I recently came across a brochure for The Opera, which has to be the Rolls-Royce of all camping trailers. I suspect the pricing and some of the design elements of The Opera are likely to be viewed as over-the-top for most Coming Unmoored readers, but the interior of this little tent was too lovely not to share.  Moreover, there are some clever design features which might be inspirational to other tiny house designers.

Features of this travel trailer include:

• A teak varanda
• Two electrically adjustable beds that can be combined into one
• A boiler to provide warm water
• Hot air heating
• A top loading refrigerator
• A modular outdoor kitchen including a two-ring burner, a barbecue, and cutting board
• Low-energy LED lighting
• A corian fountain with a pull-out faucet head that can be used as an outdoor shower

For additional information and photos,  you can visit their website at www.yoursuiteinnature.com.

Portland Alternative Dwellings (PAD) is a new tiny house construction company based in Portland, Oregon.  It’s the creation of well-known tiny-houser Dee Williams and Katy Anderson, a licensed contractor with over 20 years of construction experience.

PAD is offering tiny home plans, customized-built homes, consultations, and workshops on tiny home construction.

Their new website is built by Tammy Strobel, tiny house writer from RowdyKittens.com.

Below is a tour of one of their example homes, the Don Vardo.

Fellow small home and simple living blogger Tammy from RowdyKittens and her husband Logan are the subject of a new Peak Moment Television interview!

“Rather than follow the customary American dream, Tammy and Logan sold their car, and moved to a bikeable/walkable neighborhood in Sacramento, California. After reading Derrick Jensen’s writings, this couple used Your Money or Your Life as a means to get out of debt and, they feel, regain their lives and their future. While they recount the psychological challenges of facing a future of declining resources, the catalyst that continues to move them forward is a dream of living in an affordable tiny house within a supportive community.”

You can watch the segment below or listen to the audio version.  And if you’re not already doing so, I encourage you to follow their further adventures on RowdyKittens.

For anyone who may have missed this video over on Ryan Mitchell’s The Tiny Life, Jonathan Bellow’s has posted a video of his customized Fencl in the process of being built.

This is probably my favorite of the Tumbleweed designs so I was excited to see how someone has modified one for his own purposes.

You may remember that we have covered the innovative builder blu back a few months ago.  Certain aspects of the blu concept are worth another look.  In many ways, blu really sums up nicely where the eco-friendly, tiny house and green building industry appears to be headed.  Few sites do a better job of summing up many of the core concepts than the folks at blu.  Their core philosophy mirrors much of what the tiny house/eco-friendly movement is all about, plus they make obvious stride to take some of the aggravation out of the entire tiny home buying process.

Often when one is considering buying a tiny home, it is often difficult to find out exactly what the house would cost.  Part of what makes the blu home concept attractive and interesting is that the company makes it easy to find out exactly what the home costs.  This fact makes weighing the different options easier.

blu has a three-pronged philosophy that explains why they believe in building green.  These three components are Sustainability, Convenience and Affordability.  They are quick to point out that by adopting green building standards less waste and fewer chemicals are used.  It is definitely refreshing to see a builder outwardly discussing and promoting such factors. They use high-performance insulation and non-off gassing materials that avoid VOC compounds and paints.  Further, they see passive solar as most definitely being their friend.  These factors all combine to make a blu home one that is obsessed with being green and energy aware.  blu goes on to state that they want to build homes that get fresher air and more sunlight; in short they want healthier homes.

In terms of convenience, blu wants to reduce the headaches involved in buying a tiny home.  This is evident by the fact that you can easily get a ballpark idea of what a given home is going to cost.  Of course, it would be nice to see this trend catch on with other builders.  Yet of equal or greater importance is how convenience is intertwined with their overall philosophy in terms of how homes are built.  blu does not build on site, but instead builds as much of the home as possible inside a factory before taking the home to the worksite.  This process reduces material waste considerably.

As for affordability, blu points out that they use high quality materials and that they also have an eye on helping you save money by making a more energy efficient house. blu homes can be surprisingly affordable, with models running between $50,000 to $350,000.  For a home that wants to keep its occupants and the planet healthy, this seems like a pretty reasonable deal.

pieceHomes is a builder of innovative green, factory-built modular houses designed by Davis Studio Architecture and Design in Los Angeles, California.  Davis Studio Architecture and Design was founded by Jonathan Davis and Architect Mary Jo Davis in 2002 and is driven by modern design principles.  Much of their work centers around the concept of sustainability. To this end they use many natural and recycled materials in all their concepts.  Taking sustainability a step further, they actively encourage their clients to adopt solar energy whenever possible and use materials that are not harmful to people or the environment, such as low VOC paints, recycled glass and recycled steel.

