Living Light: Part 2

In response to the challenge of living within 75 cubic metres, the following proposed dwelling includes all the basic recognizable implements of "home", just on a different scale and with required lifestyle modifications. We can't continue to live the way we live now, surrounded by so much STUFF if we want to be able to live lightly. This is probably the single greatest lifestyle modification required to inhabit this little manifesto of minimum existence dwelling. The following images are sketches and photos of a model which could be placed individually within existing suburban neighbourhoods or in clusters as a site provided.

At the core of the project is a hearth, with an integral fireplace, oven, and stove top. I also imagine that a hot water tank could be included in the radiant chimney portion to benefit from the warm exhaust air. All of the living spaces are off of the chimney core to be heated only by the stove in the winter months. The bedrooms are situated on the second floor, giving them the warmest spaces when the heat rises during the coldest nights. All this would be for naught if it were not for the highly insulated walls and minimal window openings. Heat loss through the building envelope (walls, roof, and floor included) must be kept to a minimum if an internal fireplace is going to keep a space warm for any length of time. Structurally insulated panels (SIPs) are therefore proposed, not only for their great insulative quality, but also because of their ability to be pre-fabricated for accuracy and easy and fast installation on site. Windows have been limited in size and would be triple-glazed argon-filled units to have the greatest R-value, but they will still be the greatest source of heat-loss in the envelope.

A few space-saving techniques have been employed in the little residence which include pneumatic drop-down cupboards in the kitchen (which are hidden in the base of a shelving unit in the bedroom above) to allow for full visibility and light-penetration when stored up in the ceiling. On the second level, a sliding partition can be hidden between the shelves if the spare room is to be used as an office, or, if a visitor is over, it can be pulled shut for privacy. The bathroom does not have a sink simply because there is a perfectly fine sink in the kitchen right across from the bathroom. Stairs are a luxury when considering net cubic space, and thus, to get the most living space out of the residence, ladders were employed. Unfortunately that makes this dwelling exclusive to able-bodied residents, but surely another similarly designed small unit could be adequately barrier-free for such persons. Another feature of the home is a garden balcony which would allow the residents to grow their own fruits or vegetables without taking up any property beyond the footprint of their home. This balcony also provides shelter for the front entrance, but also a side of the house which would be ideal for storing and keeping firewood dry since wood is a requirement as the main source of fuel for the household.

The manifesto project is capable of being a stand alone unit or being combined into blocks, depending on what a site would allow. The intended site or sites for these small residential units is within existing suburban neighbourhoods which have large front yards and low population density. This would allow for the manifesto resident to be independent from the owner of the house (unlike a back yard unit) and have an address on the street. Due to the small scale, most suburban lots have more than adequate space to hold a single unit on the front yard without hindering light access to the house behind. As a smaller building closer to the street, not only would these facilitate a higher population density, but they would also introduce a more pedestrian scale to neighbourhoods filled with enormous homes set far back from the street.

Sketches of the units installed on an existing suburban street

Second Floor and Ground Floor Plans not to scale,
but approximately 4m wide by 4.5m long

Cross-sections across the length of the residence.
The ceiling height on the ground floor is 2.4m and 2.2m on the second floor.

Cross-section across the width of the residence

Model Photo with two walls removed

Model Photo with wall pulled back
to expose interior view to hearth

Model Photo with kitchen
cupboards retracted

Model Photo with kitchen
cupboards lowered

Model Photo showing wall-ladder
integration to spare bedroom

Model photo showing ladder
to main bedroom and hearth

Model Photo from above.