Tiny house dessertation by Aastha Gupta

DISSERTATION

TINY HOUSE,BIG IMPACT

SUBMITTED BY: AASTHA GUPTA ROLL NO.-1332781002 GUIDED BY:AR.MAFOOZ AKHTAR IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE IN ARCHITECTURE

SUNDERDEEP COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE (DASNA, GHAZIABAD, UTTAR PRADESH)

Sunderdeep College of Architecture Ghaziabad

DECLARATION I Aastha Gupta hereby declares that the dissertation entitled â&#x20AC;&#x153;TINY HOUSE,BIG IMPACTâ&#x20AC;? submitted in the partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of B.Arch is my original research work and that the information taken from secondary sources is given due citations and references.

Name 8th Semester B.Arch 2017-18

Sunderdeep College of Architecture Ghaziabad

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the Dissertation titled “TINY HOUSE,BIG IMPACT” submitted by “Aastha Gupta” as a part of 5 years Undergraduate Program in Architecture at SUNDERDEEP COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE is a record of bonafide work carried out by her under our guidance. The content included in the Thesis has not been submitted to any other University or institution for accord of any other degree or diploma.

Dr.Anju Saxena (Executive Director)

AR.MAFOOZ AKHTAR

Ar.Devarpita Sikata (Dissertation Guide)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I take this opportunity to acknowledge all those who have helped me in getting this study to a successful present status. I would like to express my deep sense of gratitude to my guide, Ar.Mafoos Akhtar for his valuable suggestions and criticism. He made this possible. I extend my sincere thanks to my parents; they accompanied me to all my research for the study and survey. All my batch mates for extending help, SDCA and all the other authorities which helped me in this study. I dedicate this work to my parents, friends,faculty etc. Once again I take this opportunity to thank all those who have directly or indirectly helped me and sincere apologies if I have forgotten to mention any one in particular.

ABSTRACT

The increase in population and urbanization has led to widespread concern about the resulting volume of consumption. More people require more food, goods, and space to thrive. When combined with continued economic development, an increased population has led to an unsustainable consumption level (UN, 2011a). This is especially problematic in the housing market, where home size growth endures. In the United States, the average size of a single family home has doubled since 1950, leading to a profound environmental impact . This dessertation seeks to address the problem of overconsumption by considering the benefits of intentionally downsizing in favour of smaller homes that still provide a good quality of life. Tiny houses have a demonstrably reduced impact on the environment as compared to large conventional houses.This dessertations mentions the historical roots of a tiny house and its impact on environment,economy and psychology of society. The benefits of reduced consumption, however, only extend to the limited members of the population who have chosen to live in tiny housing.This also talks about the compact furniture and human factors to be considered. Possibilities to extend permeation have not been explored. This dessertation also considers the application of niche markets to the tiny housing sector in hopes of understanding potential for growth in the trend and the types of furniture to be used in a tiny house as a space saver by improving understanding of the current tiny housing trend, this dessertation seeks to help expand upon the positive impact created by individuals who intentionally downscale their consumption and their environmental impact.

TABLE OF FIGURES Figure 1 JACOB HOUSE ........................................................................................................ 15 Figure 2 SIOUX TIPI............................................................................................................... 16 Figure 3 THOREAU'S CABIN............................................................................................... 17 Figure 4 real cost of housing ................................................................................................... 20 Figure 5MINIM HOUSE ELEVATION ................................................................................. 25 Figure 6ELEVATIONS ........................................................................................................... 25 Figure 7PLAN MINIM HOUSE .............................................................................................. 26 Figure 8FRONT ELEVATION ............................................................................................... 27 Figure 9MULTIPURPOSE COUCH ....................................................................................... 27 Figure 10COUNTER TOP MINIM HOUSE .......................................................................... 28 Figure 11QUEEN SIZE BED MINIM HOUSE ...................................................................... 28 Figure 12WALNUT TABLE ................................................................................................... 29 Figure 13SONGPA HOUSING ............................................................................................... 31 Figure 14FRONT ELEVATION SONGPA HOUSING ......................................................... 31 Figure 15SIDE ELEVATION SONGPA HOUSING.............................................................. 31 Figure 16UNITS ...................................................................................................................... 32 Figure 17TAPIOCA SPACE ................................................................................................... 32 Figure 18GROUND FLOOR PLAN ....................................................................................... 33 Figure 19VIEW OF ENTRY PLAZA ..................................................................................... 33 Figure 20SITE AXON ............................................................................................................. 33 Figure 21LIGHT COURT........................................................................................................ 34 Figure 22MICRO AUDITORIUM AND CAFE ..................................................................... 34 Figure 23AUDITORIUM VIEW ............................................................................................. 35 Figure 24SIDE VIEW OF AUDITORIUM ............................................................................. 35 Figure 25SECOND FLOOR PLAN......................................................................................... 36 Figure 26MICRO GALLERIES .............................................................................................. 36 Figure 27TYPICAL UNIT PLAN ........................................................................................... 37 Figure 28VIEW OF MICRO UNIT ......................................................................................... 37 Figure 29SECTION ................................................................................................................. 38 Figure 30INSIDE VIEW.......................................................................................................... 39 Figure 31UNFOLDED ELEVATION ..................................................................................... 39 Figure 32SCREEN ELEMENTS ............................................................................................. 40 Figure 33CHAMELEONIC APPEARANCE .......................................................................... 40 Figure 34MOBILE LITCHEN ................................................................................................. 41 Figure 35K2 VIEW .................................................................................................................. 42 Figure 36KE ELEVATION ..................................................................................................... 42 Figure 37VERTEBRAE........................................................................................................... 43 Figure 38FRONT VIEW SIDE VIEW .................................................................................... 43 Figure 39BOXETTI ................................................................................................................. 44 Figure 40VIEW ........................................................................................................................ 44 Figure 41 CLOSED VIEW ...................................................................................................... 44 Figure 42DOC SOFA .............................................................................................................. 45 Figure 43CONVERTIBLE DOC SOFA .................................................................................. 45 Figure 44 FRONT VIEW......................................................................................................... 45 6

Figure 45ANTHROPOMETRIC DATA MALE ..................................................................... 48 Figure 46ANTHROPOMETRIC DATA FEMALE ................................................................ 49 Figure 47CEMENT .................................................................................................................. 50 Figure 48MASONARY ........................................................................................................... 51 Figure 49BICOMPOSITES ..................................................................................................... 51 Figure 50METAL .................................................................................................................... 52 Figure 51WOOD ...................................................................................................................... 52 Figure 52DOOR WINDOW .................................................................................................... 53 Figure 53GYPSUM PLASTER ............................................................................................... 53 Figure 54LIME,VENETIAN AND EARTHEN PLASTER ................................................... 54 Figure 55GYPSUM BOARD .................................................................................................. 54 Figure 56TILE ......................................................................................................................... 55 Figure 57BAMBOO FLOORING ........................................................................................... 55 Figure 58BICOMPOSITE FLOORING .................................................................................. 56 Figure 59WOOD FLOORING ................................................................................................ 56 Figure 60CORK FLOORING .................................................................................................. 57 Figure 61DAY LIGHTING ..................................................................................................... 58 Figure 62LOFT LIGHTING .................................................................................................... 58 Figure 63SUN MAR COMPISOTE TOILET ......................................................................... 63 Figure 64COMPOSITE TOILET CHAMBERS ..................................................................... 64

