Well, the time has finally come to head up to Portland.  Tomorrow, me and obscene amount of computer equipment head out in the Mini Cooper.  I plan to spread the 1,400 mile drive across three days so it shouldn’t be too bad. Especially since my iPhone is loaded up with audiobooks I haven’t had time to get to.

The current plan is to be up in Portland until the end of April working on the kitchen, repairing/installing drywall, and painting.  I’ll return to Albuquerque the beginning of May to visit with Charlie and bring Rumi back up with me.

Unfortunately, my cat finds painting walls fascinating and he likes to help.  So he gets to stay safely tucked in New Mexico until the painting is done and I also have sonic fences installed over both doors to the outside.

I’ve both excited to finally be able to live in my tiny place full time and a little bit nervous.

There’s been a lot of renovations done to my place already.  However, until now I simply threw money at the problem and had other people do the work.  Now that balance is shifting more toward do-it-yourself.   And with Charlie’s work schedule this summer I’m not sure how much I’m going to be able to enlist his help.

Expect a lot of entries this summer on things like stripping wallpaper, laying wood floors, and trying to figure out how to install a new shower.  I’m just crossing my fingers and praying that I have my mother and brother’s aptitude for power tools.

Upon occasion we come across a concept that truly incorporates a bit of genius.  Angel Wing Cottage the rather clever idea of Deana Main.  Based in Monroe, North Carolina, Angel Wing Cottages are developing a senior citizen alternative living community centered on energy effective tiny homes.  If you are over fifty-five, this should definitely be something to consider.

The Angel Wing Cottages have three cottages to choose from.  Cottage One is 544 square feet and has a pleasant design.  What really makes these cottages from Angel Wing Cottages so interesting is their “hidden little secret.”  Angel Wing Cottages are built to be tough.  How tough?  They have been designed to handle winds of up to 140 miles per hour.  This tough design meshes into the overall design philosophy well.  Angel Wing Cottages are designed to be long lasting and require low-maintenance.  One can see how this idea would be attractive to seniors.

Other aspects of the Angel Wing Cottage concept will no doubt also appeal to seniors, such as the fact that the cottages are built on site, are Energy Star certified and are meant to be affordable.  Numerous other aspects of the concept make the Angel Wing Cottage concept even more interesting.  Part of the plan is to have fresh vegetables grown in the community, and shared community hybrid rental vehicles as well.

It is definitely refreshing to see a concept that improves the health of residents built into the concept from the ground up.  Fresh vegetables have been proven to be more nutritious than vegetables than have been grown hundreds or even thousands of miles away and picked days earlier.  Hybrid vehicles should also provide for cleaner community air.  This holistic approach to living and the environment should be applauded.

One of the key elements of the Angel Wing Cottage concept is that this is a community of seniors.  It would be easy to just focus on the tiny home aspect of the project, but part of what makes it so very interesting is that the Angel Wing Cottage concept is a community of tiny homes for seniors.  That core concept is just brilliant.

Additional information about the project can be found at Angel Wing Cottage.

PreFabulous Homes out of Vancouver, British Columbia has the motto of “Modular Design-Redefined.”  Part of what makes PreFabulous Homes so interesting is their obsessive focus on being green.  Their designs are built in such a way as to reduce the home’s overall eco-footprint.

One of their tiny home offerings is The Ohisan.  The Ohisan is a bungalow that has a total living space of 672 square feet.  The way in which the interior space is used in The Ohisan allows it to maximize that space to a high degree.  The design plan of The Ohisan has the bedroom’s modules and bathroom’s modules share circulation with the Great Room Module.  This plan allows the interior space to be more effectively utilized.    Another design, The Antrim, is a little larger at 800 square feet.  The design of The Antrim is also clearly well thought out.  Both The Ohisan and The Antrim pay close attention to the optimization of use of overall natural light in the space through design, thereby reducing electricity requirements.

There is a great deal to admire with the PreFabulous Homes concept.  The modules are essentially complete when they are shipped from the factory and are built to the exact same building codes as conventional homes.  Another impressive fact is that PreFabulous Homes can complete a project in just two to three months.  The price tag of $160 to $200 per square foot is really not bad considering all that is delivered.

