Not only are people across the globe looking at tiny houses for shelter because of the rising costs of land and building materials, many are also looking to lower their personal carbon footprint.
Although no bigger than a standard-sized bedroom, this micro-cabin, called the Kereru Retreat, is completely off-grid, strikingly minimalist, and very beautiful.
New Zealand Studio Well Architecture is the creator of this tiny house on wheels which is a great example of a bare-bones tiny build that embraces simplistic design, locally sourced materials, and sustainability.
The 186-sq-ft Kererū Retreat was built using salvaged timber and galvanized iron and presents itself as a very rustic cabin from the outside. It has an off-grid system that includes rooftop solar panels, a rainwater collection tank, a wood-burning fireplace, and a composting toilet.
The kitchen offers basic functionality, with a two-burner gas stove, a hidden mini fridge, and some overhead storage. It’s not the kind of kitchen you could cook large meals in, but it’s enough for one or two people. The dining nook to the side is comprised of a fold-down table for two, and round seats.
The master bedroom sits on an elevated area accessed by means of a few steps, with a small, storage-integrating couch placed down below, facing the wood-burning stove. The highlight of the bedroom is the large picture window that makes up most of the exterior wall.
Though it’s technically not an offsite home, the design could very easily be built in an offsite or modular factory without wheels and used as an ADU or in a village setting.
Food for thought.
Gary Fleisher is the Editor in Chief of Modular Home Source and Offsite Builder magazine. Email at [email protected]
Gary Fleisher, the Modcoach
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