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION

1.1

INTRODUCTION

1.2

AIM

1.3

OBJECTIVES

1.4

SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

1.5

METHODOLOGY

Chapter 2 EXISTING IDEOLOGY AND TREND

2.1

HISTORICAL ROOTS

2.2

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

2.3

EONOMIC IMPACT

2.4

PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT

Chapter 3 CASE STUDY 3.1

3.2

MINIM HOUSE

3.1.1

CONSTRUCTION

3.1.2

SUSTAINIBILITY

SONGPA MICRO HOUSING

3.2.1

CONSTRUCTION

3.2.2

SUSTAINIBILITY

Chapter 4 PRECEDENTS-COMPACT FURNITURE

4.1

MOBILE KITCHEN

4.2

4.3

VERTEBRAE

4.4

BOXETTI

4.5

DOC SOGA BUNK BED

Chapter 5 HUMAN FACTORS

5.1 PROXEMICIES

5.1.1 SPATIAL REQUIREMENTS

5.2 ANTHROPOMETRICS

Chapter 6 DESIGN CONSIEDRATIONS

6.1 MATERIALS

6.1.1 CONCRETE

6.1.2 MASONARY

6.1.3 BICOMPOSITES

6.1.4 METAL

6.1.5 WOOD

6.1..6 DOOR AND WINDOW

6.1.7 GYPSUM PLASTER

6.1.8 LIME,VENETIAN+ EARTHEN PLASTER

6.1.9 GYPSUM BOARD

6.1.10 TILE

53 9

6.1.11 BAMBOO FLOORING

6.1.12 BICOMPOSITE FLOORING

6.1.13 WOOD FLOORING

6.1.14 CORK FLOORING

6.2 DAY LIGHTING

6.2.1 MAIN GOALS FOR DAY LIGHTING IN A TINY HOUSE 6.3 BUILDING CODES

56 57

6.3.1 BUILDING CODES FOR MINIMUM FOR HABITABLE

SPACE 6.3.1.1 MINIMUM AREA

6.3.1.2 OTHER ROOMS

6.3.1.3 MINIMUM DIMENSIONS

6.3.1.4 MINIMUM HEIGHT

6.3.1.5 HABITABLE ROOMS

6.3.1.6 MINIMUM OPENING AREA

6.3.2 BUILDING CODES FOR ENERGY,EQUIPMENT,FIXTURE

6.3.2.1 REQUIRED HEATING

6.3.2.2 TOILET FACILITIES

6.3.2.3 KITCHEN

6.3.2.4 SEWAGE DISPOSAL

6.3.2.5 SCOPE

6.3.2.6 WATER SUPPLY TO FIXTURES

6.3.2.7 CLEARANCES

6.4 PLUMBING

6.4.1 COMPOSITE TOILETS

6.4.1 HOW DO COMPOSTING TOILETS WORK?

6.4.2 SUN-MAR MOBILE COMPOSTING TOILET

6.4.3 THE COMPOSTING CHAMBER (Chamber 1)

6.4.3.1 SUN-MAR'S UNIQUE BIO-DRUM

6.4.3.2 OPERATIONAL SIMPLICITY

6.4.4 ADVANTAGES OF THE SUN-MAR BIO-DRUM

6.4.4.1 SUPPLYING OXYGEN

6.4.4.2 CONTROLLING MOISTURE

6.4.4.3 MAINTAINING WARMTH

6.4.5 THE EVAPORATING CHAMBER (Chamber 2)

6.4.6 THE FINISHING DRAWER (Chamber 3)

Chapter 7

FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS

8.1 FINDINGS

8.2 CONCLUSIONS

8.3 RECOMMENDATION

Chapter 8 REFFERENCES AND BIBLOGRAPHY

9.1 REFERENCES

9.2 BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 INTRODUCTION

In recent years American consumerism, waste, and population densities have skyrocketed to new levels. Economy survives by telling consumers that they always need more, that what they have isn’t good enough, that happiness is derived from what you physically possess. This mentality has a direct effect on the housing market, increasing prices and sizes exponentially and leading to additional growth in material, electricity, and fuel consumption. The new American home is not a result of need but rather a result of excess. More space is associated with a greater social status and wealth, promoting the idea of a false sense of happiness. The average American home size has grown to over 2,500 square feet, increasing from 1,525 In recent years American consumerism, waste, and population densities have skyrocketed to new levels. Our economy survives by telling consumers that they always need more, that what they have isn’t good enough, that happiness is derived from what you physically possess. This mentality has a direct effect on the housing market, increasing prices and sizes exponentially and leading to additional growth in material, electricity, and fuel consumption. The new American home is not a result of need but rather a result of excess. More space is associated with a greater social status and wealth, promoting the idea of a false sense of happiness. The average American home size has grown to over 2,500 square feet, increasing from 1,525 square feet in 1973. In contrast, the average family size has actually decreased, dropping from 3.67 to 2.55 (“Less Is More: The Tiny House Movement,” 2014). This growth of the home can be closely associated with the popularization of the American suburb. In the past--specifically around the time when the baby boomers were beginning to buy homes--young city dwellers made a move to the suburbs to opt out of a place portrayed as being on the decline, and instead moved to where crime was low and parks and public amenities were plentiful .This mass movement to the idealistic suburbs caused a boom in the market, and as demand for these homes grew, so did the size.

Tiny homes can provide a solution to the lack of real estate available in growing cities and begin to address the social environmental and economic issues that recent graduates are facing. This will be accomplished by defining and designing for the needs of those entering into the housing market for the first time, as well as optimizing spatial adaptability through the use of multi-functional components.

1.2 AIM 1.To study the tiny house trend.

1.3 OBJECTIVES

1. To understand the concept of simple living in a tiny house. 2. To understand the basic amenities and services in a tiny house. 3. To understand the solid waste management in a tiny house. 4. To understand the sustainability and environmental impact of Tiny house.

1.4 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS The audience for this dessertation is two-fold. While it seeks to add to the limited academic literature on the tiny housing phenomenon and could be of interest to academics looking into this trend, it also addresses the topic of trend expansion.This dissertation can be further used during thesis and its designing and construction techniques can be applied while designing the similar block. Aditionally, it is important to understand that the subject of this desertation is limited as it is time restricted,all the data cannot be covered in this dissertation. Due to the fact that tiny house are not presently feasible in India,it was impossible to conduct a case study available in India. 13

1.5 METHODOLOGY

1. Data collection from different sources. 

Book study



Internet and other sources



Standard guidelines

2. Case studies 3. Analyse among the case studies 4. Conclusion

2.EXISTING IDEOLOGY AND TREND

2.1 HISTORICAL ROOTS The idea of living small in America is not a new one. Before the colonization of the states, many tribes of Native Americans lived in homes small enough and flexible enough to be transported. The tipi and wigwam, for example, were two common dwellings used by nomadic tribes. Both forms were small enough to be easily deconstructed or transported, although wigwams were usually just rebuilt due to the ease of construction. Westward colonization, although not strictly nomadic, required that settlers maintain the ability to travel with a portable dwelling. While covered wagons were not meant to be permanent shelters, they were the first truly tiny mobile homes to emerge and be tested by predecessors to modern Americans. As settlers began to set up residence across the country, the construction of equally small but slightly more permanent shelters began. The iconic family of Laura Ingalls Wilder lived with five people inside a sod dugout which was “the size of a freight elevator” (McClure, 2011). As the country’s history progressed, homes still remained small, with notable figures such as Henry David Thoreau choosing to live in his 10’ x 15’ cabin on Walden Pond. Even after World War II, which rocketed the country into economic prosperity, 1,000 sq ft homes were the norm (Bender, 2013). Frank Lloyd Wright himself championed his idea of the utopian, Usonian house in the early fifties, which portrays an aesthetic, affordable, small single-story home built with natural, sustainable materials (Wright, 1954). The micro home is not merely a trend created by a modern society, but is rather an idea that has existed throughout all of history. However, as prosperity and the ability to advertise grew, so did people’s need for material wealth, which became represented by the size of the home you owned.

