Micro Living is a Deliberate Act
By: Diane Tuman, Zillow Content Manager | April 27, 2007
You read about the guy who lives in a 96-square foot house outside of Sebastopol, California (of course it’s California!) and you think, “Why would anyone want to do that?” Then you see his occupation is “artist-builder” and say, “No wonder.” But in reading the article (photo above by SFGate.com), you see it was an evolution of sorts. Back when he lived in Iowa, he wanted less — less of an impact on everything, but mainly housework — so he bought an Airstream trailer, but soon discovered that cold winters in an uninsulated trailer in Iowa is not fun. (I’m cold just thinking about it).
After the trailer debacle, he built his own little house, which spawned his love of simple living, even co-founding the Small House Society and a company that builds small houses: the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company. It’s really quite fascinating, this deliberate way to live. Thoreau would be proud, I’m sure.
This must be the week of small things because Wired magazine recently featured the Micro Compact Home, which was developed by the University of Munich. It measures 266cm x 266cm x 266cm, but since I am so bad at math — even worse, it’s in a metric measurement — I’ll leave it to you to figure out how it matches up to the California guy’s tiny house. By the way, the photo to the right shows a micro home being dropped into location. “Oh look, honey, here comes our house!”
I commend anyone who can purge their belongings to this level of living. It is freeing, I agree. I felt a huge victory after whittling my clothes down so much that I no longer have to alternate my “winter clothes” with my “summer clothes” in my highly valued drawer space. They’re all together now: short sleeves with long sleeves.
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- Categories: Friday Fun, Real Estate Oddities
Comments
9 Comments so far
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shaun mclane on April 30, 2007 4:56 am
Makes my little 450 sq ft living space seem posh in comparison. I enjoy simple living as well, but considering my 450 sq ft are on 25 acres, i can’t complain a bit.
Tawnya Pelt on December 31, 2007 10:30 pm
This is awsome!! I am very impressed with the entire project. I find it very refreshing to see a home of this size that is being accepted in modern society. It stands like a mighty giant aginst the “McMansions” of our affluent society. The house is tastefuly done, neat,tidy, efficent and affordable for single home dwellers. Bravo!
toemen on January 11, 2008 10:41 am
I think thay you are crazy living in a house that size.
Stephanie Duncan on April 16, 2008 1:24 pm
I would like to see these built on my foundation’s land, located in the Lake of the Ozarks. Please contact me.
Dru on October 26, 2008 11:27 pm
Considering that our ancestors lived quite comfortably in a two room cabin, yurt or adobe dwelling, it should come as no surprise that some of us don’t feel the neet to be shackled to a 30 year, $4k a month payment plan for a 1500 sq. foot house on the West Side of Los Angeles (and that’s on the LOW end)
More power to this guy. The less the bank has you over a barrel, the more you can do with your life.
Chuck on November 20, 2008 2:18 pm
Like Dru said that’s one extreme. What do people like this do with their 7 years of tax receipts, mail & shoes? I guess they don’t collect any of those uncessary things. I’m all for scaling down but I find it a bit riduculous. Interesting we don’t see any single women with kids choosing to live in tin cans.
Jon Friday on January 5, 2009 2:14 pm
I think this is awesome!! Hats off to you guys who actually followed through and made it happen. I am just in the planning phase, and looking for a piece of property. I have drawn up my own plans, and think that everything will fit quite nicely in about 250 sq.ft. I think a large deck with some outside storage bins will free up some space inside. If there is any thoughts our advice, resources or just input I would greatly appreciate it. Also, with the current ecconomic situation. I am working towards being debt free, and practicing my bow and arrow as much as possible. Surviving with stick and string isn’t to unrealistic.
thanks,
Jon.
Krystina on May 11, 2009 12:24 pm
I think society today makes you think that you have to have a big house and pristine yard to be accepted as having “good taste” or normal. Those who live in motorhomes (im talking about people who keep up on upkeep) trailers or other small means of living are talked about like they are some kind of subspecies… really its more like the have more mind power- because they can cope and deal with a small space and they don’t put much emphasis on “having things”.
Brittany on June 30, 2009 2:04 pm
I’m all for living in small spaces, especially considering most Americans live in multi-bedroom houses they don’t need, but this is more extreme than I could ever hope to handle. Nevertheless, good for him for making the decision to live small and sticking to it.