A Life That Moves!
ISSN 2631-326X
JANUARY 2020
Even Super Heroes take time out to read Tiny Living Magazine. *NOTE- Never attempt to read our magazine while flying. Follow us on www.facebook.com/tinylivingmagazineuk and www.instagram.com/tinylivingmaguk
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January 2020
Contents Caravan Living … Page
The Heart of Your Home … Page Tiny European Style … Page Australia – Our Neighbours to the South … Page
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Published by: Tiny Living Productions Ltd, Glasgow UK Editor: Pamela Palongue Design by: Gilmour Graphics Email: info@tinylivingmagazine.co.uk Cover photograph: Stunning interior of KODA Light Extended, photograph by Tonu Tunnel. :
“ The impossible is possible. -Just build!”
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Caravan Living for those born under a wandering star More and more people are living in caravans in order to save money, and also for work. Tiny houses on wheels are usually classed as a caravan, making them another viable alternative for mobile living. But where will you park your rolling home?
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In most of Europe, it’s perfectly legal to live permanently in a caravan on your own land that you have purchased. -But what about the UK? The answer is pretty much a solid ‘no’, unless there is a permanent conventional home also sited on the land, but this varies with the individual councils. However, since finding land can be both difficult and expensive, this may not be as big of a problem as it initially seems. There are plenty of caravan and park home sites conveniently located across the UK, and most of them will accept tiny houses on wheels. Many will require you to move the caravan, somewhere between 28 days and every six months, depending on their policy. If you must remain within a certain area, there may be several parks located within the general location, and you can move locally. Some tiny house builders and caravan sellers can help in locating a site for your home. There are tons of apps that can tell you where the parks are located, what the rules are and which amenities they offer.
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Another obstacle in the path to freedom is healthcare. There are many reasons why the Romany people do not generally live a long healthy life. One of them is the lack of access to good healthcare. If you decide that small-space living on the road is the lifestyle for you, make sure you live a healthy lifestyle, and have access to healthcare. At this time, a post office box is acceptable for an NHS address or the address of a trusted family member. However, be sure to check as laws and policies are constantly changing. One seasoned caravanner who travels for work as a musician, lives a great deal of the year in her mobile lodging. She has pets, gets plenty of exercise, and grows her own herbs. Additionally, she has a post office box address so that she can have access to healthcare. Pets are great at keeping you calm and happy. They’ve even been shown to lower blood pressure and improve mental health. A rescue pet can be a great asset and a familiar face, while living alone on the road.
Most people who have moved into a smallspace dwelling have found they spend a great deal of time outdoors, and are closer to nature. Since caravans are frequently located in natural surroundings, it makes it easy to reconnect with the wild. If you’re considering the move to a tiny house on wheels or a caravan, try renting one first before you commit to it fully. You might also try living in a small studio flat or bedsit for six months or more, to see if you enjoy living in a simpler, more efficient way. Going mobile is a reversible decision, as your caravan or tiny house can be sold, but it’s always good to be as thorough as possible when researching a major lifestyle change. And please let us know how you’re doing. Photographs by: Caleb white, Caleb George, Eric Muhr, Andrea Davis and DLC.
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A Tiny Living Promotion
The Heart of Your Home
At the heart of your home is peace. – The peace in knowing that come what may, you have a place to come home to, that’s incredibly affordable, and easy to maintain. It’s a welcoming respite away from the world, where you can take comfort and recharge. Tiny Eco Homes UK has tiny houses starting at £26,000. That’s little more than the cost of a car. Their experienced master builders and designers rate quality as the most important ingredient in making your home a comfort and not a financial burden. They’re built to last a lifetime, and the bespoke design ensures that it fits your lifestyle.
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So pour yourself a nice cup of tea, and take a look at what your home could look like at www.tinyecohomesuk.com
WINTER PRINT WINTER 2019
ISSN 2631-3251
On sale now!