If you are considering a tiny home, PreFabulous is doing some fantastic homes.  Some of their larger homes are very impressive as well.  For example, their “EcoFabulous Home” has a very eco-friendly design, and their “The Derry” design  is a very fun 1000 square foot home built on stilts.

PreFabulous Homes likes to think of itself as one stop shopping as they can handle everything from concept drawings, to permits, and new home warranty.  Check out the website here. They are doing some interesting work and are worth a further look.

Some tiny home concepts may very well give you a glimpse into the future of dwellings, and how we will be living in the future.  Perrinepod, based in Australia ,may just be one of those visionary companies.  Perrinepod has been featured in numerous magazines around the world for their cutting edge designs and concepts.

One short quote from the Perrinepod website really sums up how ambitious they are, “The Perrinepod was created to provide individual’s access to high quality sustainable, affordable and near instant residential solutions.”  What is most tantalizing is the “near instant residential solutions” part of the statement.

How near instant?  Perrinepod states that they can build a home in three days.  Moreover, they state that the end product will suit any landscape and “virtually any architectural style.”  Take a deeper look at the Perrinepod concept, and you will understand why they feel so strongly about their product.

Perrinepod is taking the modular, prefabricated concept to a borderline science fiction extreme.  It is the sort of housing concept that as children many of us would have expected to see in the future.  First, the Perrinepod is green.  Instead of using traditional concrete they are using a geo polymer concrete.  This green design extend into every aspect of the Perrinepod as the structure uses a variety of sustainable strategies, ranging from how the recycling is handled, to the energy the module uses.  Solar panels are a key feature, and the Perrinepod has a 5 Star energy rating.

Another reason the Perrinepod concept is so attractive is that each module can act as a one-bedroom dwelling, or a few can be added together to form a larger house.  The Perrinepod concept can even accommodate very large structures.  How large?  They can be stacked 30 story’s high.  No doubt the Perrinepod seems rather futuristic.

The Perrinepod, keeping with the flexible philosophy of their design, has numerous options available.  Their 6m Standard Pod has 48m2 (516 square feet) of internal floor space, and cost about $149,000 Australian dollars.  The turn around time from order to delivery is a very impressive two-weeks.  The largest pod available is currently the PodVilla 13, which has 144m2 (1550 square feet) of internal floor space and costs $425,000 Australian dollars.  Expect about ten weeks for the PodVilla 13 from order to delivery.  Ten weeks for a home of this size is truly impressive by any standard.  There are many other sizes in between the 6m Standard Pod and the PodVilla 13.

Anyone in Australia thinking about a tiny home or a green home should probably take a good look at what Perrinepod is doing.  Imagine having a tiny home such as the 6m Standard Pod in just two weeks.  That may be the most futuristic aspect of the entire project.  Hopefully, we will be seeing the Perrinepod idea moving out of Australia and into the rest of the world soon.  If Perrinepod is indeed a glimpse into the future of housing, we may have much to look forward to.

Imagine a world where quickly produced, highly durable and green housing was the norm.  Simply put, this would mean a higher standard of living for everyone everywhere.

Some homes have the capability to take your breath away.  In the past, not only were these homes usually much larger than a few hundred square feet, but also part of their awe-inspiring presence was often attributed to the sheer volume and footprint of the house.  However, a new group of today’s visionary architects and builders are dramatically turning the concept of what is a “wow house” on its head.

Marmol Radziner Prefab is one of the companies that is striving to make smaller homes also “wow homes.” Marmol Radziner Prefab is offering the Rincon 5, a 660 square foot modular unit that is designed to be very eco-friendly.  This tiny home uses low VOC paint, bamboo floors and recycled denim for insulation.  It is also designed with an eye towards being solar powered.  The design and look of the Rincon 5 is quick striking and modern, offering an impressive amount of light exposure.  Prices start at $179,000 for the Rincon 5, which is very competitive to similar modular homes.

Another interesting aspect to Marmol Radziner Prefab is the level of dedication the company has towards being “green.”  Not only do they utilize low VOC paint, bamboo floors and recycled denim for insulation, they even go so far as to use recycled steel for the construction of all their homes.  Further, Marmol Radziner Prefab designs all their homes to meet LEED certification.  Other touches are done with an eye towards energy efficiency, such as floor-to-ceiling windows and design plans that allow for the incorporation of solar energy.