This focus on modern design principles, sustainability and all things green led Davis Studio Architecture and Design to launch pieceHomes.  pieceHomes has the goal of creating healthy and affordable homes.  Of course, by the word “healthy” founders Jonathan Davis and Mary Jo Davis mean healthy for the people who live in their homes, as well as healthy for the planet . This is where the focus on solar and recycled materials come into play.

pieceHomes has developed a line of homes of various sizes.  At the larger end of the spectrum is the mv3, which is 2,100 square feet with up to 4 bedrooms.  This home has a green roof and solar panels.  Yet the company is also well aware of the tiny house movement and so they have several models that are more in line with what tiny home fans might be looking for.  A great example is the 320.  The 320 is a 320 square foot home that has one bedroom and one bathroom.  One very neat aspect to the 320 design is that the home is literally covered in shutters, and it is possible to lock down all the windows and doors making the home verysecure.  Continuing with the theme of being eco-friendly, this home can also be equipped with a composting toilet, a rainwater catchments and, of course, solar panels.  All of this adds up to make the 320 a home that can be completely off the grid!

The pieceHomes is a really interest concept from some innovative thinkers.  Once you’ve looked through their various designs, you will realize how much they have to offer for those seeking an eco-friendly and tiny home.

Most people would be pretty interested in a $5,000 house.  This tiny house concept may only be around 400 square feet, but undoubtedly the concept is quite interesting and quite large.  Gerd Niemoeller is the man behind The Paper House.  This house is made completely from paper, weighs only about 1,700 pounds and uses recycled cardboard and newspapers to form the structure.  This Swiss-based inventor has taken recycled paper and created very strong honeycomb walls.  The end result is a building material that is surprisingly strong and durable.  Originally, the concept conceived as being a solution for the homeless, those living in shantytowns and refugee camps.

It is this idea of bringing ultra-affordable housing, made from recycled materials, to the poorest people in the world that is driving Niemoeller’s concept.  Currently, the idea is being to catch on and Nigeria has already placed an order for 2,400 units.  While the concept may have been developed for the developing countries and the homeless, the ideas behind it are rich in possibilities.    The Wall Paper House points the way in terms of what is possible for tiny houses and for rebooting our concept of what housing is in general.  By taking something as simple as recycled paper and using technology to create a strong building materials, Niemoeller is pointing the way as to what is achievable if only the will is present.

The Wall Paper House has a lot going for it.  The fact that its lightweight means it can be easily transported around the world. Niemoeller and his company Wall are already looking into plans to export the building know-how and materials to countries that have expressed interest.  Further, its low-cost could open up options for those that currently have little or no access to proper housing.  A third aspect of The Wall Paper House that is making people sit up and take notice is that the structure is very sturdy, water resistant and even earthquake proof.  The $5,000 price tag even includes a bathroom.

While The Wall Paper House may not be the most luxurious home many have ever seen, its potential for a positive impact is quite large.  Inventor Niemoeller and all involved should be commended for their efforts.

The following is a guest article by Shireen Shah…

With cooling costs being so high, especially in light of recent energy crises, it makes sense to start looking for more economical approaches for cooling. However, dwellers of smaller spaces (about 250 sq ft – 925 sq ft) face additional problems when it comes to cooling. Not only do smaller spaces often not include central air conditioners, but even with smaller homes on the larger end of the spectrum are wasting both energy and dollars in over-cooling a small space through central AC usage.

The best option for small spacers is to invest in a portable AC. Portable mobile cooling units provide more specific spot cooling at pennies to a dollar compared to traditional systems. But even with portable cooling units, there are additional clever tips you can utilize to reduce in-home heat. First you should know that there are two types of cooling: passive cooling and active cooling. Active cooling is direct cooling, such as use of a portable, window, or central AC unit, including evaporative coolers. Passive cooling is what we’ll discuss here, which are indirect ways of cooling your home.

Types of Passive Cooling

Window Shading and DIY Awnings – As much as half the heat in your house can come from unshaded windows.  The sunny day heat gain from a hundred square feet of eastern or western facing windows is equivalent of running your heater for several hours.  Window shading, set up as a canopy outside your house and above the window, blocks the heat from penetrating into your home. There is also the option of window awnings, that resemble umbrella-like structures over a window to provide additional protection against heat. Unlike window shades, awnings are retractable, which allows for additional exterior options.

Sun Screens - Also referred to as solar screening, these shades block up to 90% of sunlight and mount in like vinyl frames (think bug screens).  They usually work on a wide variety of windows, particularly ones that would have difficulty with other types of window shades. This is an easy do-it-yourself type of cooling and relatively quick and cheap to complete.

Reflective Barriers – Reflective barriers are placed behind solar screens. The advantage of this set up is that it blocks incoming solar radiation while still being aesthetically pleasing.

Trellis - A plant trellis also makes for a great natural way to provide shading and cooling.  Bougainvillea and Wisteria are visually appealing and inexpensive plants and naturally grow to cover larger spaces.  If you want a spaces covered relatively quickly, then go with Wisteria, which will cover a space within a month to two tops.  However, if you want something much faster, then try Morning Glories; but know that these plants are difficult to control because of their growth rate and will easily dominate existing plants and structures if there is no weekly pruning involved.

DIY Rollup Shades – These shades are some of the easiest types around and great for DIY projects. The materials are relatively inexpensive, easy to get, and easy to make.  It takes next to no time to make a great patio, porch, or window covering. Some people even use a darker role up shade behind decorative curtains, in order to keep out morning sun or keep rooms cooler during hot summertime weather.

