Seattle architect talks about the BENEFITS OF LIVING IN A TINY HOME

CAST is featured in ISN’s article: Tiny Home vs. Traditional Home: What You Need to Know

Tiny homes and small space living offer a bevy of rewards to those who decide they don’t need many things and are ready to streamline their life. There are many reasons to choose small space living. Some people may want a house that moves with them, to not have a mortgage, or simply to live lightly. 

Lower Energy Usage

Tiny homes consume less energy and cost less to maintain. Smaller appliances are typically more efficient. One will use less energy, and water, and create less waste. A tiny home could potentially be heated with a wood stove and powered by a solar array. 

It Costs Less 

Tiny homes cost a fraction of the price of traditional homes. The cost to own or rent will be significantly less and they cost less to maintain. Since small spaces use less energy, there will be less outlay on all bills related to the home. Reducing housing expenses may let owners/tenants save money for (or in) retirement, travel, or allow them to decide to work less.

Streamlined Maintenance

A tiny home is easier to maintain. With fewer appliances to repair, less exterior area to maintain and even less space to clean, those who live in small spaces may have more time to spend on work, fun hobbies, and their relationships.

Mobility

Tiny Homes can be made to be mobile. Whether it’s a vacation or a new permanent spot, a tiny home can be built to travel.

Minimalist lifestyle

De-clutter. There is only room for the important things and those things that matter most. Plus, there is also the opportunity for more focus and less distraction. A tiny home can be constructed from recycled, repurposed, and salvaged items.

Eco-friendly living lifestyle

By using less energy tiny homeowners reduce their carbon footprint. There is only room for vital appliances, so you save on electricity bills. Also, there is the potential for minimal expense on a rainwater collection system and composting toilet. The tiny home can be designed to be completely off-grid.

Photos by: Cindy Apple Photography

Modern, functional shou sugi ban clad tiny homes on wheels in the methow valley

Like some who found themselves in lockdown at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, this Seattle family of four realized if they were going to work and attend school online, they could do it from anywhere. Cue a temporary move to their summer place. A year into their stay, they decided they were putting down roots in the Methow Valley and decided to make the change permanent. Their out-of-the-box solution? The family spent the summer building a pair of tiny homes on trailers with the help of friends and local tradespeople.

CAST’s goal was simple: apply everything we’ve learned about efficient home planning to a design that would be buildable by non-professionals and legal to tow down the highway. This was a highly collaborative process as we sought a compromise between homeowner research into solutions pioneered by the DIY tiny-house community and our knowledge of modern construction best practices.

The result is a pair of elegant, flexible rooms-on-wheels clad in shou sugi ban charred-wood that are modern, warm, and ultra-functional.
Shou sugi ban is a Japanese preservation technique that burns wood to create a weather-proof finish. The charred outer of each tiny home is cypress harvested in Japan, milled, burned in a kiln, and sealed with oil. Over time, they will weather and gain a patina.

The simple pitched roof is matched by an outward tilting wall to create a playful form with extra headroom at one end for a sleeping loft (with a built-in desk below). The regular rhythm of high square windows makes the room feel much larger by illuminating the ceiling. At the entry side, floor-to-ceiling glass frames a wood stove, creating a cozy lounge space. Inside, a narrow service bar in the center will accommodate a small kitchen and a private compartment for a composting toilet.

Featured on Dwell+ ”A Family of Four Joins Hands to Build Two Tiny Homes in Washington”
More photos at: https://www.castarchitecture.com/mccarthyrekart-tiny-homes
Photos by: Benjamin Drummond Photography