Send Us Your Photos!! Are you living in a tiny house, a narrowboat, a studio or other small space? Your story can help inspire others to follow their dreams! Email us at: info@tinylivingmagazine.co.uk
Cosy Tiny Houses
Our Winter issue available at these locations: LONDON
Charlotte Street News Fitzrovia, W1T 4QE Rococo News & Magazines Notting Hill W11 2HX GLASGOW Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA) Aye-Aye Bookstore, G2 3JD
And online everywhere at
www.Newsstand.co.uk
Well-read dogs agree: Tiny Living UK is fun and inspirational! DISCLAIMER: The above survey was conducted by dachshunds
with questionable math skills and skewed scientific methods.
- according to the Canal & River Trust, 26% of the UK’s 33,000 boats are used as primary residences? - thousands of people in the UK are already embracing small-space living in studio flats, student accommodations, and small terraced houses? - there are over 80 shepherd hut building companies in the UK? - prices for a well-designed tiny house fitted with kitchen and bath starts at £26,000? - according to Popular Science, human beings are hard-wired to like tiny things? www.popsci.com/why-do-we-think-tiny-things-are-cute
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Photographs left and above of home designed by KODA. The tiny house trend started in the U.S. over a decade ago, and seems to be growing by the minute. We’re also seeing ever increasing interest in the UK as well. But what have the Europeans been up to? The answer is – plenty! There are unique tiny house builders in several European countries, and while they share some commonalities, they each have their own special style that makes them instantly recognisable. We take a look at a couple of them here, and also an interesting blog about tiny houses in Scandinavia and beyond. One innovative tiny house builder is KODA of Estonia. Although we tend to think of tiny homes
as a retreat to nature, KODA has found a way to create ultra-contemporary structures that look perfectly at home in an urban environment. Founded by architect, Ülar Mark, and a sustainability engineer and Hannes Tamjärv, the KODA home consumes much less energy with a smaller footprint, and it’s mobile for the way that we live today. We also think it’s a stunning bit of design! The interior feels much larger than its actual size, and the clean lines give it the ability to blend with almost any contemporary style of decor. They have sales consultants throughout Europe including two in the UK. You can see more of their home models at www.kodasema.com
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Photographs above and bottom left of house by S.V. Mini House of Italy. From La Belle Italia, comes beautiful tiny homes! The S.V. Mini-House was founded by Simone Vecchiato and is based in Italy. Simone began building at the age of 15, and now more than 20 years later he is creating tiny homes that are true to the Italian love of beauty and great design. Warm natural woods give the homes a cosy feeling and add strength to the overall structure,
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and curved lines within the home soften the feel of the living space. A master builder, he manages to make use of every inch of space for comfortable living. The homes can be moved for those who enjoy a change of scenery, or can also be built on a foundation for a more permanent siting. You can see more of S.V. Mini House at www.svminihouse.it
From the land of ‘hygge’ (the Danish word associated with cosiness and contentment) comes an interesting blog with the stories of tiny house dwellers. The founder of the blog , Peter Cox, hopes to build and one day live in a tiny house. He has spoken to several people (including ‘Tiny Living’) about the tiny house experience. He hopes to reach a more balanced life by living more simply in a smaller space. To see more of Peter’s experiences and his interviews, visit www.ThrivingWillow.com
Australia – Our Neighbours to the South The Australian bushfires continue to rage, destroying homes, people and wildlife. So you’re not a celebrity and can’t afford to donate millions of pounds. -That’s okay. Even small amounts really add up when everyone works together. Although any type of giving is lovely, donating household goods and other tangible items can be difficult for charities to store and distribute. Probably the best way to donate is to send funds that can be used for what’s needed most at any given moment.
Two trusted organisations are the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery, which helps shelter those without housing and to re-establish homes, and the RSPCA Australia, which is helping to rescue and rehabilitate wildlife devastated by the fires… We are all connected. www.redcross.org.au/campaigns/disaster-reliefand-recovery-donate www.bushfires.rspca.org.au
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