Page 43 - 2021 SDCA Project

A tiny house is defined as a residence with a maximum of 400 square feet, not including A Strategy For

loft space. The traditional tiny house is usually built on a trailer bed to avoid certain zoning
restrictions and allow for travel. The interior typically consists of a central room that serves
as the kitchen and living room, a sleeping loft accessible via ladder, and a bathroom. Sustainable Housing

However, there is much flexibility in the design of a tiny house, with much of it depending
on the user and the purpose of the house. Some utilize an external composting toilet rather

than an interior bathroom, while others connect the tiny house to a main house, making a
kitchen area unnecessary.

With a surge in sustainability-minded individuals, the tiny house movement, an architectural
movement encouraging the use of tiny house living, has gained serious traction recently. Flexible Purposing

Beginning in the 19th century with a focus on “living with nature,” the movement has
evolved to use minimalism, multi-functional spaces, and multi-use furniture in an attempt to There is much flexibility in the design of a tiny house with
reduce the negative environmental impact humans have on the Earth. However, this idea of much of it depending on the user and the purpose of the house.

sustainable design has moved past simply utilizing energy-efficient materials and products
in construction. The definition has expanded to include social and economic aspects,

meaning that architects are utilizing design to solve societal issues like homelessness,
systemic racism, and poverty. As a result, affordability has become another goal when Functional Space
constructing tiny houses. The reduced physical space minimizes the materials needed in
...the movement has evolved to use minimalism, multi-
construction, which makes the house more affordable. The home itself requires less HVAC,
plumbing, and electricity, reducing utility costs. In addition, the restrictions on space cause functional spaces, and multi-use furniture in an attempt to

homeowners to buy fewer belongings. This, combined with the poor economic state from reduce the negative environmental impact humans
2007- 2009, led to a rise in the number of tiny houses, continuing the tiny house.

The increase in home size is astounding, especially when the average number of people Social Impact

per household has decreased from 3.06 to 2.54. With the average median house price
being $330,800 in March 2021, many individuals cannot afford the traditional house. Since ...moved past simply utilizing energy-efficient materials
tiny houses have lower taxes and insurance costs, lower expenses for maintenance, and
and products in construction. The definition has expanded
little to no mortgage, many millennials have opted for them, rather than take on the debt
to include social and economic aspects...
buying a traditional house would require. Tiny houses, due to their affordability, have

increasingly been used to address social sustainability. By building them as temporary
shelters—a simple A-frame building with one room for sleeping— homelessness can be
addressed. They can also serve as transitional housing after national disasters. For

example, after hurricane Katrina, several “Katrina Cottages” were constructed to house
people who had lost their homes.

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