Figure 1 JACOB HOUSE

Constructed for durability and protection in a variety of weather conditions, the tipi was traditionally built from long wooden poles and stitched together animal hides. The interiors space took the form of a single circular room, which contained the central hearth or cooking zone surrounded by space for sleeping, sitting, or storage. All of the indoor activities took place in this space, and typically supported anywhere from three to five people.

Figure 2 SIOUX TIPI

Wigwams are small houses, usually 8-10 feet tall. Wigwams are made of wooden frames which are covered with woven mats and sheets of birchbark. The frame can be shaped like a dome, like a cone, or like a rectangle with an arched roof. Once the birchbark is in place, ropes or strips of wood are wrapped around the wigwam to hold the bark in place.

Figure 3 THOREAU'S CABIN

Containing a mere volume of 150 sq ft, Thoreauâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s iconic cabin consisted of a single room, cellar, and woodshed. He used a variety of inexpensive and reclaimed materials to keep the cost down, building his structure for no more than $3,000 (modern cost). This led him to identify students as potential interested parities in smaller dwellings, stating. â&#x20AC;&#x153;...The work is part personal declaration of independence, social experiment, voyage of spiritual discovery, satire, and (to some degree) manual for self-reliance.

2.2 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

American’s carbon footprint has been scrutinized over the last decade. With the rise of fossil fuel and carbon emissions in our country and around the globe, the general public has now become aware of what a large impact we have on the environment. This section synthesizes the current literature written on the residential housing market and its effect on the environment. As housing sizes continue to grow while land availability and natural resources continue to decrease, it is imperative to look at the harmful effects these residential properties can have on the environment. Downsizing to a smaller living situation can have an immediate impact on an individual’s carbon footprint. By choosing to build small sustainable homes, Americans have the ability to make environmental and economic shifts in their lifestyle. The cost of oil is one of the largest impacts on the US economy. Oil imports and consumption in America directly affects how much money we pay for energy (Gibson et al. 2010). However these cost concerns are minor compared to the overall repercussions on the environment. Energy consumption within commercial and residential buildings is one of the largest contributors to the carbon footprint (Gibson et al. 2010). “40 percent of all primary energy consumed in the United States and 70 percent of the electricity produced by U.S. power plants goes directly to commercial and residential buildings” (Gibson et al. 2010). Authors David Johnston and Scott Gibson in their Guide to Energy Self-Sufficiency at Home report that, “...buildings are responsible for 48 percent of the carbon released into the atmosphere”. This literature provides the basis of understanding that a decrease in energy use for heating and cooling a home results in lower expenses as well as reduction in the impact on the environment (Gibson et al. 2010). Building sustainably has made its mark on America, but we must be critical of the progress and urge one another to take steps forward in this endeavor. The authors describe how “near zero houses” were once quite an accomplishment but now are simply not enough to counteract the growing environmental issues (Gibson et al. 2010). Net Zero housing is ideal, meaning “...the house makes as much energy as it uses over the course of a year” (Gibson et al. 2010). Through 18

a variety of precedents, it is clear the net zero, passive, and sustainable housing can and should be achieved in today’s market. However, it will require more than a conscious effort among designers and builders. In order to reduce energy consumption we must reduce the amount of energy needed (Gibson et al. 2010). David Johnston and Scott Gibson describe a variety of ways this can be done including reducing heating and cooling loads by creating a tight, well insulated building envelope and increasing energy use awareness among homeowners (Gibson et al. 2010). Building net zero homes needs to remain a cost effective option. Precedents have been set by individuals and corporations proving that these homes can be achieved with little to no cost increase in comparison to traditional building techniques (Gibson et al. 2010). By keeping homes small we can easily reduce heating and cooling loads, as well as use of materials, which is a critical factor in keeping costs down and maintaining feasibility for the majority of the population. Living smaller can have a huge impact on the environmental issues facing America. By coupling these ideas with that of net zero building this problem can began to be solved on a larger scale.

Emily Talen, author of “Sprawl Retrofit: Sustainable Urban Form in

Unsustainable Places” studies the idea of sustainable living on a master planning level (Talen, 2014). Talen identifies the three driving factors of a sustainable planning agenda as: 1.The need to reduce energy consumption and “live local” (climate change) 2.The need to build incrementally and in small-scale ways (the global recession) 3.The need to provide smaller and more centrally located housing types (demographic change) Projects small and large will have impact on this new way of planning but does require behavioral change in order to be successful (Gibson et al. 2010). By decreasing sprawl, we not only have the opportunity to impact environmental stress through the building and housing market but also through a multitude of directly related sources such as a reduction in automotive traffic when living in denser more compact areas, less land use preserving natural resources, and economic independence for individuals who may not be able to achieve this otherwise (Talen, 2014). Talen states that through her research, “We know that vehicle miles traveled and carbon emissions decline as density and mixed use increased” (Talen, 2014). Building small homes offers us the opportunity to densify current underutilized areas that may not be appropriate for another use. A general agreement has been established that, “cities that

are more dense and compact and less sprawling and land consumptive are likely to be more sustainable, especially in environmental and economic terms” (Talen, 2014).

2.3 ECONOMIC IMPACT Environmental impacts have a direct connection to economic impacts for individuals and our nation as a whole. This is explored and confirmed through the research of Suparna Kadam in Zero Net Energy Buildings: Are they Economically Feasible? While Kadam’s studies prove that US energy costs have historically been too low to make renewable energy a viable goal, this is no longer true (Kadam, 2001). Promotion of renewable energy is now a very real and legitimate option.

In addition to the

rise

costs, technology

energy

advances

have

caused

system

prices

drop,

making

energy

efficient building techniques

products,

and

systems

attainable to the

individual.

The

benefits are not

economic

only applicable to

the

individual

homeowner but to

the

larger

economy as well.

By creating new

developments

farther and farther

out of the city

center,

severely damaging

the

economy.

Through

research presented

the “Sprawl

Retrofit”,

density been

“low

development linked

has

higher

infrastructure automobile

are

costs,

increased

dependence,

Figure 4 real cost of housing

and

air pollutionâ&#x20AC;? (Kadam, 2001). By moving individuals into the city this creates additional urban potential and provides individuals with more choices rather than less (Talen, 2014). Although, traditionally, building homes with the capacity to be energy efficient or net zero has been expensive, relevant case studies have shown that these homes can now be achieved at almost the same cost of traditional construction (Gibson et al. 2010). While both of these examples examine traditional homes, when comparing the cost of a tiny home to a full-sized home, the economic benefits become even more pronounced. The diagrams (right), illustrate the immense savings that those who choose to live small benefit from. Overwhelmingly, those that make the switch do it primarily to escape the burden of a mortgage and experience financial freedom. These savings become especially relevant when looking at the current poverty statistics in the United States as determined by the U.S. Department of Commerce (also at right). To give an overview, housing prices have risen dramatically in the past fifty years, yet median income remains virtually the same. Young adults are being forced to live with their parents for financial security, because without their support nearly half of them would fall below the poverty line, and 3/4 of all Americans do not have enough money saved to pay their bills for six months. Tiny houses offer solutions to both young and old faced by the economic burdens of financing a home.

2.4 PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT

The average tiny house is six and a half times smaller than a typical American home. While environmental and economic reasons play a large part in home-owner’s decisions to downsize, there is a more primal, subconscious reason behind why humans are drawn to compact spaces. CityLAB has created a simple, six point list that skims the surface of some of the reasons to downsize. While environmentally friendly, city friendly, and cost friendly are all on the list, it also hints at the psychological effect that a person’s physical environment can have with the inclusion of a “simpler lifestyle” and “personalization” as bullets on the list. The plight of consumerism is no stranger in America. With the help of advertisements, mass production of inexpensive and impermanent products, and the attitude that more is better, people are made to believe that they must buy things to attain happiness and success. Consumerism has a direct link with conformity, as a person’s innate desire to belong drives them to believe that the more they buy, the higher status they acquire (Heath, 2001). This desire is further driven by the media and pop culture, which associates vast wealth and possessions with success. Lavish mansions, extravagant parties, and the latest technologies are all hallmarks of accomplishment. One of the last freedoms that people have is choosing how to spend their money, which is why they feel empowered when they purchase something, further adding to the addiction of consumerism (Phillips, 2011).

