Every now and then someone comes along to remind us that just about anything is possible.  Take for example, Michael Janzen.  Janzen made a pretty big splash last year because of his work with a very tiny house.  Janzen decided to leave his traditional home behind… in favor of a smaller one.  Of course, as we all know, finding a unique small house is always something special.  However, what made Janzen stand out is that he got his small house for free.

Janzen has been earning his tiny house through sheer ingenuity and resourcefulness.  Thanks to Craigslist, Janzen was able to collect all the materials that he needed to build his small 80 square foot home.  His story was even featured in The New York Times. And the story about  his “free house” is still going strong. Just last week, Janzen posted an update about his project on his blog tinyhousedesign.com

Janzen’s story is a great one because it underscores what is possible in tiny housing.  Much can be accomplished with tiny housing for some obvious reasons.  By needing less materials and land, it is possible to re-envision home building.  Because fewer resources are needed, new possibilities are opening up for would-be homeowners.  Janzen’s ingenuity has carried over to his tinypallethouse.com website, which promotes the idea of using pallets to build quick, cheap emergency housing.

Of course, competing with “free” is a pretty hard act to follow.  However, there are many low-cost alternatives to consider when looking for a tiny home.  Take for example, Bungalow In A Box.  This innovative company  in Maine is building some cheap and very sharp looking homes that can be delivered to locations.  Their 12′ x 16′ Bungalow is about $14,000 if you live fairly close to Maine.  If you need delivery, it runs $4 per mile.

Obviously, if you live in San Diego, you might want to consider another kit builder.  But if you are in New England and are considering a tiny house, make sure you check these guys out.  They can do custom designs and have built homes as large as 4,400 s.f., and other structures as small as 60 s.f.

With a little looking you can find an amazing variety of tiny homebuilders and individuals who have amazing ideas where tiny homes are concerned.  The notion of building a home from free material found on Craigslist should spark everyone’s imagination.

The world of housing is on the verge of being changed forever.  New attitudes, new designers and new techniques are set to merge with a global re-evaluation of how, where and why we build homes.  New visionaries are on the scene and they are definitely shaking up the concept of what a house should and can be.  Slowly the idea of lugging tons of wood, brick and mortar out to a home site is beginning to fade.

One very interesting company that is having an impact on the tiny home movement is kitHAUS.  kitHAUS has some striking designs and great ideas, with homes ranging from 187 square feet all the way up to 289 square feet.  Their largest design is the K1, is currently available in California.  If you like lots of sunlight and want that “wow” factor in your home, then this tiny house delivers a substantial punch.  One entire wall is an essentially a massive window, measuring almost eighteen feet high and seventeen feet across.  If that is not enough light for you, then consider that the K1 has windows that wrap around an  entire section of the house.

In addition to a great design and a very modern look, consider for a moment that the K1 kit, which largely consists of aluminum, comes delivered on a truck ready for assembly and can be assembled in just a couple of days.  There is even an off the grid solar option by Ready Solar.  K1 just has that cool factor that will grab most people’s attention.  At $75,000 dollars it may not be the cheapest small home on the market, but it definitely one of the most eye catching.

If you are on a tighter budget then maybe you’ll want to consider the K4, which is about 187 square feet and costs approximately $43,000.  While smaller than the K1, the entire K4 kit weighs a mere 7,000 pounds.  There is even a solar heating and air conditioning unit that has been designed specifically for the K4.  Much like its larger cousin the K1, the K4 has ample light exposure and a very innovative design.  Many will appreciate the prominent shutters and the maple plywood walls.

Take a peep at the K1 and some of their other innovative designs at www.kithaus.com.  If you are considering a tiny house or a modular home, these sleek, modern designs might be a fine fit.

When you think about small housing and making the most out of a tiny amount of space, it is natural to look to Japan.  The island nation of Japan may appear fairly large on a map, but consider for a moment that much of the nation is too mountainous to build upon.  Add to this the fact that much of the remaining land is allocated to farming, and you begin to understand the Japanese obsession with maximizing small living spaces.

With this obsession in mind, many Japanese architects are building upon the Japanese tradition of “going small.”  Much like the elegant Bonsai Trees, these architects are paving the way with some very innovative and tiny homes.

The Schemata Architecture Office’s entry into the small houses world is definitely a striking one, not soon forgotten.  Schemata’s outrageous 63.02 house in Tokyo is a stellar example of how to build a home big on character and style in a surprisingly small space.  You would never guess by looking at the 63.02 house that it is only about 260 square feet.

You may be wondering where this strange name originated.  The 63.02 derives its name from the fact that the house is inclined 63.02 degrees.  The 63.02 is a stunning piece of architecture and design inside as well, proving once again that much can be packed into a small space.  Check out Yanko Design to learn more about this fantastic concept.
Another tiny home coming from Japan is the ‘Atelier for calligrapher’ by the Japanese architecture firm of Kochi Architect’s Studio.