There is a great deal to appreciate in the approach of Marmol Radziner Prefab.  Their homes are not kit homes, as they build each home in their own factory.   Remarkably, the company oversees every aspect of the process from design and building, to delivery and installation.  The fact that Marmol Radziner Prefab also does custom designs only adds to its distinction in the increasingly crowded small homes field.

Learn more about this innovative and green small home designer and builder at http://marmolradzinerprefab.com.

You might think that “CONHOUSE” is the name of the latest gritty jail pic staring Nicolas Cage as a man wrongly accused, but you would be wrong.  As much as it sounds like a new movie title,  CONHOUSE is actually part of the tiny home, environmentally friendly movement.  This concept is picking up steam seemingly with each passing day.

The CONHOUSE concept is to use mass production to offset the final price that a homebuyer has to pay.  This is done in three main ways.  The first way is the mass production of the home building process.  The second method is that the CONHOUSE is easily transportable.  The final way that CONHOUSE keeps its price low is that the company allows and encourages assembly of the final product in a rather remarkable single day!

CONHOUSE prides itself on being very environmentally friendly and producing virtually no waste.  Further, the company is quick to point out that they are creating a home that is itself very recyclable.

The name itself is a synthesis of “container” and “house,” thus CONHOUSE.  The core concept is creating a highly customizable modular, prefabricated home (that is designed to provide a great and well lit interior living space), while maintaining the option to “pick up and move” if necessary.

Recently, the CONHOUSE team made a name for themselves with their 2+ Weekend House, which uses two shipping containers, one stacked on top of the other, in a sort of t-shape.  What likely stayed in most people’s minds was the customized black paint job accented with pink polka dots.

No doubt the CONHOUSE team has an eye for design, as displayed in the simply elegant staircase they designed to link two modules in the 2+ Weekend House.

CONHOUSE has a great sense of humor and fun as well.   The gallery on their website includes their homes and designs presented in colorful pop-art styles.  You almost feel as though you are looking at a comic book.  Even the names of the homes are fun. For example, one of their designs is named the “Woody Allen.” If you want to check out the Slovenia based CONHOUSE concept, the website is www.conhouse.com.

Would you really like to have a different small home experience?  Are you looking for something that wouldn’t just look different, but would feel different?  You might be interested in a Yurt.

A yurt is an adapted version of a shelter from Central Asia used by nomadic tribes for thousands of years.  The circular, tent-like shape is held into place by tension and compression.  This may sound simple, and on one level it is very simple.  However, this simple and elegant design has a myriad of benefits.  The aerodynamic shape flows around the curved sides of the yurt, and over its domed roof.  The structure of the yurt gives it a great deal of natural strength and thus safety.

The simple yurt has a lot going for it.  The structures are lightweight and inexpensive, yet durable.  The Pacific Yurt Company (out of Oregon) has taken this design to a new level.  Pacific Yurt began setting their yurts up on wood platforms that are supported by a post and beam system.

An additional major design change over the traditional yurt, is that The Pacific Yurt Company has added a lattice wall that runs the circumference of the outer fabric wall.  This lattice system is attached to the rafters and center ring overhead, giving the structure considerable strength.  Part of what makes the yurt such an attractive concept is its extremely minimal impact on its environment.

The pricing on yurt’s from Pacific Yurt is extremely competitive and is a true contender for those on a budget.  A 115 sq. ft. 12 foot diameter model cost about $4,500, and the largest 700 sq. ft. model cost about $9,800 dollars.  There are six different sizes in all.

This is definitely a different approach in small homes, and there is no denying it has an impressive price point.  The yurt has some additional benefits that one may not find in other inexpensive small homes, such as lots of headroom.  Some of the larger yurts have ceilings as high as 13 feet. Additionally,  all units have skylights.  The Pacific Yurt website www.yurts.com has a nice photo gallery that even shows several yurts linked together to form a very unique looking “yurt collective.” 

The small home movement is all about re-imagining what is possible concerning how we live.  The ancient yurt may fit in very well in our modern world.

Some ideas just immediately strike you as being great ones.  This is the case with GreenPods modular homes.  These homes just have a “cool factor” that is missing in many small homes.  GreenPods are very similar to what their name indicates.  They are small homes (the “pod” in the name) that are very focused on being green (the “green” in the GreenPod name).

