FUTURE
FLEX
How do you design a tiny house with the greatest possible flexibility for the residents?
Sustainable requirements, combined with lifestyle changes and the recently significantly increased costs for building and maintaining residential properties, make the trend of micro-living particularly interesting right now.
To offer a resource-efficient life in minimal space in an appealing way, it is important to make optimal use of the available space and create a certain level of luxury and a pleasant living atmosphere despite the constraints. Aesthetic, mass-market design is crucial for bringing the concept of micro-living further into the mainstream.
The presented concept is designed for a young working couple who should be able to live comfortably together in 25 square meters. The building design should not be tied to a specific location or region.
2023 / Builder Microhouse Competition
THE BUILDING CONCEPT
The building concept is based on a circular approach. A modular structure should combine personal preferences of the residents with a common parts strategy that allows the potential reuse of building elements.
Future expansion of the living space, for example due to an increase in the family, should also be possible. Wall modules can be removed and replaced with an additional living module. If it is no longer needed after a certain period of time, for example after 18 years, the building can be rebuilt to its original size. When the building is no longer in use, it can be dismantled, rebuilt in another location or used as a material resource for a new project.
In order to make these processes as smooth as possible and to maintain control over the material flows, the concept is based on a flexible rental model in which the modules always remain in the possession and thus under the control of the renting company.
It is a solid wood construction that is attached to a screw foundation. The durability and insulating properties of the material, as well as the fact that it is a renewable resource, speak for themselves. The facade is made of charred wood (Yakisugi), which is extremely durable, low-maintenance and sustainable. Light, specially treated larch wood (Accoya) is also used for aesthetic contrast. Almost all of the materials used meet the Cradle to Cradle criteria.
THE MATERIALS
The primary energy supply is provided by an intelligent photovoltaic island system. In order to make the best possible use of energy flows, bidirectional charging with an electric vehicle is also supported. In this way, the vehicle can also "supply" electricity to the building during adverse weather conditions.
Rainwater is collected for water supply and processed into drinking water through various filters. Grey water is also filtered and collected for watering the garden.
A composting toilet eliminates the need for a sewer system. The waste is used as fertilizer and to make potting soil.
Additional features such as a wood-burning stove for cooking and heating provide additional freedom.
THE SELF-SUFFICIENCY
Flexibility in the design of a small living space is crucial. Shared activities, a certain degree of privacy, and hosting friends should be possible without limitations.
To achieve this, a large storage element forms the centerpiece of the living area. It separates the living and sleeping areas from the kitchen and bathroom, which are located behind it and divided by a hollow wall. This wall serves as storage for two sliding doors, which allow the living-sleeping area to be divided in the middle, creating privacy when needed and expanding the functionality of the space in various ways.
THE LIVING SPACE
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