Now the ‘Atelier for calligrapher’ could sort of be described as the slightly evil twin of Schemata Architecture Office’s 63.02 house.  Both tiny homes take advantage of the visceral use of unexpected angles and slightly off-balanced, yet paradoxically harmonious shapes.  Two big differences do exist between these two small wonders.  ‘Atelier for calligrapher’ has a dark exterior whereas 63.02 has a white exterior.  The second most striking difference is that the ‘Atelier for calligrapher’ has a rougher exterior, where the 63.02 is smooth.  ‘Atelier for calligrapher’ and several other very innovative designs can be seen at the Kochi Architect’s Studio.

Both of these homes are impressive examples of both what can be done with a small spaces, and  how Japanese architects are addressing the issue of space maximization.  With these talented architects, the tradition of building elegant and small structures is in good hands.  63.02 and ‘Atelier for calligrapher’ are definite inspiration for anyone wanting to build a standout home with a small footprint.  These Japanese houses have a small footprint both in the amount of land used, as well as in their overall impact upon the environment.

Those of you who are interested in earthships might enjoy following Jessica Reeder’s experiences as an intern at Earthship Biotecture.

In August 2008, Jessica sold or gave away most of her possessions and began traveling to learn “about sustainability, organic farming, green building, and ecological innovation.”

Jessica is an engaging writer who’s life seems to be a series of never-ending adventures.  Recently she’s written about her experiences visiting 611 Ecovillage, learning about Phenology (the study of reoccurring natural phenomena), and trying Rideshare as a means to get to Los Angeles.

Jessica has just began completing a month-long internship on earthships in Taos, New Mexico.

You can read her first few posts on earthships and follow her continuing adventure at Uprooted: An Eco-Travel Blog.

m-ch is pretty tiny, as its compact dimensions come in at 2.6m cubed.  This house is designed for one or two people.  m-ch stands for “micro compact home,” and while it is indeed on the tiny side it is also one of the coolest, hippest homes you are likely to see.  In fact, m-ch looks like something out of a big budget Hollywood science-fiction film.  Its distinctive and striking modern design reverberates well beyond its size.

The m-ch is definitely eco-friendly. Obviously, very little material or energy is needed to construct the home.  Likewise, the unit appears to consume a fairly low amount of energy, especially in the summer.  m-ch is a good potential choice for those looking for a eco-friendly small home or retreat home.

The m-ch was designed to be temporary housing in Europe.  It was the brainchild of a team of researchers and designers in London and at the Technical University in Munich.  For their inspiration they looked to the living spaces of yachts and aircraft, which are forced to maximize every free inch of space.  The result was the bold concept that now is the m-ch.

This tiny home is literally delivered to you on a truck, or if need be by helicopter.  Yes, the m-ch is actually small enough and lightweight enough that it can actually be delivered by helicopter.

If you want an m-ch home, they are currently manufactured in Europe, so shipping could be potentially cost prohibitive (depending on your budget.)  The m-ch costs between $25,000 and $34,000 depending on the contract, and comes with a 5-year guarantee.

The fact that the m-ch can be transported via helicopter, really opens up some interesting possibilities for this tiny home.  This is part of brilliance of the concept, as the m-ch can allow prospective homeowners the ability to have a home in an area that simply might have been too impractical otherwise.

No doubt the m-ch is a great design, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City must have agreed.  In October of 2008, the m-ch was part of the “Home Delivery: Fabricating the Modern Dwelling” exhibit.  Tiny home fans must check out this diminutive work of art.  Their website is www.microcompacthome.com.  Be on the lookout for the great photo of the m-ch being carried about via helicopter.

So, after reviewing my insightful and riveting journalistic series on earthships, you’ve decidde you simply have to have one of your own. What are your options?

1. Buy One

Buying an earthship that is up for sale is definitely the quickest and least labor-intensive available option for getting in to your own earthship. And there are realtors, like John Kejr, who specialize in earthship listings.

By purchasing an existing structure you can most likely avoid the headaches involved in terms of passing muster with the local zoning boards. In most cases, someone else has already done the work for you.

On the down side of buying an existing structure, earthships tend to involve a lot of individualistic expression. If your tastes differ from the prior owners, remodeling may require more effort than in more traditionally-built homes. Many mortgage companies are also leery of alternative homes. (Although, there are some who do offer financing on earthships).

Finally, buying an existing home is likely to be the most expensive option per square foot.

