There are folks using tiny houses as a solution to homelessness in Seattle
https://lihi.org/tiny-houses/
They get volunteer built tiny houses (the bathrooms seem to be communal, like in a campground) and homeless people have a safe lock-able place to sleep.
I know people who lived aboard boats, with the bathroom down the dock. Fun in your 20s, not so much at my age.
I would call it camping. B-)
@dragonmom NYC used to call those SROs when I was a grad student in the 80s. It was a favorite project of architects to try to figure out how to design ones that didn’t become drug havens. They are back, but we call them microapartments now.
And when I visit Seattle, the homeless situation has become unbelievable.
I am in a two bed two bath condo right now. (998 sq ft) and I love it. I feel it is roomy. I think I could downsize to a one bedroom and I would still be ok. When I think of a tiny house Ikea room displays come to mind.
The one I am looking at has a table for 12. Like this one,
That’s nice!!! But not so tiny. Basically a cabin on wheels.
It is tiny, I believe about 240 sq ft.
Can’t imagine living in this when it forty below outside… somewhere here in my neck of the woods - maybe.
I’ve been dreaming of vintage airstreams.
Well, with 12 people over in your 300 sq. foot tiny home, just pray no one needs to “use the bathroom.”
@-)
Our first apartment was left over from WWII officer’s housing. Two bedrooms but about 600 ft2. It was great fun for a couple of kids playing house at 20/22. We were thrilled with every square inch. I wouldn’t want to downsize to that sq ft now…
I only see a table for 6. And there’s no way to get from the kitchen to the table when the table is set up, other then bending down to floor level. My back hurts already.
There’s no actual chairs in there, only benches. My back hurts even more.
I never understand why there are such giant stoves with 4-6 burners in RVs and tiny houses – not to mention Manhattan studio apartments. I am a frequent and enthusiastic cook, and I rarely have more than two burners going at once. If you can do pasta water and pasta sauce simultaneously, you’re set. If I planned around two burners, I could make that work for all meals with no problem. I’d much rather have more counter space or a larger sink and fridge than 4+ burners.
I was thinking of getting a tiny house in a beautiful place when I retire, so stayed in an Airbnb to try it out. WAY too tiny, bed in the loft (I really hated that ladder in the middle of the night), composting toilet. The deal killer for me was that there wasn’t room for a couch, or even a comfortable chair, for just sitting and reading. (This was really tiny – built on a trailer frame. Google Tumbleweed Tiny Houses to see them.)
I think the finishes on this particular tiny home are beautiful and upscale, but I don’t think the “dining” setup is very practical and I didn’t see a couch area.
I can’t help but think that if I wanted a tiny house that I’d be able to move from place to place, then a trailer or motor home is a lot more practical because it’s easier to move and uses space more efficiently. My family did a lot of camping growing up and I particularly remember one motor home where the booth for eating would convert to a bed with minimal work: the table would drop down and the seat cushions for your back would then be placed on the table, so you’d have a flat area with a bottom bench cushion, then 2 back cushions and then another bottom bench cushion, which created a double bed.
I also think that if moving it around easily isn’t that important, then a mobile home gives you more room while still being a small area.
I think my grad student, who doesn’t own any “stuff” yet could do it. And she might even like it.
Any savings from a tiny house would be paid to a divorce attorney =))
My marriage can’t stand that much togetherness, lol.
@raclut - this is where we are headed in two weeks! Dh is retiring, and we are moving to our 935 sq ft, 2 BR/2 BA condo in Florida. It will be a major downsize for us, but we’ve been “practicing” in a same-sized apartment ever since we sold our house last April. We are ready!
However, I could never do, “tiny.” I suppose the benefit is that you don’t have to share walls or deal with condo associations (big dog controversy going on in our building right now). For me, clothing and food storage would both be a challenge. The latter is going to be a bit tricky for us in our condo. More frequent trips to the store will be necessary.
I really couldn’t do a condo, apartment or house smaller than 1200 sq feet (or if i’m really honest, 2000 sq feet) No matter how old or successful my kids get, I want my home to be able to comfortably allow for visits of longer than a couple of nights and I also anticipate that if/when they marry, I will very much want them to come and stay with us along with any children.
I’m wondering if i’m the only one who thinks this way.