One of the things I notice when cruising the internet for small/tiny house plans is that too many seem to presume a milder climate (i.e. three seasons or a very short winter season). For example, mud rooms are largely absent (which function as air locks to help keep in the heat) and closet space is limited leaving little place for heavy coats, boots, sweaters, etc. Window placement is another area of weakness. While even spacing makes for a more pleasing exterior facade, it can leave few options for furniture placement. And the last place I'd put my bed is under a window. Even with modern windows, the glass is still an area of heat loss and since cold air drops, I wouldn't want the cold air over my head and face at night.
There are some notable exceptions to this, of course. Jay Shafer's Tumbleweed house plans offer great layout for the square footage. For example, the Lusby and the Tarleton both have closets near the main entrance. The sleeping areas are tucked in lofts or nooks making them cozy-warm. To see the other floor plan options Jay offers, check out http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/houses/
At the moment, my partner and I are trying to sell our house in rural Newfoundland. I took a job in another part of the province last fall to put me closer to the remaining members of my small extended family. Of course, the recent economic downturn has not made for a seller's market these days and the winter arrived with the house unsold. My partner and four dogs have been staying in the house while I'm camping in an apartment in the city closer to my job. I visit home about once a month as the 5.5 hour drive is a little too much for more frequent trips during the winter. We are not happy about the situation, but are making the best of things for now. (My nomadic situation has led to my long blog absences - sorry about that folks.)
This situation has made me look for options to get a foot hold in the new location while still maintaining a mortgage elsewhere. I've spent countless hours on my 3D Home Architect Program drafting floor plans for small houses that could be built in stages, smaller houses that offer good versatility for the square footage, floor plans that convert construction site offices into small homes, etc. The last option was triggered by my reading an ad in the local on line classifieds where a 16 foot by 20 foot construction site office was being offered for sale.
I hope to post some of my floor plans to this site in the near future, as food for thought for other northerners looking to build a small house. Stay tuned for more!
There are some notable exceptions to this, of course. Jay Shafer's Tumbleweed house plans offer great layout for the square footage. For example, the Lusby and the Tarleton both have closets near the main entrance. The sleeping areas are tucked in lofts or nooks making them cozy-warm. To see the other floor plan options Jay offers, check out http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/houses/At the moment, my partner and I are trying to sell our house in rural Newfoundland. I took a job in another part of the province last fall to put me closer to the remaining members of my small extended family. Of course, the recent economic downturn has not made for a seller's market these days and the winter arrived with the house unsold. My partner and four dogs have been staying in the house while I'm camping in an apartment in the city closer to my job. I visit home about once a month as the 5.5 hour drive is a little too much for more frequent trips during the winter. We are not happy about the situation, but are making the best of things for now. (My nomadic situation has led to my long blog absences - sorry about that folks.)
This situation has made me look for options to get a foot hold in the new location while still maintaining a mortgage elsewhere. I've spent countless hours on my 3D Home Architect Program drafting floor plans for small houses that could be built in stages, smaller houses that offer good versatility for the square footage, floor plans that convert construction site offices into small homes, etc. The last option was triggered by my reading an ad in the local on line classifieds where a 16 foot by 20 foot construction site office was being offered for sale.
I hope to post some of my floor plans to this site in the near future, as food for thought for other northerners looking to build a small house. Stay tuned for more!
2 comments:
hi there! I have the same problem - I live on the other side of the continenet (Alaska) but about the same latitude as you. I want to build but I'm especially worried about the permafrost/ building issues~!
Hi there. I don't know if this will help, but I lived in the arctic for about a year and a half (Baffin Island) and noticed that all the new construction had the houses and apartment buildings on steel posts which were sunk into the permafrost, down to the bedrock. The underside of the houses were enclosed and insulated to prevent utility pipes from freezing while ensuring good air flow between the houses and ground. I have some pictures on my computer that will illustrate - I'll get them posted asap.
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