Micro-Dwellings Presentation, Discussion, and Design Challenge

Details

Micro dwellings, and small living spaces are a trend that is gathering force. Micro-dwellings can range from apartment units in the city, to small cabins in rural landscapes, to shipping container studios and dwellings, and treehouses. Just in my own conversations with friends, I've heard so many people talk about the desire to create a small living space to get out from the overhead of home ownership, and the rent cycle. New York City's Mayor Bloomberg announced a design challenge at the New York chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) for a micro apartment (http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20120709/REAL_ESTATE/120709930) of 120 sq ft., that the city would sanction. The Tumbleweed Tiny House Company (http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/) will deliver a micro-cabin to your location of preference. Lo-Tek (http://www.lot-ek.com/) and other companies are designing studios and small dwellings are being created from shipping containers. Beautifully designed tree houses are popping up all over. In-Tenta (http://trendland.com/drop-eco-hotel/) has created a portable "Drop Eco Hotel Room" concept. Studio Dré Wapenaar (http://www.drewapenaar.com/) creates beautiful modern tent designs

We will do a presentation about different types of microdwellings. Then we will have a Q and A/ discussion period around the concept of micro-dwellings, how to design them beautifully and with a high level of design, and what community systems would be needed to make this a healthy and sustainable lifestyle (ie. my own thoughts include an additional sanctuary space for personal down-time, and conflict resolution formats for human beings living in closer quarters.

We'll also consider the possibility of creating a Design Venturers Design Challenge around creating micro-dwelling designs of our own.

Come join the discussion, bring your own cool ideas, and links.

Best,

Lisa and Steve

Here are a list of links to some of the cooler spaces that we've come across on the internet:Micro-Dwellings:
Tumbleweed Tiny House Company:
http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/

DesignBoom: Tiny Houses:
http://www.designboom.com/contemporary/tiny_houses.html

Accessory Dwellings:
http://accessorydwellings.org/what-adus-are-and-why-people-build-them/

tumblr.com/ micro homes:
http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/micro%20homes

Mother Earth News/ 8 great micro houses
http://www.motherearthnews.com/natural-home-living/8-great-micro-houses.aspx#axzz2JyHKKVfi

Inhabitat/ Tiny House Trend Grows Bigger
http://inhabitat.com/small-space-living-tiny-house-trend-grows-bigger/

Micro Compact Home:
http://microcompacthome.com/company/

bluHOMES:
http://www.bluhomes.com/homes/

miniHOME:
http://sustain.ca/

kitHAUS:
http://www.kithaus.com/

Shipping Container Homes:
Dwell Magazine/ Five Inspirational Shipping Container Homes:
http://www.dwell.com/house-tours/article/five-inspirational-shipping-container-homes

Fast Company/ CoExist/ Prefab Shipping Container Homes:
http://www.fastcoexist.com/1680848/these-gorgeous-sustainable-pre-fab-houses-fit-in-a-shipping-container#6

LO-TEK:
http://www.lot-ek.com/