TINY HOMES DISCUSSIONS

These days, with the rising cost of housing and a sinking economy, it pays to get creative when it comes to affordable housing. Built from a 1982 public transportation bus, the Big Green Bus was converted into a cozy, energy-efficient home that has been featured on the show Amazing Spaces.        With three bedrooms, a bathroom and a kitchen, the bus is a fun, funky place to spend the night, and it resides in the gorgeous Sussex area. Once you see the interior, you won't believe this double-decker getaway used to be a working bus . The bold, Kelly green exterior gives way to a simple yet completely sufficient interior. Featuring sleeping space for up to six guests, the bus offers a cheerful dining table that doubles as sleeping loungers if necessary. With plenty of available natural light, dining and relaxation come easy, and there is plenty of seating space for guests along with greenery provided by lush plants. Notice the sleeper tucked into t...

Thanks to careful scrounging and salvaging, a Danish design student was able to cheaply build a "self-sufficient" dome for use as a greenhouse.       As cold weather approaches and our outdoor gardens start getting hit by frosty temperatures at night, many of us are contemplating ways to lengthen the growing season to keep producing food well into autumn. Although there are some decidedly simple methods of doing so, such as the use of row covers, low tunnels, or individual cloches, this geodesic dome is a great example of combining quite a bit of salvaged materials, a small amount of DIY electronics components, and what looks like a serious investment of labor to create a walk-in greenhouse complete with an Arduino-controlled irrigation system. According to Mikkel H Mikkelsen, a 25-year old industrial design student, this past spring he "felt like taking a break from a busy city life and getting my hands dirty," and decided to try his hands at bu...

If you presently suffer from a mad case of wanderlust, you’re sure to appreciate this new motorhome unveiled by RV company Dethleffs. With a sleek design and head-to-toe solar panels, the vehicle was made for the open road. It’s especially perfect for those who seek to go off-grid for a while, as it runs without fuel or charging stations. Because the e.home is solar-powered and can store the sun’s energy in a battery pack, it allows campers to thrive in the wild without adversely impacting the environment.       New Atlas  reports that the motorhome is built on Dethleffs Iveco Daily Electric chassis. The Iveco Daily is in turn powered by a variety of battery options. The largest battery gives the RV a range up to 174 miles on the European Cycle. With the camper’s extra weight, the e.home concept drops to just over 100 miles. In reality, that short driving range doesn’t matter, as the e.home has 334 square feet of thin-film solar panels on its ex...

Imagine your dream tiny house. Is it rustic? Chic? Filled with interesting nooks and crannies? All of the above? Then have we got a treat for you.       Humble Houses has created what is best described as a tiny living masterpiece: The 12-by-40-foot (3.65-by-12.19-meter) Dreamwood model. Dependent on the chosen finishes, this lovely dwelling is bound to please anyone looking for their ideal abode. Sounds like a treat, right? Come with us for a closer look. The outside is welcoming and homely. If you look closely, you'll notice the panel behind those entry steps conceal the Dreamwood's wheels away from view. A dark brown tinge contrasts with the sleek wooden siding and chic outside furniture to create a well-rounded sense of elegance. As you can probably tell, there's nothing humble about those interiors. An open-plan interior design, with plenty of natural and inner lighting, has been used to create a space that looks ample and f...