How simply do you want to live? The question prompted South Africa-based architect Clara da Cruz Almeida to design a 183-square-foot prefab house—for two people to share. "You can learn to live without excess things," she says.
Her Life Pod, manufactured in Johannesburg, arrives on site in a flatpack, ready to be assembled. Designers Dokter and Misses created clever interior spaces—with a micro-kitchen, folding furniture, and an enviable amount of storage—to make the tiny house feel like a serene sanctuary for two. Here's how:
Photography via Pod-Idladla.
Above: Folding concertina doors allow indoor and outdoor spaces to merge. On the deck are hand-felted wool Boulder Cushions from Ronel Jordann.
"With a tiny house you need to get out, to live in society—go to the theater, go to the movies, interact with other people," says the architect. "It's about making life simpler."
Above: Of the interior space, Katy Taplin of Dokter and Misses says: "It needed to be very calm. We chose to keep the interior predominantly white with accents of mint green and gray."
The little house has a micro-kitchen (which feels spacious because it's under a pitched roof) where the predominant materials are plywood, powder-coated steel, and stainless steel counters.
Above:"The idea is for the owner to display their items on the wall-mounted storage. It was also important to include as much enclosed storage as possible, to avoid clutter," says Taplin.
Above: A ladder leads to a sleeping loft. Clever design details including a folding sofa and folding table give the space flexibility to function in different ways.
"The reason the roof is pitched is to maximize solar potential—more space is created to attach solar panels," says Adriaan Hugo of Dokter and Misses.
Above: Light switches and outlets are from US-based Legrand.
Above: Exterior metal cladding was supplied by Pretoria-based Cupric Tectonics.
For more of our favorite tiny living quarters, see:
- Outbuilding of the Week: A 290-Square-Foot House Built for Two.
- A 150-Square-Foot Finnish Cabin.
- Garden Visit: 66 Square Feet (Plus) on a Harlem Terrace.
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