Living Wall System – A living wall system is a panel of plants that when fully grown has the appearance of a wall.  They can be created out of flowers, different plants or even hedge like structures.  The greenery not only increases oxygen levels, but the wall also adds an aesthetic appeal and additional shading and cooling from the sun’s heat.

Vertical Gardens - Similar to living walls, vertical gardens allows the use of nature to block out unwanted sun and heat.  These are great for those who like the living wall idea but don’t want the complete blockage that comes with them.  They’re best installed outside a window on the ground or on the balcony.

Shading Structures - Some of the smartest shading structure designs were German entries in the 2007 Solar Decathlon.  The structures are similar to walls of shutters running along the outer perimeter of the home, create a hallway space around the home. The space is also covered by another panel of shutter like panels.  These shading systems can be used on both the eastern and western exposures and are covered with energy-utilizing solar panels.

DIY Cloth Pergolas- DIY pergolas are simple patio covers, and most are easy to make yourself.

Shade Sails - Shade sails, or solar sails, are fabric membranes supported by fixed anchors, and positioned to provide shade.  They are laid out and tensioned in such a way as to be very resistant to winds.  Shade sails can be used to shade decks, porches, play areas, and windows.

Cool Metal Roofing - Used for centuries, reflective metal roofing can keep your house cooler and save on cooling bills. Depending on the finish, these types of roofs offer enhanced energy efficiency through solar reflectance and infrared emittance properties. Cool metal roofs are also EPA Energy Star approved.

All these ideas will help limit the amount of heat entering your home, but for the heat already in your home, invest in a portable air conditioner.

Shireen Shah is a writer with http://www.air-conditioner-home. You can follow her on Twitter @AirConditioners.

Quite literally every week there are numerous developments and breakthroughs in sustainable housing, green housing and tiny housing that help demonstrate how different the future of living spaces is likely to be.  One such development is the Straw Bale House Project from researchers at the University of Bath.  Together with their students, these researchers are building houses made of straw and hemp.  The purpose of these novel houses is to serve as an experimental platform to see how these buildings materials perform with a variety of tests.

It is true that bale construction is an ancient form of building that has been proven over time to be a viable way to build.  Yet, the researchers at the University of Bath are helping bring this building technique into the 21^st century.  Part of what makes the Balehaus, as it is called, so interesting is that these experimental homes are being built with what is called ModCell.  ModCell is a prefabricated panel that takes a wooden frame and fills it with hemp or straw bales.  This structure is then sealed with a lime render.  The thinking is that the end result will be a very environmentally friendly building material with a very low carbon footprint.  In fact, the researchers are hoping that the Baelhaus may even have a negative carbon footprint.

The researchers responsible for the project, such as Professor Peter Walker, believe that straw is quite possibly the most environmentally friendly building material currently available.  This is largely due to the fact that it is quite renewable and has great insulating properties.  Bale homes that are built correctly have very low heating and cooling costs.  There are a variety of other partners involved in the project such as White Design in Bristol and Integral Structural Design in Bath.

It is developments like the Balehaus at University of Bath that are leading the way in providing all of us with important alternative in the future of housing.  When one considers how bale construction could contribute to lower construction costs and lower heating and cooling costs it quickly becomes apparent this ancient form of construction has a great deal of offer the modern world.

The HABODE concept was designed in New Zealand with an eye toward being built in Australia.  With this in mind, the designers knew that their concept had to be able to deal with the extreme conditions found on the Australian continent, such as high winds and, of course, extreme temperatures.  The materials they adopted are long lasting and low-maintenance and the designers are certain that the structure will last well beyond a lifetime.

Designer Rod Gibson didn’t just want to make a tough prefabricated home, he also wanted to design one that would focus on environmental sustainability.  To this end, Gibson incorporated some of the most cutting-edge materials and green concepts into the HABODE, such as solar panels, roof rainwater capturing, low energy fluorescent lights, high-levels of thermal and sound insulation as well as efficient hot water heating.  All of this, not surprisingly combines into a very energy efficient home.

One of the standout features of the HABODE is well demonstrated in their websites “Options” video that showcases the HABODE with everything from extra decks and extra solar shades to the addition of solar hot water heating and a wind turbine.  Clearly green is at the top of the agenda.

HABODE joins the growing trend of prefabricated homes that are taking advantage of modern manufacturing techniques similar to what we see in the automotive industry.  HABODE is using a patented “fold-out” system that lets them pack up a home and ship it wherever it needs to be.  Once the packaged home has arrived, it can be assembled in just two days.

The HABODE design is a beautiful and geometrically intricate one that few would recognize or categorize as being a prefabricated home.  Simply put, the HABODE just doesn’t look like a prefabricated structure, built in a factory.  Its design is sharp, well thought out and clever.

The fact of the matter is that quietly literally every month new companies, new architects and new designers are beginning to see the potential of tiny homes, green and sustainable designs and prefabrication techniques.  Momentum is starting to build, and homes like HABODE showcase how this momentum is taking place all across the globe.

Images by HABODE.