Local company building Micro Homes in Vancouver
Posted October 30, 2013 8:00 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – We’ve seen some awfully small suites and lofts go up for sale in Metro Vancouver over the past year or so, but they look like relative mansions compared to a new micro home being developed by a locally-based company.
The tiny, 100 square foot house is designed by Nomad Micro Homes and is about one third the size of the condos and micro-lofts that have previously made headlines.
The company is taking pre-production deposits on a $25,000 base model which includes a living room, cabinets, a stair/shelving combo and upstairs bedroom. Three thousand dollars more lets you personalize your space with amenities like a bathroom.
Could you live in a 100 foot space? There are not many takers on on the streets of Vancouver. “No, because I live in an 800 square foot apartment right now and that’s too small,” laughs Emily.
“I’d have to see it. A 100 square foot house for 25 grand? Seems really steep for that size,” adds Derek.
Pushpa wonders why we need to squeeze into such a small space in a large, sparsely populated country like Canada. “What are you going to do in 100 square feet? It would be like living in a third world country… cooking, eating, sleeping, doing everything in one room. It’s too small, I believe,” he tells News1130.
Nomad designer and developer Ian Kent is trying to raise funds to finish testing and development through an online crowd-sourcing campaign.
“The world would be a better place if housing was more accessible and affordable for everyone. But the reality is supply and demand has made it too expensive for most, at least for the size of house we are accustomed to. If houses were smaller, more efficient and easier to build, this reality could change.”
But Kent, who has 35-years-experience designing and developing multi-family and commercial spaces, says changing the size of our houses requires changing the way we perceive the definition of “home” by simplifying, re-evaluating the importance of material possessions and reducing our consumption.
“I knew that effective design could make a space this size feel comfortable. My goal was to produce an efficient yet cozy home with minimal impact on yard space and the environment.”
There are plans for a display home to be available to the public next year. Once in production, the home would be shipped to you, disassembled and flat-packed like Ikea furniture.
But keep in mind most local municipalities have bylaws on minimum home size. In Vancouver, a primary residence must usually be at least 400 square feet.