In addition, these objects begin to have a profound effect on the way a person crafts their self-image. A study by McClelland and McCarthy found that when ranking items in their life from “self” to “nonself”, people ranked possessions directly after their physical body, psychological processes, and personal identifying attributes (Marcus, 1995). These objects become not only a projection of ourselves, but also provide powerful connections to our sense of reality, as their physical presence reassures us of our own (Marcus, 1995).

Ridding ourselves of these objects can sometimes feel like ridding ourselves of who we are. However, people who recognize that an obsession with objects is detrimental and unnecessary become trapped within their lifestyle, and strive for freedom by relinquishing their possessions and becoming dependent from the draining society from which they came (Sarahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Writings, 2014). This anti-consumerist movement can contribute to the growing popularity of tiny homes in America.

As people grow disillusioned by material needs, they realize the freedom that emerges from tearing down the confines of happiness created by unnecessary possessions. Ridding ourselves of these items can suggest a `healthy nurturing of self-identity, while becoming too attached to inanimate objects can cause a detachment from human relations (Marcus, 1995). When living in a modestly sized space, a person is forced to limit their possessions to only what they really need. It is not so much about having less, but about choosing quality over quantity

3. CASE STUDY

Architects: brian levy with foundary architects Location: anywhere â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Manufactured area: 210 sq ft Project year: 2012 Cost: $30,966+ Construction duration: 2012-2013 Capacity: one-two people Mobile: yes

3.1 MINIM HOUSE Originally created as a part of the Boneyard Studios development, Minim became so successful that a company has been formed around it. Plans, as well as finished products, are up for sale. CityLAB, located in Pittsburgh, PA, is one such group that has chosen to purchase the plans and introduce Minim to a new city.

3.1.1 CONSTRUCTION - Structural insulated panels (SIPs) create the framing, insulation, interior and exterior walls. This method is cost, labor, and energy efficient, allowing a crew of two to construct the shell, windows included, within five days. R-values for roof and walls=40 and 26.

3.1.2 SUSTAINIBILITY- In addition to possessing off-grid capabilities and running off of a solar and rain-water collection system, Minim takes more advanced environmental practices into mind such as indoor air quality, cooling methods, access to off-grid water and purification of water. While the house can be adapted with any systems the purchaser chooses, there are many suggestions the designer provides. These include guidelines for: materials (low voc and low impact furniture, cleaning products, construction materials), combustion appliances (gas cook tops/heaters, hot water heaters), moisture control (fan systems), 24

ventilation (panasonic fv-04VE1), “ductless” vs “portable” vs “through the wall” a/c systems, methods to modify an RV water system and how to properly set up plumbing, and how to install rain catchment surfaces, collection, purification, transport and plumbing.

Figure 5MINIM HOUSE ELEVATION

Figure 6ELEVATIONS

Philosophy: based strongly around ideas which inspire thoughts about personal attachment to material goods and how the human psyche is reflected through the beauty of the spaces they surround us with, Minim seeks to imply that: 1) beauty is a perfect form of order, fused to complexity--beauty is independent of scale, space defines life through careful balance and order 2) a contented life is independent from the scale of dwelling-happiness is not determined by size or quantity 3) the world is on fire, but we might still live well without adding much kindling-convenient living through minimal use of energy. 25

Figure 7PLAN MINIM HOUSE

Despite its small size, Minim comes complete with all rooms one would find in a basic house. The kitchen contains a 10 ft galley, allowing room for two cooks, the living room is spacious, filled with light from the large windows on three sides of the house, a dropdown projection screen provides a large movieviewing method, a 5â&#x20AC;&#x2122;x7â&#x20AC;&#x2122; office sits nestled in privacy towards the back, the bedroom merges seamlessly with the space through trundlebed technology, and a wet-bath allows full shower, bathroom, and sink capabilities.

Figure 8FRONT ELEVATION

Atop the roof sits a 960 watt AC/DC off-grid solar panel array, which powers most of the electrical devices in the house through the use of a small battery bank, including two 400 watt panel heaters and a Dickenson Marine stove. The exceptions to this power source are the electric heat when propane is not being used, and the air conditioning at night. These two items will need to be powered by “grid-sourced” power.

Figure 9MULTIPURPOSE COUCH

Hidden stealthily beneath the living room’s 8.5’ couch (which conveniently doubles as a guest bed), is a 40 gallon RV fresh water tank and filter. Minim makes frequent use designs utilized on seafaring vessels to save space, which can also be seen in the 3 stage Doulton filter system. This filter system allows for rainwater collected to be converted into potable water to be used in the shower and sinks.

Figure 10COUNTER TOP MINIM HOUSE

Sustainability can be seen all throughout Minim, even in the striking 2â&#x20AC;? walnut butcherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s block counter tops. Sourced from a local Mennonite planing mill, this addition does not sacrifice any aesthetic in an attempt to recycle materials. The counter tops are also functional and well as beautiful and environmentally friendly. Hidden beneath the cutting board lies an in-counter high btu cook top. The kitchen also includes a convection oven and pedal-operated sink for convenience and water conservation.

Figure 11QUEEN SIZE BED MINIM HOUSE

In a dramatic change from typical tiny homes, Minim opts out of a cozy loft in lieu of a queen sized bed which can be hidden beneath the elevated office space. This allows greatly increased head room, as well as organizational versatility. If pulled halfway out, the bed can become another couch, and when pushed in it becomes virtually unnoticeable, giving the illusion of a much larger space.

Figure 12WALNUT TABLE

The 4â&#x20AC;? walnut table is one of the most versatile pieces of furniture in the house. Also recycled from the local Mennonite planing mill, its design draws upon more inspiration from nautical design. Boasting a removable base, the table is able to move to four different locations in the living room, anchoring in at different floor ports on the floor. The base is also spring loaded, allowing it to change in height. This gives it the ability to become a desk, coffee table, dining table (with the addition of stools), or bar table.

3.2 SONGPA MICRO - HOUSING The Songpa Micro-Housing by SsD Architecture was designed in response to the global urban density and housing cost problem.

Seoul, where the project is located, is the largest

metropolitan area and has reported a total of 25 million residents. Songpa Micro Housing project, which aims for a greater sense of flexibility and community than found in, say, typical freestanding tiny homes and stacked up shipping containers. SsD Architects created a mixed use housing unit with community and gallery spaces to introduce a new prototype of housing in Korea. The problem of urban density and housing costs is global. As unit types get smaller however, land costs coupled with developer driven profit margins merely create a provisional housing type with little social value. By mining the discrepancy between maximum floor area ratios and maximum zoning envelopes, there is an opportunity to provide an extension of the housing unit within semi-public circulation, balconies, and the thickness of walls.

3.2.1 CONSTRUCTION- The building is made up of steel frame construction and is enclosed with a fine grain screen made of twisted stainless steel designed to meet the demands of ‘typical’ additions generally seen on a building. The screen acts as a railing, drainage path, privacy barrier, and bike rack. The screen also hides unsightly utilities on the exterior such as conduits and gas lines. The screen is made up of varied patterns in 9 different modules and incorporates much of the sites infrastructure into its performance.

