Everything you need to know about the Tiny House movement

Among lifestyle trends there are always movements that respond to essential needs and ways of perceiving the environment.

This is how the well-known Tiny House arose, which also came into the context of aesthetics, design and decoration, since it calls for a series of particular elements to be able to provide a level of basic comforts and a series of very exclusive benefits.

What is known as Tiny House cannot be cloistered within the field of architecture, because as I have been saying in these lines it is a movement that points towards a particular lifestyle trend.

The decision to adopt or not this lifestyle is not something that should be taken lightly, but it should be considered since, in addition to the benefits for those who make the decision, it also represents a more environmentally friendly option.

In this article I want you to know in depth what Tiny House is, how it arises, what needs it responds to, what the current trend in the world is like and many other information that will be interesting to you, and perhaps even make you consider joining this movement.

So let’s start with the basics:

What is Tiny House?

Although we could say that they are small houses, we could not summarize in that literal translation, it is necessary to go deeper so that you understand the concept well.

In fact, the Tiny Houses are not built with the sole objective of making them look beautiful, but rather they are part of an architectural movement that is growing and promotes a sustainable life, as well as the possibility of truly living big, but in a small house.

So it is an innovative concept with a fundamental philosophy of great value.

Now, it is important to emphasize that the Tiny House does not arise as a response to needs, although it covers them and solves a series of problems, that was not the source of the birth.

The reason why the Tiny House emerged and is consolidated as a movement rather than a passing fad, is because it is interested in the environment and minimalism.

It is the perfect option for people who seek happiness with less, who want personal freedom and who consequently achieve good economic freedom.

The Tiny House architectural movement leads people to decide to build their houses in non-traditional ways, following a philosophy that can be said to be the main one of the movement: fewer spaces is more.

The houses are about 35m2 (400 square feet), which means that 12 houses under the architectural characteristics of the Tiny House would fit on a basketball field, since they have a space of 420m2.

But if there is one thing we must make sure of, it is not to reduce the concept to size, since Tiny Houses are much more than a reduced size, it is not a small-scale life. Personally, I would say that it is a life on a large scale in a small space, among other things that I will continue to share throughout this article, so follow me!

Are they synonymous with a life of sacrifice?

It could be thought that living in 35 square meters is a sacrifice, in addition to the rest of the characteristics of the Tiny House that I will comment on throughout this article, however, it could not be considered that way. That is to say, Tiny House is not a movement that is related to a life of sacrifice.

Having a Tiny House is a decision, it is not a decision made under the pressure of a need, but rather you choose to live in small houses, but very functional and attached to a particular lifestyle.

Tiny Houses may be small, but they are also well designed, equipped and built. Therefore, they offer a good level of comfort in which you do not have more than you need, therefore it does not restrict your options but allows you to live fully without wasting resources.

What has made Tiny House become a popular movement?

The sense of social movement that has been given to this type of architecture has made it a whole philosophy of life.

People choose to reduce the size of the space they inhabit, taking it to between 10m2 and 40m2, when, for example, in the United States a house of a fairly common size can measure 240m2.

So that’s a very significant reduction in space.

Functionality and efficiency

In addition to size, shapes are also very characteristic aspects, since many types of shapes are created that allow the person not only to reduce the space they inhabit, but also to obtain a more functional and efficient house.

Functional and efficient, already mentioned, is another attraction of the Tiny House. An enumeration of the most relevant reasons why this movement has become so popular can be the following:

• Environmental awareness
• The desire for more freedom
• Financial concerns

The alternative of another lifestyle

Most importantly, this tiny house movement has allowed people to have another lifestyle choice, offering a sense of financial freedom in a world where most people spend at least a third of their income on living place.

On average, a person can spend 15 years of his life paying the mortgage on his house, therefore having an alternative that allows him to avoid investing a large part of his life in it has made the Tiny House a popular movement.

Facts regarding the growing popularity of tiny houses

It cannot be denied that the movement is more active in North America, however it is gaining strength in the rest of the countries of the world.

