a whole new angle – literally! The angular shape of this tiny house on wheels makes it stand out while still being subtle. Inspired by the typical A-frame cabins in the woods and airstream trailers, this little home is built on a tri-axle trailer. “The A-frame is structurally efficient and uses less material than conventional portal framed buildings. Mute in its appearance and clad in black rubber makes it blend into its surroundings,” says the team. Don’t be fooled by its size, the Base Cabin comes fully equipped with a queen-size bedroom, living room, bathroom, and kitchenette. The angular paneling makes for a cozy bedroom setting with the A-frame roof.

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The Sealander is a 13-square-foot, 1,100-pound camper trailer combo that doubles up as a boat too, with the ability to travel at a cool 5 miles per hour in regular waters (it clearly isn’t meant for high-tides). With a fiberglass-reinforced plastic body, the Sealander is particularly light and strong, working well both on land as well as water, and the inner space comes with a table and bench that can be tucked away to turn the inner space into a reclining area that takes full advantage of the foldable roof to let you gaze at the sunset, and then the stars thereafter.

If you’re an outdoorsy person, you know there’s always a demand for cool new trailer designs, and Droplet’s Teardrop Camping Trailer happens to be one of them. This trailer is perfect for anyone who wants to travel light! Weighing only 950 lbs, the trailer can be attached to almost any car! The Scandinavian-inspired trailer provides the perfect mix of the indoors and the outdoors, with spacious windows, a wide door, and even a lift-gate outdoor kitchen.

The Bowlus Road Chief is truly the chief of luxury campers with its high-end features that enable a zero-emissions trip. The 26 feet long camper can house four people with sleeping and dining zones. It is no less than a hotel room with huge skylights in the main cabin crafted by the company’s best artisans to bring the outdoors inside and are optimized for stargazing. The skylights are made in the iconic the Bowlus Road Chief shape which allows for full tensile strength to transmit along the Road Chief exterior armor-like shell. The expensive RV is complete with an outdoor kitchen equipped with a 110V outlet and propane outlet. The set up lets each owner customize the fittings to their needs like induction cooktops, propane BBQ’s, or even a margarita blender are ready to plug and play.

The Alto series by Canadian motorhome company, Safari Condo, is a range of high-functioning trailers that can double up as a mobile home or as a camper. They also happen to be environmentally friendly while being ultralight and aerodynamic. The frame of the trailer uses composite materials and Alufiber aluminum which has a honeycomb structure that makes it as strong as fiberglass. The wedge-shaped trailer comes fully equipped for you to actually live there full time if you wanted to with all essential appliances and provisions for a stove, water systems and power.

For the ultimate camping experience, check out more innovative products here!

This tiny home was designed to facilitate micro living in expensive cities!

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Millennials and the generations that follow are still struggling to buy homes without sacrificing their avocado toasts. We always hear about the rent situation in New York and Los Angeles, but even if you cross the border you’ll find that Vancouver and Toronto also fall under that bracket. Those two cities are the hub for young working professionals in Canada and it is crucial to provide affordable housing options that are sustainable and fit with their flexible lifestyle. Turns out there is an architectural concept, Shifting Nests, designed to solve this exact problem.

While Vancouver has quickly become one of the most expensive cities to live in, it is not densely populated and there are a lot of vacant spaces that can be put to better use – Shifting Nests sustainable tiny homes is that use! This project wants to transform empty parking lots into a community with gardens and low-cost homes. “The ‘nests’ are a prefabricated housing solution consisting of plywood, metal cladding, and corrugated polycarbonate on a series of simple frames. The jury was impressed by the sensible linear plan layout, segmented into zones for resting, bathing, cooking, living, dining, and farming,” explains the team,

Shifting Nests won the first prize in the Bee Breeders 2019 Mircohome competition for its futuristic approach to affordable housing that took the environment into account. The structures almost look like a hybrid between an RV and a bunker, I wish it looked a little cozier. While many details are still being worked out, it would be nice to see what sustainable housing solutions are incorporated – solar panels, furniture made with recycled material, self-sustaining garden for community produce? Micro living is probably the future of future generations so having designs that make life easier for them economically while also helping the climate crisis is crucial.