3.2.2 SUSTAINABILITY- SSD Architects goal was to extend the current limits on housing units in Seoul, Korea. By creating units with the smallest possible foot print (due to code and zoning regulations) and maximizing public and community space they are able to house more residents in smaller space than traditional apartment housing. This reduces the carbon footprint of each individual living in the units. In addition to creating smaller living spaces, the architects have incorporated multiple sustainable solutions into the building including natural lighting and ventilation. In terms of the 2030 Challenge, Seoul’s continenental climate (similar to New York) is leveraged for passive cooling with each unit given 2 exposures for cross ventilation. For colder days, a lining of storage creates extra insula Ɵ on to the already ‘super-insulated’ walls. Radiant flooring, LED motion-sensing lightning, 30

and energy efficient micro-cooling units .Use Intensity of 79 where the U.S. average is 98.9. The Site Energy Use Intensity is 25, roughly half of the U.S. national average of 49.9.

Figure 13SONGPA HOUSING

Figure 15SIDE ELEVATION SONGPA HOUSING

Figure 14FRONT ELEVATION SONGPA HOUSING

Figure 16UNITS

UNITS The discrepancy between the max zoning envelope, max FAR, and minimum unit size (120 sf) is mined to generate residual spaces.

Figure 17TAPIOCA SPACE

TAPIOCA SPACE Like a tapioca pearl, an ambiguous ‘gel’ of semi-public space surrounds each private apartment to create shared areas and expand perceptual boundaries. 32

Figure 18GROUND FLOOR PLAN

GROUND FLOOR PLAN The parking requirements are translated into a ground floor can double as an open program area that allows gatherings and expansion of interior spaces.

Figure 20SITE AXON Figure 19VIEW OF ENTRY PLAZA

VIEW OF ENTRY PLAZA The micro-auditorium, entry lobby, and sky-wells punctuate

SITE AXON The required ground floor parking is leveraged as public open space.

the public open ground plane. 33

Figure 21LIGHT COURT

LIGHT COURT An open light-well connects the street to the basement toy gallery and cafe.

Figure 22MICRO AUDITORIUM AND CAFE

MICRO-AUDITORIUM AND CAFÃ&#x2030; During the day, the micro-auditorium doubles as a living room/cafe that residents and the public can share while in the evening the triple glazed walls allows performances.

Figure 23AUDITORIUM VIEW

MICRO-AUDITORIUM AND CAFE The wedge shaped space allows for a minimum footprint at the ground fl oor where space is limited, opening up into seating.

Figure 24SIDE VIEW OF AUDITORIUM

MICRO AUDITORIUM Sound insulated triple glazing becomes a lantern from the streetscape and doubles as anentry stair to the cafe and toy-gallery below. 35

Figure 25SECOND FLOOR PLAN

SECOND FLOOR GALLERIES A series of micro-galleries allow innovative curation as well as extend the life of the living units above.

Figure 26MICRO GALLERIES

MICRO-GALLERIES AND TAPIOCA SPACE The galleries are punctuated with direct views and access to outdoor areas recontextualizing the experience of art. 36

Figure 27TYPICAL UNIT PLAN

TYPICAL UNIT PLAN Two unit types shift in relation to the core creating very different shared spaces around them. Different personality types can customize their relationships with others. All units are offered two exposures and access to cross-ventilation.

Figure 28VIEW OF MICRO UNIT

VIEW OF MICRO UNIT Fold out cabinetry/furniture and connections to other units allow the use and experience of space to expand beyond the unit. 37

Figure 29SECTION

SECTION Although units are micro, their space is literally and visually extended into share semipublic areas. The cafe and galleries associated with the ground floor, basement and second floor connect the life of the residents with the city

Figure 30INSIDE VIEW

Figure 31UNFOLDED ELEVATION

UNFOLDED ELEVATION Modular screen elements are aggregated to create a pattern that functions as privacy screen, balcony drainage, infrastructure, trellis, and guard rail.

Figure 32SCREEN ELEMENTS

SCREEN ELEMENTS Exhibiting an economy of means, only 8 different twisted types are arrayed into a wide variety of patterns that function in diverse ways.

Figure 33CHAMELEONIC APPEARANCE

CHAMELEONIC APPEARANCE Depending on the time of day, the building dynamically changes in response to skylight shifting in reflectivity, color, and transparency. 40

4. PRECEDENTS - COMPACT FURNITURE

    

Designer: toshihiko suzuki footprint when closed: 24”d x 34”w x 46”h Manufacturer:Kenchikukagu Architectural furniture Material: plywood Components:1. sink 2. Extend-able counter top 3.Three storage drawers 4.One cook top 5.Recipe display 6.LED light fixture

4.1 MOBILE KITCHEN The mobile kitchen is one piece of a three part series of space saving furniture

designed

Japanese

architect Toshihiko Suzuki.

The

collapsible furniture set is completely mobile and can be folded into a compact case for easy storage. The design was created in order to meet the demand of creating ‘user friendly furniture’

for

the

‘ever-growing

urbanization and the environment’. Other pieces in the set include a mobile workstation and a mobile guest room. Figure 34MOBILE LITCHEN

    

Designer: Norbert Wangen Footprint when closed: 2’3” x 7’8” Manufacturer: boffi Material: stainless steel, glassceramic Components: 1.Slidingworktop 2.4-place cooktop 3.Stainless steel sink 4.Space for refrigerator Dishwasher,over n microwave.

Figure 35K2 VIEW

4.2 K2

The k2 kitchen cube is a compact

Figure 36 VIEW

stand alone kitchen complete with all of the necessities for cooking. The cube houses a stove, sink, refrigerator, oven, and dishwasher all within a small footprint. The top counter slides to the side to create a table and to reveal the cook-top and sink underneath. The k2 comes in two additional sizes even smaller in footprint, the k3 and k4. These smaller models still house all of the

Figure 37K2 FLOOR PLAN

amenities from the state-of-the-art kitchen system.

Figure 36KE ELEVATION

    

Designer: Paul Hernon Footprint when closed:39” x 15 3/4” x 8’ Manufacturer: Design odyssey ltd Material: Aluminum Components: Adult Shower Child Shower Cistern Storage Sink Water Closet

4.3 VERTEBRAE By

stacking

all

the

necessary components of a bathroom on top of each other Paul Hernon uses space vertically in order to achieve more space for living. The vertebrae has a toilet, sink, storage, water cistern, and shower head all stacked along the 8 foot aluminum column which houses all of the piping. The two shower

Figure 37VERTEBRAE

heads rotate 180 degrees while the rest of the pieces have a 210 degree rotation. Hernon’s goal was to create a functional and saving

simplistic

space

bathroom,

inspired by a decrease in size of small homes and single person apartments. Figure 38FRONT VIEW SIDE VIEW

   

Designer:Rolands Landsbergs Manufacturer: Boxetti Material:Stainless steel Accessories Components: 1. The foldaway bed platform is automatically lifted by a remote control. 2.NightStand 3.Wardrobe 4.Ambient Lighting

Figure 39BOXETTI

4.4 BOXETTI

The

Boxetti_Private

was

designed as apart of a collection which aims to address maximum efficiency with a minimalist contemporary aesthetic including advanced

technologies

and

focusing on functionality. Each design in the collection can be

Figure 40VIEW

folded and unfolded from a solid block to a complete room. The Boxetti_Private, has all the basic functions of a bedroom.

The

platform bed folds away easily by a remote control while the wardrobe portion houses six sections with shelving drawers and clothing racks

Figure 41 CLOSED VIEW

 



 

Designer: Bonbon in house Footprint when closed: 81.1”l x 35.4”w x 37.4”h Manufacturer: Bonbon Compact Living Solutions Material: Tubular Iron, Polyurethane Foam Components: 1.Two Bunk Beds 2. Sofa 3.Ladder

4.5

DOC

Figure 42DOC SOFA

SOFA

BUNK BED

Bonbon Compact Living Solutions

specializes

efficient compact furniture. The doc sofa bunk bed unit has

two

different

configurations, one for day

Figure 43CONVERTIBLE DOC SOFA

and one for night. This sofa can transform into a two person

sleeping

arrangement with two bunk beds. This transformation can be achieved with one simple motion. bunk

bed

The sofa

includes

removable cover as well as a ladder and gate for safety.

