Small House, Big Ideas

Vagabundo’s Tiny House Project explores the essence of what we really need in our homes in order to live comfortably

Designed by architecture start-up Vagabundo, the mobile Tiny House project aims to re-evaluate what homeowners actually need to live a comfortable existence. Intending to be sustainable living spaces with a long lifespan, these mobile homes explore a specific ethos: less space paves the way for freedom to live. The home boasts two floors of living space with a minimal ecological footprint, achieved by using regional materials such as wood and resource-saving production to protect the environment.

DESIGNER MAGAZINE / DESIGNERATI.CO.UK

Residential Design

Making use of local production systems, the project avoids using long delivery routes. Because the house stands on supports, the floor does not have to be sealed. In addition, all greenhouse gas emissions that cannot be avoided are compensated for. In order to show that sustainability does not necessitate sacrificing luxury, Vagabundo have also included climate-conscious luxury elements, such as Kaldewei products in the bathroom space.

Andreas Müllner, co-founder of Vagabundo, said: “Structurally built according to the same principles as a conventional wooden house, these houses can have an equally high life expectancy. But raw materials alone do not necessarily make construction sustainable. Only the possibility of using it over several generations and adapting to changing circumstances make a property truly sustainable. The living comfort is crucial.”

“Our Vagabundos create a great sense of space without foldaway solutions and use nature as an extended living room,” adds Müllner. “In this way, inside and outside become one living space. At the same time, we see another cornerstone of our sustainability in mobility. Our small and large space miracles are not structurally bound to a property and can react much more flexibly to changing life situations. This is how we set new standards.”

“In any house, laying the foundations for a comfortable home always involves meeting two opposing needs: the need for protection and at the same time the desire to relate to the environment,” Müllner says. “These two needs form the essential basis for the house and can be experienced vertically. On the ground floor, the room is conceived horizontally and expands accordingly to the outside. The living space becomes a delicate threshold between house and nature. While the upper floor is designed in an introverted manner, the almost completely closed facade encloses the room and creates a strong contrast to the ground floor. The clear distinction to the outside enables an intimate experience and the room becomes a firm protective wall against the environment.”

Vagabundo / vagabundo-tinyhouse.com Kaldewei / kaldewei.co.uk

RAK-CLOUD

The latest addition to the popular RAK-Cloud collection, designed by Giuseppe Maurizio Scutellà, offers back-to wall or wall-hung sanitaryware, elegant freestanding bathtubs and washbasins, softly curved bowls or wall-hung solutions. Now available in matt black as well matt white and glossy alpine white.

At a time when all priorities are shifting towards more sustainable solutions, the idea of self-sufficient living comes into focus as never before. Design studio Crossboundaries has re-designed a solar-powered motorboat with high-end, scaled-down home characteristics to enable the craft to function as a ‘travelling nest’.

Currently moored in Berlin, Germany, the home has an overall length of about 15m, and a maximum width just over 4m, and includes a set of interlinked and multi-purpose areas utilising a pop-up table for the kitchen and foldable work desk.

Its designers say the main purpose of the project was to explore the possibility of adapting, while challenging assumed and conventional norms. For the full story, visit designerati.co.uk Crossboundaries / crossboundaries.com