Heeding the concerns of many tiny house enthusiasts, Brian Levy of Minim Homes set out to build a different type of micro home: a sustainable, portable home that offers more space in a modern, attractive, and efficient layout. The result is the Minim House – a beautiful new spin on the typical mobile tiny home.
After 7 months of design work, the home was complete and boasts several unique characteristics:
- A wide design with plenty of space for living and entertaining – a total of 210 square feet
- 50% more window area than most popular tiny home models
- No interior walls
- Multiple insulation levels for soundproofing and energy efficiency
- A design suitable for off grid living, with integrated rain catchment, water storage, and solar power
- Versatility in placement – the home can be detached from the trailer it is built on and placed directly on the ground
The kitchen sits along one wall and features a stovetop and microwave/convection oven that can be used for baking, a full sized sink, and spacious countertops made from gorgeous walnut sourced from a local mill. The flooring is made from the same wood.
Plenty of space is available in the kitchen for an under counter refrigerator and shelves that can accommodate over 50 quart jars for food storage.
The pull down window shade that covers the large windows on the side of the home is a projector screen that displays a 90″ image from a small LED projector installed near the bookcase.
The ample 8.5 foot guest couch/bed opens up to a roomy storage space that houses a 40 gallon water tank and a 3-stage water filter system that makes collected rainwater potable. Additional water storage is available underneath the trailer, for a total of 290 gallons of water storage capacity.
The walnut table can be lowered to coffee table height and positioned near the couch or can be raised and moved to the opposite side of the room to be used as a table or desk. I love the versatility of this little feature.
A 5 foot by 7 foot office area sits on a platform and allows room for a desk, a full sized closet, and an a/c unit that is built into the cabinets. The queen sized bed sits beneath the platform and can be pulled out on wheels and secured in place with locking casters.
The bathroom has a shower, sink, and Incinolet incinerator toilet – a toilet system that requires no plumbing or water usage. The toilet area can be screened off with a curtain while the shower is on.
A 960 watt solar array on the roof provides power to the LED lights, refrigerator, water pump, and other gadgets within the home. The battery storage system connected to the solar array allows the house to function completely off the grid. Amazing sustainability!
The Minim House sits at the Micro Showcase in Washington DC along with four other tiny homes, all under 350 square feet. The showcase also features an organic demonstration garden and an orchard of fruit trees, an apiary, and sustainable technology displays with off grid solar and rainwater catchment systems. Very cool!
Be sure to check out the Minim Homes website for more details and images, including photos of the construction process. They now offer buying options for people interested in purchasing a Minim House, or you can buy the plans and build it yourself.
Images via Minim Homes
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