Figure 44 FRONT VIEW

5. HUMAN FACTORS 5.1 PROXEMICS 5.1.1 SPATIAL REQUIREMENTS Popularized by Edward T Hall in the 1960s, proxemics measures and studies the distances between people and the effects that those have. The observations are used by designers in order to design spaces in which people will feel most comfortable. There are four levels of distances from which humans will draw their personal reactions from : intimate, personal, social, and public space. When visiting a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home, large or small, visitors to the space will inevitably be placed primarily into social, personal, and intimate interactions. Due to the inherently small size of tiny homes, these interactions will be more closely clustered to the range of the personal space bubble, perhaps creating some discomfort. Designing to enable the user to control their limited range of personal space will be a key component of creating comfort in a highly controlled space.

INTIMATE SPACE 0-1.5ft PERSONAL SPACE1.5ft-4ft

Intimate space 0-1.5 ft Generally kept by people who share a strong level of comfort with one another. Examples:

family,

SOCIAL SPACE4ft-12ft

friends,

PUBLIC SPACE >12ft

romantic partners Vision is limited at this range, making the senses of smell and touch highly important.

Personal space 1.5 ft - 4 ft Kept by casual friends or those sharing a close

social

relationship.

easily

facilitates conversation. Examples: friendly acquaintances, close

Public space > 12 ft

coworkers, social organization members Maintained by those whose only relation is

touch is minimal, so vision and hearing

near proximity. far distances are generally

are important.

kept between those who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know one another to minimize discomfort or fear.

Social space 4 ft- 12 ft

Examples: audience members, people

Used by those who know each other, but

waiting for a bus, students on a campus

do not share a close relationship.

sight is crucial to feeling secure in this type Examples:

casual

acquaintances,

of space

coworkers from different departments, friends

friends

formal

social

interactions occur at this distance

5.2 ANTHROPOMETRICS

Figure 45ANTHROPOMETRIC DATA MALE

According to Jay Shafer, Tiny House builder and enthusiast, most adults in the US are between 4’11” and 6’2” tall. This makes up approximately 95% of the population. The following dimensions have been calculated to accommodate this 95% but should be recalculated if the

user falls out of this range. The following data is drawn from his book, The Small House Book, and is specific to the building and construction of a tiny home. Determined to fit someone at the 5’7” median Ceiling Height: 6’3” Minimum Door Height: 6’2” minimum Door Width: 1’5” minimum Bed Width: 2’8” minimum Counter Height: 2’8” Bed Length: 6’3” minimum minimum | 3’2” max Counter Depth: 1’4” minimum | 2’6” max Door Knob Height: 2’9” minimum | 3’4” max Lavatory Height: 2’6” minimum | 3’3” max Control Knob Height: 2’6” minimum | 6’0” max High Shelf: 6’2” minimum

Desk/Table Height: 1’0” minimum | 2’7” max Desk/Table Depth: 1’0” minimum | 2’8” max Booth Width: 5’0” minimum | 6’6” max

Figure 46ANTHROPOMETRIC DATA FEMALE

Sleeping Loft Height: 2’10” minimum Leg room under table: 1’4” minimum Room or Hallway width: 1’8” minimum

6. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

6.1 MATERIALS Materials used in buildings have a huge impact on the environment. In order to decrease this impact and create a more sustainable building, designers can employ a variety of techniques such as salvaging existing materials, reducing overall square footages, considering material and product life cycles, specifying materials that are sustainably harvested, and eliminating the use of materials with harmful or toxic components. In addition, designers must also consider practicality when specifying materials, factoring durability and cost into the equation in order to achieve a holistic approach to sustainability

6.1.1 CONCRETE

Figure 47CEMENT

SPECIFY:

AVOID:

•Concrete made without admixtures



•Aggregates and cement from all natural materials



•Natural mineral pigments •Potable water for curing

 

•Factory finished slaps •Low-VOC water based, low solvent 50

Aggregates or recycled ingredients that may introduce environmental contaminants Admixtures chemical pigments or paints with chromium, aniline, or heavy metals Acid stains Sealing with manufactured, possibly hazardous materials

6.1.2 MASONRY

Figure 48MASONARY

SPECIFY:   



AVOID:

Reclaimed, salvaged, or recycled brick and stone Natural mortars and grouts Low-VOC, low solvent, water based, formaldehyde-free sealants and adhesives Wipe on brush sealants

 



Imported stone or brick Adhesives, grout, mortar, or sealants with solvents, additives or formaldehyde Spray on sealants

6.1.3 BICOMPOSITES

Figure 49BICOMPOSITES

SPECIFY: 



AVOID: 

Boards made from 100% renewable crop residue or agricultural by product Formaldehyde-free,low-VOC

 51

Formaldehyde in the binder or finish Preservatives or pesticides

6.1.4 METAL

Figure 50METAL

AVOID:

SPECIFY:     



Salvaged architectural metal pieces 100% recycled content Minimal need or no upkeep with cleaners and polishes Natural, non off-gassing protective oil coatings or none at all No paint or finish

  

pieces made with virgin metal synthetic oil coatings imported fabrications painting or finishing metal on-site chemical polishes, treatments or cleansers

6.1.5 WOOD

Figure 51WOOD

SPECIFY:    

AVOID:

Fallen on or thinned from the property reclaimed Locally harvested, , nonthreatened species Suppressed Protected from moisture installation 52

   

reclaimed wood of uncertain origin chemically tainted wood uncertified wood rare or threatened species

6.1.6 DOORS AND WINDOWS

Figure 52DOOR WINDOW

SPECIFY:

AVOID:



optimal window positioning to benefit from solar gain and natural light  low emissivity glass  double or triple glazed windows  different window types for different directional orientations  FSC- certified wood doors and 6.1.7 GYPSUM PLASTER frames

   

PVC or vinyl, either solid or clad aluminum or steel windows synthetic foam cores doors and windows with lead-based paint

Figure 53GYPSUM PLASTER

SPECIFY:  



AVOID: 

Wooden lath, preferably reclaimed or FSC-certified Natural gypsum or recycled gypsum lath with recycled paper face Low-VOC additives, if any



Fungicides, chemical agents, or synthetic additives Water or high humidity in direct contact with walls

6.1.8 LIME,VENETIAN+ EARTHEN PLASTER

Figure 54LIME,VENETIAN AND EARTHEN PLASTER

SPECIFY:     

AVOID: 

lime without synthetic additives natural/mineral pigments venetian plaster with natural lime, marble, or mineral content earthen plaster made from locally acquired soil natural mineral or vegetable pigments

  

binders that off-gas high levels of VOCs excavation that may cause drainage problems or damaging scars on the landscape water in direct contact with the walls

6.1.9 GYPSUM BOARD

Figure 55GYPSUM BOARD

SPECIFY:    

AVOID:

high natural material content ,recycled paper sheathing with minimal additives low-VOC joint compound reuse ofconstruction scrap on site scrap 54



chemical additives to wallboard, especially those that may give off VOCs wasteful drywall purchases or installation methods

6.1.10 TILE

Figure 56TILE

SPECIFY: AVOID:



tile made with unprocessed, allnatural clays  domestic tile, especially locally made  100% recycled glass or tile or high recycled-glass content  simple mortar from cement, sand, water,  grout without added fungicides  low-VOC water based sealant 6.1.11 BAMBOO FLOORING

  

unregulated import tile high amounts of new glass added to glass tiles VOCs, solvents, fungicides, vinyls, or latex additives in mortar, grout, and sealants

Figure 57BAMBOO FLOORING

AVOID:

SPECIFY:   



formaldehyde-free bamboo FSCcertified wood core low-VOC underlayment, adhesives, and binder minimal use of adhesives perfectly dry sub flooring

 

formaldehyde in the underlayment, binder, or finish high humidity weather for installation chemicals added for mildew control, fireproofing, pest resistance or in finishes

6.1.12 BIOCOMPOSITE FLOORING

Figure 58BICOMPOSITE FLOORING

SPECIFY:

  

AVOID:

Boards made from 100% renewable grain Formaldehyde-free, low-VOC, Borate (if necessary), added for preservative or pest resistance

 

formaldehyde in the binder or finish preservatives or pesticides

6.1.13 WOOD FLOORING

Figure 59WOOD FLOORING

SPECIFY:

   

AVOID:

fallen on or thinned from the property reclaimed FSCcertified, and a nonthreatened species rapidly renewable finishes and stains -1.water-base 2.made of natural oils,3.lowVOC

    

reclaimed wood of uncertain origin chemically tainted wood solvent based finishes formaldehyde and other preservatives in the wood or finish metal-based drying agents in the finish

6.1.14 CORK FLOORING

Figure 60CORK FLOORING

SPECIFY:

    

AVOID:

formaldehyde free binders in the cork low-VOC adhesives tiles that are interlocking and therefore need little adhesives resin-oil primer and/or beeswax-based finish natural pigment based stain

  

PVC-vinyl blends or backings VOCs and solvents in adhesives and finishes synthetic rubber blended into cork flooring

6.2 DAY LIGHTING Daylighting is defined by the whole building design guide as “the controlled admission of natural light, direct sunlight and diffuse skylights into a building.” Daylight is often a large factor in reducing energy costs and will provide an enhanced environment for the user. Daylighting design should reflect the interior design and needs of each individual space. Successful daylighting design will implement the use of a variety of techniques such as interior and exterior shading devices and light shelves. These techniques will help balance the variability of daylight availability, heat gain and loss, and control glare.

6.2.1 MAIN GOALS FOR DAYLIGHTING IN A TINY HOUSE 

‘Getting enough daylight, without getting too much’



‘Making sure that the daylight is well-distributed throughout the room’

INTERIOR SHADING Use for:  

additional control venetian blinds curtains

Figure 61DAY LIGHTING

LIGHT SHELVES Use to:  

reflect light into a room deep window sills painted light colors

Figure 62LOFT LIGHTING

6.3 REQUIREMENTS AND CODES

6.3.1 BUILDING CODES FOR MINIMUM FOR HABITABLE SPACES 6.3.1.1MINIMUM AREA- Every dwelling unit shall have at least one habitable room that shall have not less than 120 square feet (11 m2) of gross floor area.

6.3.1.2 OTHER ROOMS- Other habitable rooms shall have a floor area of not less than 70 square feet (6.5 m2).

6.3.1.3 MINIMUM DIMENSIONS-Habitable rooms shall not be less than 7 feet (2134 mm) in any horizontal dimension.

6.3.1.4 MINIMUM HEIGHT-Habitable space, hallways, bathrooms, toilet rooms, laundry rooms and portions of basements containing these spaces shall have a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet (2134 mm).

6.3.1.5 HABITABLE ROOMS- All habitable rooms shall have an aggregate glazing area of not less than 8 percent of the floor area of such rooms. Natural ventilation shall be through windows, doors, louvers or other approved openings to the outdoor air. Such openings shall be provided with ready access or shall otherwise be readily controllable by the building occupants. The minimum openable area to the outdoors shall be 4 percent of the floor area being ventilated.

6.3.1.6 MINIMUM OPENING AREA- All emergency escape and rescue openings shall have a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 square feet (0.530 m2).

6.3.2 BUILDING CODES FOR ENERGY,EQUIPMENT ,FIXTURES 6.3.2.1REQUIRED HEATING-When the winter design temperature in Table R301.2(1) is below 60F (16C ), every dwelling unit shall be provided with heating facilities capable of maintaining a minimum room temperature of 68F (20C) at a point 3 feet (914 mm) above the floor and 2 feet (610 mm) from exterior walls in all habitable rooms at the design temperature. The installation of one or more portable space heaters shall not be used to achieve compliance with this section.

6.3.2.2TOILET FACILITIES-Every dwelling unit shall be provided with a water closet, lavatory, and a bathtub or shower.

6.3.2.3 KITCHEN- Each dwelling unit shall be provided with a kitchen area and every kitchen area shall be provided with a sink.

6.3.2.4 SEWAGE DISPOSAL-All plumbing fixtures shall be connected to a sanitary sewer or to an approved private sewage disposal system.

6.3.2.5 SCOPE- Private sewage disposal systems shall conform to the International Private Sewage Disposal Code.

6.3.2.6 WATER SUPPLY TO FIXTURES- All plumbing fixtures shall be connected to an approved water supply. Kitchen sinks, lavatories, bathtubs, showers, bidets, laundry tubs and washing machine outlets shall be provided with hot and cold water.

6.3.2.7 CLEARANCES- Freestanding or built-in ranges shall have a vertical clearance above the cooking top of not less than 30 inches (762 mm) to unprotected combustible material. Reduced clearances are permitted in accordance with the listing and labeling of the range hoods or appliances.

6.4 PLUMBING

Many tiny home owners consider sustainability a priority and implement greener alternatives in their designs. Although some of this is due to a sustainability ideology, part of this is a matter of practicality. Tiny homes are often built on trailers altering their potential for connection to the energy and water grids. As one interview subject put it, â&#x20AC;&#x153;In many cases you do not have the option of hooking up a flush toilet because the city will not allow itâ&#x20AC;? (Mitchell, personal communication, March 13, 2013). Some tiny homes are designed to be connected to municipal water and sewage systems like traditional mobile homes (Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, 2013b). Others have alternative systems to collect and utilize rainwater for shower and hygene purposes. This type of system must be incorporated into home design with collection coming from the gutters (Northwestern Tiny House Project, 2013). In some cases (as with the Northwestern project house) the coverage area of the home is increased using awnings to improve rain catchment. This kind of rainwater collection system usually includes a filtration mechanism, a storage tank, and a pump to move the filtered water. Some tiny home owners take this farther for reasons of simplicity. Rather than installing a plumbing system in her home, one homeowner forgoes running water altogether (Williams, 2011). Instead she showers at work or at her neighbors. This system is not inherently good for the environment, because water use in the home is replaced with water use elsewhere. It is likely, however, that this results in reduced usage as the homeowner is more aware of water usage when it requires an increased effort. In addition to water use, many tiny homes have alternative toilet systems to remove the need for connection to local sewage systems. It seems the most popular alternative is the composting toilet.

These can be purchased from toilet manufacturers or built by the homeowners

themselves using simple materials. Many of them include ability to separate urine or fans to improve air circulation. Composting toilets work by allowing the natural bacteria in excrement to break down the solid waste (Biolet, 2013). They work just like regular toilets, but rather than flushing, a compost additive is thrown in after use. Electric manufactured designs look very similar to flush toilets and are set up with fans to reduce odor and covers to hide the waste. These also have waste mixers that work similarly to large-scale treatment facilities to expidite 61

the breakdown of solid waste. Self designed systems can be much simpler with toilet seats fastened over plastic waste collection bins (Barrett, 2010). Both models require emptying the waste periodically. Many manufactured varieties break the waste all the way down to humus so this can be disposed of as garden mulch (Biolet, 2013). Selfmade varieties usually have waste that requires further breakdown in compositng piles to get rid of extra bacteria (Learn, 2011).

6.4.1 COMPOSITE TOILETS A composting toilet is a type of dry toilet or micro-flush toilet system that uses a predominantly aerobic process to treat human excreta by composting or managed aerobic decomposition.

