Repurposing materials to create a home is at the heart of any sustainable living endeavor. The tiny home recently built by Stefan Cook of A Biggish Tiny House is a prime example of repurposing and salvaging building materials done right. He’s a resident of Christchurch, New Zealand, which experienced devastating earthquakes in 2010 and 2011. Stefan salvaged the materials left behind by the devastation to build his own tiny home and recently gave a tour of it at Living Big in a Tiny House.
Stefan’s home measures just 215 square feet and his main aim when building it was to create a comfortable home while keeping the building costs down. While the home is sustainable, Stefan does not consider himself a dedicated greenie or tree hugger. He simply did what he had to given the circumstances.
His tiny home design yielded a house that is small, yet still feels spacious. The entire interior space was left open and houses a kitchen, dining area and a lounge. The bedroom is located in a lofted area, which stretches for almost the entire length of the home, and consists of enough space for a double bed and a few cupboards for clothes. It is accessible via an ingenious staircase rather than just a ladder. The bathroom consists of a shower and is separated from the main living area by plywood panels and a curtain. The kitchen is fully equipped with a small gas stove and fridge.
Stefan also installed large windows, which he salvaged from local dumps. The windows are double glazed, alloy-framed windows, which serve to let in plenty of natural daylight. Large windows like these throughout the house also do a lot to lessen the feeling of claustrophobia of living in such a tiny space.
All told, he invested $15,000 into building his home, and is currently still in the process of taking it off-the-grid by installing solar panels and other energy efficient features. His home is also mounted on a trailer but due to its’ rather larger size Stefan does not plan on transporting it too often.
Related Articles on JetsonGreen.com:
Teacher Builds a Tiny House Heated by a Passive Sun Room
Lovely Tiny Home in the Middle of the Forest
Organic Living in a Tiny Home
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