These are some of the data regarding the popularity of Tiny Houses in other parts of the world:

• In Scotland prototypes of small houses of 23m2 have been created, among them there are mobile models and others modular.
• In Great Britain, in the city of Manchester, the ABITO structure has designed 28m2 tiny houses.
• In Germany, a Tiny House model called Micro Compat Home has been developed, this has 7.1m2. It could be the smallest model in the world, and its creator is the architect Richar Horton, in collaboration with the Technical University of Munich.
• Spain is not left out, in Barcelona the architects Eva Prast and Ricardo Flores design and build a 28m2 Tiny House.

So it is undeniable that this lifestyle has spread throughout the world, due to its functionality, efficiency and because it represents a cheaper option.

The big question is, would you join this lifestyle?

There is still a lot to know, so read on to find out more about the Tiny Houses.

Is it an alternative to live in a sustainable way?

In terms of construction, maintenance, taxes, repair, heating, among other variables, the bigger the house, the more expensive it will be.

That is why the alternative of being able to join a movement that offers a more sustainable lifestyle is tempting. In addition to spending much less, it contributes to the reduction of the ecological footprint and gains greater freedom.

Tiny House is an alternative to live in a sustainable way, change your lifestyle in favor of both personal and collective benefits. It is a way of contributing to the preservation of the environment.

Self-sufficiency and recycling of materials

The system proposed by Tiny House is thus synonymous with economy, without this implying giving up the comforts or diminishing the quality of the space.

The houses are built based on the most ideal spatial configurations to fulfill dual purposes, including multifunctional furniture, incorporating technological advances that also help meet the objective of saving space.

In the same way, it is also committed to optimizing vertical space, this being one of the most common characteristics in most of the small house models that enter the Tiny House movement.

All that has been explained above are aspects related to self-sufficiency, which is the essence of this type of house. This is how the houses are adapted to a very particular style of citizens, which are the «nomadic citizens».

Nomadic citizens are those who do not want to anchor themselves to a single place for life, but who have the willingness to always be on the move, in search of new and better opportunities, who want to find ideal environments for their children to grow up.

For this reason, Tiny House includes a series of mobile solutions, such as mobile homes, among others, that can be moved very easily by trucks.

Use of public spaces

When asked if Tiny Houses represent a sustainable lifestyle alternative, it should be mentioned that they also generate the use of public spaces, so it can be said that yes, it is a very timely alternative for a lifestyle. more environmentally friendly.

So it could be a good lifestyle for you, if you are a person concerned about the ecological footprint that you are leaving and if you consider yourself a kind of nomadic citizen.

And why do I tell you that Tiny Houses generate more use of public spaces?

The fact that the right and basic space is available encourages people to occupy public spaces, which promotes a greater bond with neighbors, enhances life in community and establishes the ideal conditions for mutual collaboration and exchange of knowledge.

So this movement proposes a challenge to society, and it is to overcome individuality to join a more collective consciousness and to meet the other.

That is why it can be conceptualized as an architectural movement with a social, cultural and environmental dimension.

How much can a Tiny House cost?

First of all, it is important to note that in Spain, until now, people do not usually live in mini-houses, but rather take advantage of them as a second home, having them available for holidays and weekends.

However, in America it is common for people to take the Tiny House as their main and permanent home, as well as in other parts of the world.

As I have said before, the Tiny House does not represent an option that is taken for economic convenience, but the economy can be considered as an extra benefit, the decision must be based on the consideration of the lifestyle it represents.

In Spain, a well-equipped mini-house can have an approximate value of 30,000 euros. While in the United States you can buy a mini-house for $ 35,000 and up.

To have a more variable idea, in South America, in countries like Argentina and Colombia, they can be obtained from 45 thousand dollars.

It cannot be said that it is a very affordable style of houses, but without a doubt it is more accessible and saves you from a mortgage, excessive taxes and high service payments.

The Tiny House movement at its finest includes building the house itself. With all that this entails: savings, personalization, personal fulfillment, etc.

Conclution

This has been a walk through basic information for you to get to know the Tiny House movement better.

A curious fact in relation to the Tiny House movement is that Japan was also one of the main promoters, since it promoted smaller and cheaper houses, which also adapted to the environment where they were built. In the Asian country they were called «Kyosho Jutaku».

I must say that it is a very attractive option, with many benefits, that allows you to contribute to ecological well-being and therefore to the preservation of the environment and the resources that would guarantee a better future.

And to you, what did you think? Would you dare to take this lifestyle?