2. Build One Yourself

Michael Reynolds has done a fantastic job of documenting how to build an earthship from the ground up in his 3-volume series “Earthship”. Volume One focuses on basic building techniques. Volume Two covers systems and components. Volume Three covers evolutions in techniques since the first two volumes were written. There are also two supplemental books: Water from the Sky and Comfort in Any Climate which cover water management and solar design, respectively, in more detail. All of the books can be found on Amazon or ordered from the Earthship Biotecture Store.

If you’re nervous that you won’t have the necessary skills to build your home simply by reading the books, you also have the option of attending a weekend seminar or contributing labor on a demo project in order to gain some hands-on experience.

Building your own earthship will involve a great deal of manually-intensive work. Most people who build their own earthships take 3-4 years to complete their projects. On the plus side, however, building your own home allows you to build as the funds become available, allowing you to avoid having to take out a mortgage.

If you want to get a good idea what you’re in for, though, check out the following videos…

3. Hire Someone Else to Build One For You

A growing number of architects and builders are becoming familiar with earthships. Earthship Biotecture can refer you to one in your area or you can hire them to build one for you.

In fact, Earthship Biotecture has built enough homes that they actually offer packaged designs with several custom features which range in size from one to three bedrooms, and are the most economical way to employ their services. The packaged designs run roughly $150 per square foot to have them build.

If you want something more individualistic in design, they can do that, too. You can either for you.

Of course, with building, you’re either going to have to have the funds on hand or you’re going to have to find a lender willing to finance the project. In addition, if you’re building somewhere other than an existing earthship community, you’re going to have to jump through some hoops with the local zoning board in your area to get a building permit.

4. Have Someone Build the Shell and You Do the Rest

An option between #2 and #3 would be to have someone build the outer shell and set up the systems in the house (solar, water, greywater), and then finish the project yourself. Earthship Biotecture is willing to do this and odds are good you might be able to hire a local earthship-friendly builder to do the same.

This route allows you to enlist the experts for the most difficult aspects of construction and then either serve as your own general contractor to coordinate local workers or finish the home by yourself, reducing overall costs. With this approach, you could also finish individual spaces as you had the funds (and time). This also would give you maximum flexibility in terms of finishing details like cabinetry, wall treats, floor materials, etc.

This option is not as backbreaking as #2 and not as expensive as #3.

This list is not meant to be all-inclusive, but, hopefully I’ve given those of you who are interested in living in one of these fascinating homes a good starting point for investigating your options!

Earthship Biotecture currently rents out a couple of their earthships that are currently listed for sale by the night and the rates are quite reasonable.

I decided to stay in The Hut earthship, both because of it’s one-bedroom designed and because I had seen pictures of it in several books and was charmed by many of its interior features.

In particular, I loved the use of the round rooms, the quirky kitchen cabinets, the colorful canvas ceilings, round bedroom, the generous use of banana trees in the planters, and truly funky bathroom.

Aesthetically, the little earthship was everything I hoped for and more.  A large planter dominates the main living area, making it feel like you’ve carved a home in the middle of a rain forest. The dining room table attached to a large tree trunk which serves as a support pillar from the ceiling and hand-carved chairs also contributed to the feeling.

I wondered what I was going to think of the DC-based ceiling lights, but I really enjoyed their slightly dimmer light in the evening hours.  It almost felt like having starlight overhead.  And supplemental AC lights provided more than enough to work and read by after sunset.

The rammed earth and adobe walls provided an amazing amount of insulation to the outside, both in terms of temperature and noise.  Other than the sound of a winter storm brushing past the skylights in the ceiling, no external noises made their way into the home.  It really felt like I was camping out in a well-equipped little hobbit house, and it was a quite comfortable feeling.

I wondered if the lack of windows in the bedroom was going to feel claustrophobic to me.  But there was something really neat about sleeping in a round room  tucked back into the earth.  I felt like I had my own little burrow.  And with the bathroom with windows just beyond, I had natural light when I wanted it.

I could absolutely see myself living in an small earthship designed like The Hut full-time.  But let me give you the less than fully positives now…

Probably the biggest negative I experienced was the toilet. There was  faint but noticeable smell of sewage in the house the entire length of my visit.  If you’ve every visited a rest stop with compost-based toilets, it was about an equivalent level of smell.  Not intolerable, but definitely there.

The Hut has the current typical sewage system design, meaning that it runs on greywater that has been filtered from the planters and flushes into a solar-aided septic tank.  One of the things I was warned about when making arrangements for my stay is that earthships function there best when they’re inhabited on a regular basis.  The Hut, however, only gets visitors a couple times a month.  It’s very possible that not enough greywater had been generated recently (through things like bathing, washing dishes, etc.) to adequately supply and flush the toilet system.  I’m really not sure and wasn’t able to ask about it before I had to leave the next morning.

And just one more aside on the toilet…  I have to confess that it was initally a little disconcerting to try to use a toilet that was built on a platform several feet above the bathroom floor.  I’ve heard bathrooms referred to as “the throne room” before.  In this case, I think the description is distinctly appropriate.

