A Small Case for the Tiny Home Movement

Victor Papanek stated, “We have learned to think of large cars as gas-guzzlers; similarly we must learn to see our homes as the space guzzlers they are,” in his book, “Design for the Real World.”

This is the back deck show with outdoor furniture and pergola sunshade

 While space has become an issue as populations increase in a non-linear fashion, other driving factors such as increased mobility, ownership without the mortgage, semi-permanent camping and tourism, and last but not least, the displacement of ‘the material’ for the benefit of simplicity, savings, and a reconnection with others and environment.

“We are designing these homes to empower the owner and offer abundance through a more sustainable lifestyle,” says President and Principal Designer at Phi Logic, Rob Irwin. “Foresight plays a huge factor in designing for the people, for the future. As the older demographics find themselves at the psychological cliff of retirement and the connotations that come with it, they find themselves in a position of choice and most of the time they want solace, simplicity and the opportunity to maintain a high quality of living without the overhead of a mortgage, or the maintenance that comes with owning a large home.”

In addition to the allure of tiny homes with the aging population, younger professionals are too finding themselves in a position to maintain a high quality of life, be near their place of employment while being near the progressive bustle that a city brings without the high costs of renting.

These ‘coming of age’ professionals also have a very distinct outlook on life and their place in it. No longer is the world seen as an immense sphere of endless resource offerings, clean air and crystal clear water. To many, living in a tiny-home is a statement about who they are and a physical externalization of their beliefs about wanting to live in a clean, safe and sustainable way.

The implications of continuing the malignant spread of cities and meandering communities of pavement cul-de-sacs into the very biodiversity we rely upon is certain disaster. While there are other overarching systems in place that top the loss of habitat, this is at least one thing you can take a stand and do something about.