Prototype Tiny Home

Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Area: 15m2
Completion date: 2014   
Design company: IQ Container Homes Ltd www.iqcontainerhomes.co.nz
Photography: Hayden Spurdle        

Motivated by a desire to create an off-grid tiny house to live in while a larger home could be approved and built, this father-daughter project provided hands-on experience with design and construction and served as a learning curve and test model for container-based construction. 

The home is wired 12v with power supplied by 2x150w solar panels and 2x6v batteries stored in a utilities cupboard on the covered porch. This also houses the fuses, solar inverter controller, and small pump which provides water to the home collected from the roof into 2 external tanks. Water is heated via an instantaneous gas califont.

The main living area is <10m2 and shows what can be achieved in a space small enough to not need consent based on local NZ legislation. The final design features a ground floor bedroom with double bed and plenty of storage for clothes. Curtains can close this room off from the rest of the home. A mezzanine floor accessed by stairs, which also include storage, features a TV/DVD player and couch that not only has built-in storage but converts to a double bed for guests. Large windows overlook the stunning bush setting and provide natural ventilation. LED strip lighting illuminates the room at night. 

A compact desk provides a practical workspace. Opposite this the kitchen features a gorgeous turquoise acrylic splashback and high gloss kitchen cabinetry. Due to local restrictions, cooking facilities are not allowed so a BBQ and portable gas burner are provided for outdoor use.  The bathroom is external and accessed off the covered porch. From the outside it looks like a shed with no windows but upon entering you are greeted with plenty of natural light & warmth due to the clear light roofing, showcasing the overhead trees and birdlife and creating a sense of being at one with nature.