Designer: BLA Design Group

Tiny Home setups that prove why micro-living will be the next big trend: Part 2

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Minimalism has reached a level of popularity that is unbelievable, and it has even extended to our style of living and architecture! With everyone veering towards the path of micro-living, while simultaneously breaking ties with materialism, tiny homes are the future. More and more individuals and families are opting for simple, comfortable and functional tiny houses. Hence, we’ve curated a collection of fascinating mini homes to give you a crash course on micro-living!

The Pacific Harbor is a tiny house built on a 30’x8.5’ triple axel Iron Eagle trailer – compact, convenient and classy. The interiors are kept light and breezy to manifest the feeling of spaciousness. The tiny home includes a downstairs flex area that can be turned into a bedroom or home office, a sleeping loft in the back, and stainless steel appliances in the kitchen.

The tiny house Le Château Ambulant by Tiny House Baluchon is a tribute to Hayao Miyazaki’s Howl’s Moving Castle. Featuring some exquisite woodwork using cedar, it’s a double-axle trailer measuring 6 m. Its cute square windows and French-inspired aesthetics make it a total eye-catcher!

This tiny home is perfect for hobbits, and seems to have sprung right out of The Lord of The Rings! But in reality, it’s a quaint little castle in Romania.

Comprising of two bedrooms this tiny home by Tiny House Baluchon is perfect for a nuclear family. Featuring wooden accents, a set of stairs in the home lead to the upper section, where a comfy bed awaits!

Designed by Modern Tiny Living, The Fox is a 28 ft x 8.5 ft tiny home. Located in Ohio, the home on wheels features a pastel-colored exterior and modern clean interiors.

This adorable cabin by Off-Grid Inn is the perfect tiny home in the wilderness. Surrounded by nature on all four sides, it’s ideal for a quick compact getaway!

Droplet’s Teardrop Camping Trailer is the perfect trailer for anyone who wants to travel light! Weighing only 950 lbs, the Scandinavian-inspired trailer can be attached to almost any car and features spacious windows, a wide door, and even a lift-gate outdoor kitchen.

This triangular cabin by Jacob Witzling and Sara Underwood has a very green roof! Surrounded by nature, it makes for the perfect tiny home out in the woods!

The Mohican by Modern Tiny Living is a 20 feet custom tiny home showcasing a beautiful cedar trim and pine siding. It has all the facilities you would find in a ordinary-sized home, except it’s more compact and cute!

Inspired by the ideology of sustainability, Finnish designer Robin Falck created an A-frame mirrored holiday house, Nolla.  Functioning entirely on renewable energy, the tiny house has been built entirely using sustainable materials such as local plywood and pine. Nolla is powered by emission-free solar panels.

For more such fascinating and functional tiny homes, check out Part 1 of this series!

Self-Sustaining Micro Digs

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Girl, bye! I’m gettin’ me an Ecocapsule. It’s the first truly independent house, powered by solar and wind energy!

Because of its small size, it can be placed nearly anywhere on the planet and easily moved for a change of scenery! It contains everything needed for prolonged off-grid stay: efficient design, high performance thermal insulation, dual yield power system consisting of solar array and wind turbine, massive batteries to store surplus energy for a later usage. Everything is controlled by smart home system optimizing energy consumption.

Additionally, the spherical shape of the Ecocapsule is carefully formed to minimize heat losses and maximize collection of the rain water and morning dew. Membrane water filters installed inside are designed to purify 99,999% of the bacteria and rendering any natural water source suitable for drinking.

Even though small in size, each Ecocapsule can comfortably house two adults. Its efficient spatial layout allows you to enjoy convenience of typical creature comforts in off-grid conditions. A built-in kitchenette with running water, flushing toilet and hot shower are just a few luxuries of this remote hotel room in the wilderness.

Plenty of storage space also fits all your sport or research equipment. The Ecocaspule can be used not only as cottage, skiing hut or pop-up hotel, but also a small power plant or charging station for your electric vehicle.

Designer: Igor Zacek, Sona Pholova, Tomas Zacek

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