The other downside to my stay is that the temperature inside the earthship was probably somewhere around 50 degrees overnight.  Not intolerable but definitely colder than I was used to.  Again, though, I had been cautioned that this particular earthship tended to get colder than most.  I think that was probably due to the limited southern exposure.  The Hut is tucked directly behind a berm which is obstructing some of the southern exposure.   The amount of large trees in the planter probably weren’t helping matters, either.  I suspect another contributor to cooler temperature was the kiva fireplace in the living room which seemed to be leaking warm air out through the chimney.  If I was to be living there, I’d want to try to determine what could be done to maintain the temperature a little better overnight.

One other incidental thing which surprised me was how humid it was inside the earthship compared to the outside air.  I’m sure this is due to the planters.  In New Mexico, a little increase in humidity is hardly a bad thing.  But I wouldn’t want to be dealing with it if I lived somewhere like Houston or Miami.

All in all though, I really enjoyed my time in an earthship.  And I’m excited by their potential to provide sustainable housing for people in the future.

(By the way, if you are as charmed by the photographs of The Hut as I was, it’s currently listed for sale with an asking price of $260,000.  If you buy it, however, I want visiting rights!)

If you want a great introduction to earthships and the mavrick architect behind them, I strongly recommend checking out the documentary film Garbage Warrior.

Garbage Warrior follows Michael Reynolds, founding father of earthships, over the course of three years in the U.S., India, and Mexico during the time in which Reynolds’ buildings came into his strongest conflict with New Mexico regulators.

Reynolds is passionate in his mission to develop radically sustainable housing.  And like most founding fathers of a movement, he is both a charismatic and exceptionally committed to his personal vision.  To quote one reviewer: “Garbage Warrior is above all an intimate portrait of an extraordinary individual and his dream of changing the world.”

Copies of the DVD can be purchased through Earthship Biotecture or through the Sundance Channel on iTunes.

Michael Reynolds and Earthship Biotecture has done a great job of putting together some introductory earthship videos.  Included below are a few of the better ones.

I’m not sure how I first heard about earthships. I think it may have been several years ago through my brother, Chris, who has been interested in alternative and sustainable architecture long before I was. But, however it initially happened, my interest was rekindled when I came to stay with Charlie in New Mexico while the worst of the renovations to my house where being done.

Taos, New Mexico is ground zero for earthships. Their creator, Michael Reynolds, has lived in the area since the 1960′s. There are now three earthship communities established in the area.

Earthships are a form of radically sustainable architecture. Their basic building blocks consist of recycled tired packed with earth. Recycled cans and bottles are also frequently used to build walls, particularly interior ones, and also as decorative elements in the construction. On top of this are cement and stucco.

Earthships, with their large southern exposures, are designed to take advantage of solar gain. Their rammed earth walls that are surrounded with earth also provide thermal mass which continues to provide heat through the night.

One of the things that impresses me the most about these structures is how they manage water. The houses are designed to capture rain and snow melt on their roof, funneling it into large cisterns built into the structures. The cisterns gravity feed a water module that is equipped with a pump and filtration system to make it drinkable. Water that is used in the sinks, is then fed into the large planters into the house, providing another rough filtration system, and then used as water in the toilet. After the toilet, the water is contained and treated through a solar septic system, and then used a fourth time in exterior botanical areas. Generally a solar hot water system is tied to a propane on-demand heater to ensure hot water for showers. (One of my personal, must-have creature comforts.)

In terms of electricity, earthships use a photovoltaic / wind power system. The majority of lights and appliances inside an earthship run on DC power, as energy is lost when you convert from solar power to AC. However, AC outlets are also provided. During my stay in an earthship, I did not run into problems in terms of the amount of energy I was drawing from using either my laptop or the TV that was in the home.

I love that earthships are self-contained systems that generate their own heat and power. With their sprawl of plant cells, they also provide the ability to raise a substantial amount of your own produce.

But what also attracts me equally to earthships are their aesthetics. Interior earthship walls are almost always stucco, and frequently in the bright, southwestern colors I love. Glass bottles are frequently used for ornamentation, and end up lighting rooms in a prism of colors. Because all of the walls in an earthship are handshaped, there are often circular and curved walls which you don’t tend to find in more traditional homes. Rooms have a much more creative, organic feeling to me. And I adore the sunlight and extensive array of plants you find along the southern exposure of these homes.

Because several people I’ve spoken with recently have never heard of earthships, I’ve attached a gallery of images below to help you get a feel. The majority of these images come from the Earthship Biotecture website. If they seem like your kind of thing, I encourage you to check out their website. It’s the best online resource out there for learning more about earthships.

These structures really are amazing and can easily be adapted to a small-size home.