The GreenPod vision is to build energy effective homes that have an eye on indoor air quality as well.  Considering indoor air quality as a major factor in determining design is a very refreshing development.  Medical science is discovering that indoor air quality, while always deemed important, is actually vital to our health.  The degassing from all sorts of building materials, such as carpet, is toxic to humans.  The GreenPod concept treats this seriously, and should be commended for doing so.

Not surprisingly the GreenPod concept also factors in sustainability and strives to keep the homes environmental footprint low.  The GreenPod team is working with designer Suzanne DeVail, who has produced numerous organic, anti-microbial fabrics specifically for use in GreenPod homes.

The Washington state based GreenPod company has small homes that range from as small as 300 feet to as large as 800 square feet.  GreenPod notes that it is possible to combine more than one POD into a larger home.  There SoloPODS come in eleven different designs, each with their own character.  The smallest is the Lopez at 372 square feet and a cost of around $60,000. The largest models is called the Orcas, and has a distinctive barrel roof.  The Orcas is 744 square feet and costs about a $175,000.

Another interesting model, the Ludlow, is $95,000 and is about 731 square feet.  The Ludlow is a really interesting option for those looking for a green small home that it has a great looking design. This model has lots of light exposure and a very competitive price.  If you really want light exposure, check out their Mercer Pod, which has a very grand look that comes across well beyond its 650 square feet.

Perhaps most interesting of all of GreenPods offerings is the Floating Pods.  These Pods are constructed in conjunction with P & T Fabrications and definitely have that cool factor.  The Floating Pods incorporate the design characteristics of the SoloPODS but, well, they float!

GreenPod is creating some impressive homes with some truly impressive interiors.  Their combination of design and focus being green, make them a true contender for anyone thing about buying a tiny or modular home.  There website is loaded with great photos and more information.  www.greenpoddevelopment.com

Eco-Dome is one of those ideas that really grab one’s imagination.  The finished design really conjures up the most exotic imagery of space-age adobe homes. In fact, for most people the Eco-Dome will quickly stimulate the imagination, with its sleek curves and innate possibilities. Cal-Earth and architect Nader Khalili are behind the Eco-Dome concept, which definitely makes use of the energy saving concept of building with what is on hand.

The Eco-Dome idea has a lot going for it.  One of its strong points is that it is very environmentally friendly.  The Eco-Dome concept uses no wood or trees of any kind, instead opting for what are called “Superadobe coils.”  The Superadobe coils are a very interesting idea.  These Superadobe coils are building coils that have been filled with either a mixture of soil and cement or lime and stabilized earth.  In short, with Eco-Dome in turns out that you are building an earth home, partially solidified with lime or cement.  This is a simple idea, but very clever one.

They currently offer plans for both 400 square foot models ($2,400) and 800 square foot models ($3,200).  These prices include no building materials and just cover blueprints and engineering calculations.  However, there is little doubt that a Eco-Dome or Double Eco-Dome could be constructed at greatly reduced rate over a traditional wood or brick and mortar home.

One look at the website’s photos and you realize that the concept has some real power.  This idea could be especially good for warmer climates.  Check out the website at www.calearth.org/EcoDome.htm.

While visiting the site, take a look at one of Khalili’s other concepts for an emergency sandbag shelter.  This structure truly looks like something out of a science fiction film.  The inspiration for the design is to take the beehive or the seashell, which are among the strongest shapes in nature,  and use that as a template.  Khalili states on his site, “The strongest structures in nature which work in tune with gravity, friction, minimum exposure and maximum compression, are arches, domes and vault forms.  And they can be easily learned and utilize the most available material on earth: Earth.”  He makes a great case for his point and illuminates the question, “why don’t we build more this way?”

Dee Williams, perhaps one of the best known faces of the small home movement behind Jay Shafer, recently wrote an article for Yes! Magazine about the materials she used to build her own 84 square foot tiny home.

Dee designed her house to be a simple and natural as possible and minimized her construction footprint by using several green building techniques. Using recycled and salvaged materials, she spent only $10,000 to build her home, and that includes the cost of a  240-watt photovoltaic (solar) system.

A full copy of the article is available here.  You can also view of video tour of Dee’s lovely little home below.