It’s my favorite time of year – when I can explore and snorkel in the best cottages we’ve seen all year! Sustainability is on everyone’s mind. Since the pandemic rocked our world, we have been trying to integrate sustainability into all aspects of our life, including our homes! And, with everyone aspiring to environmentally conscious and conscious lifestyles, tiny houses have completely taken over the architectural world and cemented their place as sustainable, minimal and economical micro-living facilities. . What started as a cute little trend is now becoming a serious option for home spaces. They are a space-saving and environmentally friendly living solution that reduces the load on Mother Earth! These are simple and minimal alternatives to the stately, materialistic houses that seem to have taken over. And we’ve curated a wide range of micro-house setups that totally caught our eye in 2021! From a quirky little cottage in the country that is the ultimate in town freedom, to a little two-level cabin that comes with a 100 square foot floor plan – there’s a cottage for everyone!

1. Nido

Nido is a small cabin with a 100 square foot floor plan to meet Finland’s zoning laws which do not require a building permit for homes with a floor plan between 96 and 128 square feet. The cabin is split into two levels and retains an understated exterior, with unstained wood cladding and white painted frame elements that tie the cabin together with a touch of elegant simplicity. A bare ramp walkway made of wooden planks leads to the entrance to the tiny cabin and connects to the cabin’s side deck. Inside, expansive slanted windows flood both floors with natural sunlight and complement the home’s natural wood interior and the soft hues of the Nordic-inspired color palette found throughout the room. cabin.

2. Russel and Leah’s little house

“Living Big in a Tiny House,” a YouTube channel that covers a variety of tiny houses, met Russel and Leah, a police detective and social worker, who traded the stresses of city life for a quirky little house on the their friend’s land of farmland in New Zealand. While many cottage builders coat the interior walls of their homes with white paint to expand the living space, the windows that punctuate almost every wall in Russel and Leah’s home provide an outdoor feel and leave room for darker interior design elements.

3. Huga

Grandio uses its technology to keep the architectural industry up to date with its building system that allows for 99% offsite construction. In October 2020, they unveiled their very first prefabricated concrete house called Hüga. Today, the team has developed a sufficiently advanced system using the same technology that can be deployed for commercial, hotel and residential functions, thereby increasing its positive impact on sustainable construction. Hüga was designed to find a solution to the unsatisfactory demand for housing and public buildings, as this industry has remained the same for centuries. “The use of brick in our constructions for over 5,000 years is a clear example of the reluctance of the construction industry to change. The construction industry is always looking for a satisfactory solution, which replaces the traditional slow and expensive systems which require a skilled workforce.

4. House Wai

This modern architectural concept is designed to be built in New Zealand and focuses on water harvesting and its sustainable use. The house itself is built with durable materials, cedar wood is used for the exterior siding, and the interiors use concrete with recycled plastic instead of sand. It has an almost Japandi-inspired aesthetic that is quite elegant on its own without harming the environment it is in. It is designed to collect and store rainwater for use with systems in place that route it to the kitchen, bathroom, and greenery outdoors. Since this is only a concept, there is a possibility that it will become even more sustainable by adding solar panels for energy efficiency.

5. Kingfisher

Kingfisher is a tiny house from New Zealand company Build Tiny, which doesn’t feel so small on the inside, with room for a full kitchen, shower and tub, dining area, living room, and two attic rooms. Measuring 8m long x 2.4w x 4.2h, Kingfisher keeps size medium and accessible. From the outside, Kingfisher sports a vinyl-covered steel frame with a cedar wall to the side that is lined with vertical wood panels. Aluminum windows are double glazed to provide the ultimate thermal insulation during the colder months.

6. VMD

VMD (Vivienda Minima de Descanso) by STUDIOROCA is a line of prefabricated mini-homes built from disused shipping containers in Mexico, with an interior outfitted with off-grid capabilities and simple luxury. STUDIOROCA designed the range of prefabricated houses to provide a “low cost, simple construction solution”, equipping the exterior and interior with environmentally friendly materials and smart home automation systems. Tracing the open layout of the interior, each one-bedroom shipping container offers an open-plan kitchenette, dining and living space at one end, then a bathroom and storage space in the middle. , while the bedroom finds privacy on its own end.

7. The clothier

The Draper is a tiny home from Colorado-based RV company Land Ark that features a cloakroom, slatted windows, and versatile interior design elements to strike a balance between adventurous spontaneity and warm comfort. . From the outside, the Draper exudes mystery with black corrugated steel cladding on all sides. Shaped almost like an inverted trapezoid, the Draper rolls out its all-black exterior to reveal a Cumaru folding deck constructed from renewable Brazilian hardwood. When unfolded, the Cumaru Deck gives the Draper a more comfortable appearance that immediately asserts the RV as a warm oasis designed to get away from the monotony of everyday life.

8. Gawthorne’s hut

Gawthorne’s Hut is set on a large piece of Wilgowrah farmland, right next to a small picturesque pond. The Little House grew out of Wilgowrah’s desire to introduce the possibilities of alternative sources of income for farm workers. Designed in a form similar to other farm structures such as hay sheds and outhouses, Gawthorne’s Hut’s 30-degree roof houses a set of north-facing solar panels to provide the farm with internal and external electrical power. .

9. Redukt’s little house on wheels

Prepared for all the elements, the Little House on Wheels by Redukt is thermalized with oiled pine planks which give the house an orderly but natural personality. Dissolving the barrier between the exterior and interior space, the cottage comes with twin glass doors that are just short of the floor-to-ceiling heights. Keeping an off-center pentagonal shape, Redukt’s Little House maintains an elegant look that is prepared for the four seasons through the house’s roof topped with galvanized sheeting. Built to last, the metal sheets and the pine facade were chosen because they will only get better with time.

10. IKEA Japan’s Tiny Home campaign

IKEA Japan has launched a Tiny Homes campaign which finds a 10m² apartment in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo to take full advantage of its floor plan with space-saving furniture and a vertical layout. In the Shinjuku district, IKEA’s 10m² apartment is arranged vertically to take advantage of the high floor plan heights and furnished with a range of various space-saving furnishings. Dividing the apartment into two levels, residents are greeted by the entrance, the kitchenette, the bathroom and the washing machine. Bringing residents to the apartment’s mezzanine, a stepladder connects the first level to the second. Throughout the house, storage elements like the IVAR storage system and the SKÃ…DIS shelving unit equip the apartment office to make full use of the workspace at home.