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This Three-Story Tiny House Fits In The Footprint Of A Parking Space
FastCompany.com ^ | 10/23/2017 | Adele Peters

Posted on 11/01/2017 4:52:08 AM PDT by simpson96

In Helsinki, like many cities, there isn’t enough housing to keep up with demand. Some people blame a lack of land to build new housing, but one design firm argues that there is enough land–if you know where to look. The firm’s new building is designed to fit in a single parking spot.

“The city is not designed because of humans–it’s designed because of cars,” says architect Marco Casagrande, principal at the Helsinki-based Casagrande Laboratory, which designed the new tiny house. “All the streets in cityscapes are based on car dimensions. This I found a little bit strange. We have all this talk about the density of cars getting less and less in cities, and at the same time, we are talking about people moving into cities . . . but we don’t have space to build. Nobody has been questioning car parking spaces. They are everywhere. So this talk about no land to build in cities is nonsense: It’s everywhere, but it’s just for cars.”(snip)

The first prototype doesn’t have space for a kitchen or running water, based on the reasoning that someone living in the middle of an urban neighborhood could get food elsewhere and shower at a gym (it does have a composting toilet). It runs on its own solar panels, and the wood material is self-insulating and warm in winter, so it doesn’t need to be hooked up to the grid. But the architects are now working on designs that can also be connected to water and work more like conventional housing.(snip)

The architects are already getting orders to produce the houses, which cost around $40,000 for three stories. “It’s like [the price of] your average car,” he says.

(Excerpt) Read more at fastcompany.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Society
KEYWORDS: tinyhouse; tinyhouses
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To: MrEdd
"The best tiny houses are really very upscale mobile dwellings. You can get a log cabin built on a trailer that is insulated and durable like standard housing, but which can be moved across the country to follow the job market."

Or you could just go old-school and purchase a fifth-wheel travel trailer: more room, less stairs, already comes with kitchen and bathroom of its own.

21 posted on 11/01/2017 5:28:22 AM PDT by BlueLancer (ANTIFA - The new and improved SturmAbteilung)
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To: gr8eman

People had no running water or cooking facilities in most 19th century tenements. Is that urban ideal coming back?


22 posted on 11/01/2017 5:35:01 AM PDT by Tax-chick (The bigger the problem, the less likely a solution can be politically feasible.)
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To: simpson96
“The city is not designed because of humans–it’s designed because of cars,” says architect Marco Casagrande, principal at the Helsinki-based Casagrande Laboratory, which designed the new tiny house. “All the streets in cityscapes are based on car dimensions. This I found a little bit strange. We have all this talk about the density of cars getting less and less in cities, and at the same time, we are talking about people moving into cities . . . but we don’t have space to build. Nobody has been questioning car parking spaces. They are everywhere. So this talk about no land to build in cities is nonsense: It’s everywhere, but it’s just for cars.”(snip)

Wow, those cars sure knew how to dominate things.

23 posted on 11/01/2017 5:36:02 AM PDT by Lonely Bull ("When he is being rude or mean it drives people _away_ from his confession and _towards_ yours.")
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To: KMG365
"Agree. I don’t know why anyone would spend $40K on a tiny house when they could buy a very nice travel trailer for half the cost. Tiny houses are not made to be hauled around on highways; they certainly aren’t aerodynamic."

I see older used boats that are more than enough to live on in port(marina) all the time for less than this and it's a much cooler living space.

24 posted on 11/01/2017 5:51:02 AM PDT by WeWaWes (When I look in the mirror I see an elephant--a bad ass elephant)
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To: tflabo
I’d rather live in a treehouse with a little land and no noisy neighbors.

BUMP!

25 posted on 11/01/2017 5:52:08 AM PDT by upchuck (We're making ourselves a society too stupid to survive. ~ Mark Steyn)
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To: Tax-chick
"They could sleep in their car, too."

You nailed it.

26 posted on 11/01/2017 5:52:30 AM PDT by Truth29
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To: SamAdams76

Liberals can’t wait until we’re all jammed into homes like that.


27 posted on 11/01/2017 5:57:10 AM PDT by SMARTY ("Nearly all men can stand adversity...to test a man's character, give him power." A. Lincoln)
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To: simpson96

Nothing more exciting than a very tall, skinny house in a strong wind storm.......


