The aim of this book is not just to showcase a collection of well-designed small houses, tiny houses, or what we happily call 'nano houses'. We want to draw attention to structures that demonstrate a resounding appreciation for space, resources and materials through their effective use on a small scale. Some of the houses might be described as quirky or experimental, while others offer a more traditional approach. But all should provoke a discussion about design,efficiency, sustainability, proportion, harmony, function and necessity. Here is a survey of more than forty projects from around the world that rethink the feasibility of minimal living space in terms of all of those elements, and ask if perhaps we can do things better, even as we do them smaller.
In our growing cities, space is at a premium.In the countryside, we want to preserve the landscape and build as 'lightly' as possible.And in impoverished parts of the world,the need for sustainable, economical shelter is stronger than ever. At the same time,digital design tools, eco-materials and new brefabrication technologies have all led to an explosion in innovative ideas for our domestic spaces. Today's challenge for architects and designers is to produce small-scale habitats that are more ecological, flexible and efficient,as well as adhering to modern standards of style and comfort. Nano House offers the latest and most exciting solutions for houses where space is at a premium, nature must be preserved or accommodation created for those who need it most.
INTRODUCTION: SPACE-SAVING IDEAS
1. BUILT COMPACT HOUSES
VILLA HERMINA
HSH Architekti
Cernin, Czech Republic
HOUSE IN HIRO
Suppose Design Office
Hiroshima, Japan
CASA XS
BAK Arquitectos
Mar Azu], Argentina
XXS HOUSE
Dekleva Gregoric Arhitekti
Ljubljana, Slovenia
L41
Michael Katz, Janet Corne
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
HOUSE LINA
Ulrich Aspetsberger, Caramel Architekten
Linz, Austria
TRAILERWRAP
Michael Hughes and students
University of Colorado-Boulder, USA
A FOREST FOR A MOON DAZZLER
Benjamin Garcia Saxe
Guanacaste, Costa Rica
ONE+ MINIHOUSE
Add-A-Room
Stockholm, Sweden
2. SMALL AND MOBILE
BLOB
dmvA Architecten
Antwerp, Belgium
SILBERFISCH
Confused-Direction
O]denburg, Germany
FINCUBE
Studio Aiss]inger
Bozen, Italy
SHELTER NO. 2
Broissin Architects
Tepotzotlan, Mexico
ROLL-IT
Institut for Entwerfen und Bautechnik
University of Karlsruhe, Germany
POD HOME
Usa Tilder, Stephen Turk
Ohio State University, USA
ARKIBOAT
Drew Heath
Sydney, Australia
BUBBLE HOUSE
MMASA Arquitectos
A Coruna, Spain
3. MICRO-RETREATS
CASA INVITADOS
AATA Arquitectos
Licancheu, Chile
MERRY-GO-ROUND HOUSE
Bureau Ira Keeps
Drenthe, Netherlands
VACATION CABIN
Stephen Atkinson Architecture
Durango, Colorado, USA
LE CABANON
Cyril Brule, Atelier Corpeia
Villiers-en-Morvan, France
CHEN HOUSE
Casagrande Laboratory
Sanjhih, Taipei, Taiwan
SUNSET CABIN
Taylor Smyth Architects
Lake Simcoe, Ontario, Canada
EARTH HOUSE
BCHO Architects
Gyeonggi-de, South Korea
HOLIDAY HOUSE
Paan Architects
VSto, Sweden
BATH HOUSE
Craig Chatman, ARKit
Collingwood, Victoria, Australia
4. BIG IDEAS FOR LOW ENERGY
PACO 3M3
Jo Nagasaka and Schemata Architecture Office
Tokyo, Japan
BOXHOME
Rintala Eggertsson Architects
Oslo, Norway
SILO HOUSE
Cornell University
Solar Decathlon 2009, USA
SOLAR HOUSE I
Ohio State University
Solar Decathlon 2009, USA
LUMENHAUS
Virginia Tech University
Solar Decathlon Europe 2010, Spain
IKAROS HOUSE
University of Applied Sciences Rosenheim
Solar Decathlon Europe 2010, Spain
NAPEVOMO
Arts et Metiers ParisTech, Bordeaux
Solar Decathlon Europe 2010, Spain
FABLAB HOUSE
TAAC with the MIT Center for Bits and Atoms
Solar Decathlon Europe 2010, Spain
SMARTBOX
University of Wuppertal
Solar Decathlon Europe 2010, Spain
5. BIG IDEAS MULTIPLIED
INSTANT LUNG
Ryszard Rychlicki, 2RAM
Milan, Italy
MORERAVA COTTAGES
AATA Arquitectos
Easter Island, Chile
HOUSE ARC
Joseph Bellomo Architects
Hawaii, USA
MEADOW COTTAGES
Patkau Architects
Mill Run, Pennsylvania, USA
SOE KER TIE HOUSES
TYIN Tegnestue
Noh Bo, Tak, Thailand
PEAK SERIES
Vision Division
Solna, Sweden
HALF-A-HOUSE
Elemental Chile
Monterrey, Mexico / Milan, Italy
PROJECT CREDITS
ARCHITECT INFORMATION
PICTURE CREDITS