Have you heard about "Tiny Houses"? Given the state of the current economy, a growing number of Americans with ordinary lives are choosing to scale down — way down. They call themselves the "tiny house" movement. Need to Know visited one of the movement's proponents, Dee Williams, at her small home in Olympia, Washington. This is not limited to the USA.
The tiny house movement is a reality more Australians are adopting as an alternative to decades of mortgage repayments. Having first attracted wide-scale media attention when used to accommodate victims of Hurricane Katrina after it devastated New Orleans in 2005, tiny houses have attracted little interest in Australia where homes are among the largest in the world.
But with more exposure in the face of ever-increasing home prices, the tide is beginning to turn. The causes of the movement are threefold: freedom from debt, minimal environmental impact, and the opportunity to live simply. Jay Shafer, the US designer credited with founding the movement, defines tiny houses as being under 9.3 square meters.
This You Tube was shared on July 31, 2010:
Derek "Deek" Diedricksen, on his west coast book tour for "Microshelters", stayed in a different tiny house on every single night of his speaking tour and filmed EACH and EVERY house he stayed in. This, the "Alberta Modern Tiny House" was built by a school teacher for $17,000 in the Portland, Oregon area on weekends and summers, and used (he estimates) 80% recycled building materials. This tiny house has a full kitchen, bathroom, loft, and a spacious and naturally lit mini-living room. This You Tube video was published on December 17, 2015.
In Luling, Texas, Tiny Texas Houses have been designed and built with 99% Pure Salvage. That means that everything from the doors, floors, windows, lumber, porch posts, glass, door hardware, interior walls and even the siding has been saved and re-used to create houses that we hope will last for a century or more. Our small homes built with salvaged vintage materials demonstrate that it is possible to reduce our carbon footprint, simplify our lives, and live in a healthy house that is energy efficient as well as beautiful. Each Tiny Texas House is a unique piece of House Art that will last for the rest of the owner’s lives and for generations to come.
If you are interested, it is possible to tour these tiny houses. The tour is run at 11:00 AM on Wednesdays and Saturdays. You will get to experience from outside and inside the Tiny Texas Houses! The cost is only $20 per person. In the guided tour you’ll learn why we salvage, what we salvage and how you can build a beautiful, strong, healthy home out of what was once someone’s trash. Location: 20501 IH-10, Luling, Texas, 78648. Exit 628 off of I-10. Tours last approximately 90 to 120 minutes. As most of our Tiny Houses are occupied, we do not accept passersby visitors, so as not to disturb the residents. This is why we do a Guided Tour once a week.
My goal is to show people what can be done with a concept I call Pure Salvage Building, thus what you see is 99% Pure Salvage. That means that everything from the doors, floors, windows, lumber, porch posts, glass, door hardware, and even the siding has been saved and re-used to create houses that we hope will last for a century or more.
I believe that there are presently enough building materials sitting on the ground to build much of the next generation of housing. All it takes to make it so is pure human energy, spirit, and the desire to build something that will last for several lifetimes.
Tiny Texas Houses have been designed and built with the best trees ever harvested, the best hardware ever made, and great salvaged materials to demonstrate that it is possible to reduce our carbon footprint, simplify our lives, and live in a healthy house that will be energy efficient as well as beautiful. Each custom, hand-crafted Tiny Texas House is a unique piece of House Art that will last for the rest of their owner’s lives, and generations to come.
If you would like to experience an overnight in a "tiny house", it is now possible by booking one of the houses in Luling via Air B&B. For more information, call or se their website: Phone: (830)-875-2500 • info@puresalvageliving.com.