28 posted on 11/01/2017 6:01:50 AM PDT by Hot Tabasco
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To: simpson96

the first gust of wind ... and that will be laying on its side.


29 posted on 11/01/2017 6:06:58 AM PDT by TexasFreeper2009
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To: simpson96

So you crap in a bucket and shower with the Village People. Boy those Swedes sure are progressive. Hell the 19th American century pioneers had an outhouse and a well.


30 posted on 11/01/2017 6:07:50 AM PDT by 762X51
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To: 762X51

Helsinki is in Finland.


31 posted on 11/01/2017 6:09:40 AM PDT by Tax-chick (The bigger the problem, the less likely a solution can be politically feasible.)
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To: Truth29

Years ago, one of my coworkers had a page-a-day calendar with sayings from a “Little Book of Advice” (or something like that). One piece of advice was, “Drive an old car, but buy the best house you can afford.” Underneath it, another coworker wrote in, “You can live in your car, but you can’t drive your house.”


32 posted on 11/01/2017 6:11:28 AM PDT by Tax-chick (The bigger the problem, the less likely a solution can be politically feasible.)
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To: Tax-chick

Indeed it is. I had just 30 seconds prior read an article about something or other in Malmo and mentally mashed them up. But never mind, all those Scandinavian countries are essentially the same right? Snow...reindeer...particle board furniture in a box with one piece missing...ugly cars...nice rifles...high taxes and lots of white people.


33 posted on 11/01/2017 6:20:58 AM PDT by 762X51
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To: SMARTY
Liberals can’t wait until we’re all jammed into homes like that.

I don't understand why it has to be a "liberal thing" to live economically. As a young single adult, a place like that (provided it had hot water and electricity) would have been perfect for me instead of the ratty apartment I rented for myself before getting married.

Now that I'm getting into my older years and my kids have left the nest, I no longer need the sprawling 4-bedroom house with the five acres (and the taxes that go with it). So long as I have my creature comforts like a walk-in shower, high bandwidth internet and a serviceable kitchen (as well as a deck to park my grill), I would happily move to a much smaller place. Especially now that all my books, music, etc., are digitalized.

34 posted on 11/01/2017 6:21:57 AM PDT by SamAdams76
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To: simpson96

Between trees, bridges, stoplights, utility lines, and other obstructions, that thing cannot be moved.


35 posted on 11/01/2017 6:30:31 AM PDT by Professional Engineer
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To: Professional Engineer

.
>> “Between trees, bridges, stoplights, utility lines, and other obstructions, that thing cannot be moved.” <<

Obviously!

In most states, a transportation rider cannot be issued for a move that is taller than 18 feet, and with good reason.

It is the responsibility of the mover to provide a route that is clear for their move, and to pay for the varification of that route by the affected authorities.

That alone would price them out!
.


36 posted on 11/01/2017 6:38:51 AM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: iowamark

.
>> “Looks nice, but needs running water.” <<

And a sewer connection!
.


37 posted on 11/01/2017 6:40:13 AM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: SamAdams76

Suit yourself


38 posted on 11/01/2017 6:43:30 AM PDT by SMARTY ("Nearly all men can stand adversity...to test a man's character, give him power." A. Lincoln)
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To: SamAdams76; SMARTY

.
>> “I don’t understand why it has to be a “liberal thing” to live economically.” <<

False summation !!!!

To live without freedom or dignity gets closer to the reality of the matter.
.


39 posted on 11/01/2017 6:43:36 AM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: SamAdams76
The whole question of travel trailers must not be that popular in Finland, or we have a case of an architect needing some free publicity.

A friend bought his Mother a 40’ trailer and moved it for about $8000 total to a park near Tulsa. Another $4000 for remodeling and Mom now has her own place that just costs her lot rent and a few taxes out of social security.

Newer trailers are nothing like I lived in back in the 60’s and 70’s. Still not a brick home but nice enough. Mom has her independence and Jr. visits her every week.

Lots of folks live in travel trailers moving around the country. Many churches have ministries where retired folks can drive across the country and help build churches and remodel orphanages. Our church sent a team of 26 to Alaska to help build out a church and plant. Very long drive from Texas, but also an affordable 4 month vacation.

Yeah, the more young people change the more they will end up like their parents, once they wise up.

40 posted on 11/01/2017 6:44:26 AM PDT by texas booster (Join FreeRepublic's Folding@Home team (Team # 36120) Cure Alzheimer's!)
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