6.4.1.1 HOW DO COMPOSTING TOILETS WORK? Composting toilets use the natural processes of decomposition and evaporation to recycle human waste. Waste entering the toilets is over 90% water, which is evaporated and carried back to the atmosphere through the vent system. The small amount of remaining solid material is converted to useful fertilizing soil by natural decomposition. This natural process, essentially the same as in your garden composter, is enhanced in commercial composting toilets by manipulating the environment in the composting chamber. The correct balance between oxygen, moisture, heat and organic material is needed to ensure a rich environment for the aerobic bacteria that transform the waste into fertilizing soil. This ensures odor-free operation and complete decomposition of waste. When human waste is properly composted, the end product does not contain any pathogens or viruses (these are destroyed by bacterial breakdown). This nutrient-rich fertilizer can then be used on plants or around the base of trees, as part of the natural cycling of nutrients, reducing your need for commercial fertilizers and preserving local water quality. A composting toilet must perform three completely separate processes: 1.Compost the waste and toilet paper quickly and without odour 2.Ensure that the finished compost is safe and easy to handle 3.Evaporate the liquid

6.4.2 SUN-MAR MOBILE COMPOSTING TOILET

Figure 63SUN MAR COMPISOTE TOILET

Different manufacturers have tried different methods to achieve these goals, but none has proved as efficient as the Bio-drum, designed by Sun-Mar, the forerunners of the composting toilet industry since the 1960's.

Many years ago Sun-Mar engineers realized that to work properly, these three tasks required independent chambers, each with its own separate environment. This revolutionary new three chamber approach first developed in 1979 proved so successful that today it is incorporated into all Sun-Mar units.

Figure 64COMPOSITE TOILET CHAMBERS

6.4.3 THE COMPOSTING CHAMBER (Chamber 1)

6.4.3.1 SUN-MAR'S UNIQUE BIO-DRUM The ideal way to compost waste would offer operational simplicity, and an environment where there is warmth, moisture, organic material, and oxygen. Sun-Mar creates this ideal environment in the patented Bio-drum. The unique Sun-Mar Bio-drum ensures aerobic microbes flourish and work much more quickly to break down waste and convert it back to earth.

6.4.3.2 OPERATIONAL SIMPLICITY Waste and peat mix bulking material enter through the waste inlet port at the top of the drum. To mix and aerate, rotate the drum periodically, simply by turning the handle on the front of self-contained units or on the side of central units. During rotation the inlet door closes automatically keeping the compost in the drum. To empty compost from the Bio-drum simply release the drum locker and rotate the drum backwards. Now, the inlet port in the Bio-Drum opens automatically and compost drops directly into the compost finishing drawer. After rotating, the Bio-drum locks itself in a top dead-centred position ready to receive new material. 64

6.4.4 ADVANTAGES OF THE SUN-MAR BIO-DRUM 6.4.4.1 SUPPLYING OXYGEN Sun-Mar's unique Bio-Drum design is the easiest and best possible way to thoroughly and completely mix and oxygenate the whole compost. Rotate the drum, and the entire compost pile is tumbled and infused with oxygen. Oxygen is one key ingredient which allows aerobic bacteria to break down waste quickly and without odor.

6.4.4.2 CONTROLLING MOISTURE Moisture control, the other basic requirement for good composting, is one of the outstanding benefits offered only by Sun-Mar's Bio-drum. Below 40% moisture content, composting slows and eventually stops completely. By not applying direct heat to the compost, Sun-Mar ensures that it does not dry out. In addition, the tumbling action during periodic mixing distributes moisture evenly throughout the compost. At above 60% moisture content, liquid starts to drive out the oxygen in the compost, and the compost becomes increasingly anaerobic - like a septic system. Sun-Mar's unique Bio-drum optimizes composting by automatically draining any excess liquid through a screen at the bottom of the drum directly into the evaporation chamber.

6.4.4.3 MAINTAINING WARMTH The microbes generate their own heat as they work. This warmth is held in the compost by the mass of material inside the drum, supported by indirect heat from the base heater (in electric units). By avoiding direct heat, Sun-Mar ensures that composting will not slow down as the material gets dried out.Aerobic Bacteria Ensure Odour-free Operation Uneven distribution of oxygen and moisture allows anaerobic bacteria to take over. These microbes produce bad odors and do not allow the waste to break down quickly. The superior oxygenation and moisture control provided by the Bio-drum provides the ideal environment for aerobic bacteria to odorlessly break down organic material. They quickly 65

convert organic material into water and carbon dioxide, and leave behind simple salts which are ideal for uptake by plants.

6.4.5 THE EVAPORATING CHAMBER (Chamber 2) Compost must be kept moist but not saturated. Excess liquid from the drum strains through a stainless mesh screen into the evaporation chamber. The ideal environment for evaporating any excess liquid is a large surface area combined with heat and moving air. Sun-Mar meets these criteria in the evaporating chamber. Any liquid not absorbed by the compost in the drum drains through the screen directly into the evaporating chamber. On all central units the liquid falls first onto an evaporating tray and then to the main evaporating surface. The tray not only helps oxygenate this liquid, it also traps any peat mix debris, and almost doubles the evaporating surface. Evaporating trays can be removed and cleaned if necessary, through the door opening on Centrex 1000 and 2000 units, and through the drawer access port on Centrex 3000 units. For optimum results, evaporation is assisted on 110 Volt electric models by a thermostatically controlled heating element. Sealed in a compartment underneath the evaporating chamber, the heater warms the floor of the evaporating chamber without drying out the compost. In non-electric units, although some liquid is evaporated by passive venting, the overflow drains must always be connected.

6.4.6 THE FINISHING DRAWER (Chamber 3) 6.4.6.1 ADVANTAGES OF A SEPARATE COMPOST FINISHING •

Composting can be completed in the drawer without contamination by fresh waste.

•

Compost in the drawer is gradually dried until ready for removal.

•

Finished compost can be simply and safely removed.

•

The finishing drawer serves two functions: to receive the compost in an easily-

accessible isolated container, and complete the composting and sanitation processes

FINDINGS This dissertation sought to address two research questions: Q1. Why has the intentional downscaling in homesize become a trend? What are the primary motivations and challenges for living in/advocating for tiny housing? Q2. What emerging niche markets exist within the trend? What is the potential for success of each of these niche markets? Information to address these questions was gathered primarily from supplementary information from literature and popular media review.

CONCLUSION

If the housing market continues to favor large extravagant homes and expansion into the suburbs, the outcome for the environment will be devastating. The larger homes are, the more raw materials they consume and the greater impact they have on the environment. Furthermore, larger homes typically require more energy to heat and cool, and more stuff to fill them creating a cycle of unsustainable consumption. The tiny housing movement counteracts these effects by building smaller and smarter, and by requiring residents to think more actively about what they really need.

At this stage, tiny houses are still somewhat of a novelty in most parts of North America. This is one aspect that influences the high volume of readers on tiny house blogs and websites. By choosing to intentionally downsize their dwelling and to simplify their life, residents of compact housing can reduce their environmental impact. Although this is not the motivation behind every tiny home ownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s choice, the effect is the same. At this stage,

however, that impact is quite limited due to the small number of individuals living in tiny housing. By expanding the scope of the trend, the positive ramifications for the environment expand as well.

RECOMMENDATION

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The tiny house can be of great help to society One of the most obvious niche markets for tiny housing can be young people new to the career world. University students as a niche market provide many of the same benefits as with young people in general. Students are also typically childless and unburdened by belongings. They can benefit just as much from early home ownership, and from avoiding rent during their education. Retiree or senior citizens people in their 60s or 70s often have a similar return to freedom to young people because they no longer have children depending on them. Tiny house can be placed in backyards and used as spare bedrooms, guesthouses, or tiny offices.

REFERENCES

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