Minimalism is on the rise, and not just in interior design . Living simply, in contact with nature to take advantage of the resources it offers (without exaggeration) is what many are looking for these days. From this behavioral trend emerged the Tiny Houses . The movement goes beyond creating homes with reduced sizes . The entire philosophy behind it is what actually dictates the rules of a tiny house . "A Tiny House is where someone is living and putting into practice the philosophy of conscious consumption", says Robson Lunardi, owner of the company Tiny House Brasil and responsible for the Pés Descalços movement.

What is Tiny House?

The Tiny House movement emerged in the United States and gained momentum in 2008, with the great economic crisis that hit the country and left many Americans homeless. From then on, small homes of up to 40 m² began to be built. Given the chaotic scenario, living in a house that does not require paying taxes or even owning a plot of land seemed like a solution. Combined with this, the philosophy of a simpler lifestyle , taking advantage of nature's resources responsibly , gained prominence. The concept spread quickly, and other countries such as Canada, Australia and Brazil began to see the social and architectural movement as a cheaper and more ecological housing alternative.

The Tiny House movement in Brazil

Brazil began taking the first steps to incorporate the movement in the last five years, following the initiative of Robson Lunardi and Isabel Albornoz in an unconventional way. The couple suffered, at almost the same time, from Buornot Syndrome - a disease whose cause is related to stress at work. After this event, the two took a sabbatical of approximately 4 months, and began to do Yoga and adopt a healthier diet . With time for reflection, Robson says that it didn't take long for them to come into contact with the philosophy proposed by minimalism and that was what led them to discover the concept of Tiny House. The couple, who previously lived in a 167 m² house , found themselves using only 50% of the space with minimalism. "We started to think about how we could simplify our lives in search of an alternative that would free us from such high costs," says Robson. Determined to have their own Tiny House , the couple began looking for specialists who could build the home. But it wasn't that easy. The year was 2017, after the impeachment of former president Dilma Rousseff, and due to the uncertain scenario, they were unable to build it. find professionals who would take on this challenge. "After hearing 'no' so much, we decided to go to the United States to immerse ourselves and understand what Tiny Houses are , get to know the movement, the people who were part of it and also the training," says Robson. Around May 2018, with the support of a builder friend, they started to get their hands dirty to get the house off the ground - a home of around 35 m² to house the couple and their son until then (since they had recently moved out). they adopted a girl, now 4 years old).

Tiny Houses are a type of modular construction with a philosophy based on minimalism. They measure a maximum of 40 m² and, to create a practical and comfortable environment in such a small space, carpentry is always an ally of these construction models. A strong characteristic of Tiny Houses is their socio-environmental responsibility . Saving resources and low waste production guide the construction process of this type of housing. Alex Carniel, a retired aeronaut and current entrepreneur in eco-tourism, makes this clear when he talks about the construction process of his Tiny House. He chose Steel Frame and Dry Wall to give his home a more artisanal touch. Named Morning Glory , Alex's Tiny is 30 m² and, according to him, it was built with 50% of materials from the United States and Europe, including the exterior paint, which is from Bhear . According to Alex, "more and more Brazilians are looking for Tinys, both for the comfort and the minimalist experience. 98% love the experience, especially the factor of the house being integrated into nature."

Why choose a Tiny House?

Living in a Tiny House is undoubtedly an experience unlike any other. Below, understand the pros and cons of this type of construction.

Advantages

• Sustainability both in lifestyle and in the construction of the house;
• Quality of life;
• Less stress;
• There is no tax (mobile models);
• Quick construction (depending on the model, the entire work can take 3 months).

Disadvantages

• High construction cost;
• Few professionals in Brazil actually know how to build a Tiny;
• Inside the house, few items can be accumulated.

The experience of living in a 9 m² Mini House

I was invited by César Barroso to stay for a week at his Mini Casa Brasileira . Located in Sorocaba, 15 minutes from the city center, a dirt road leads to a very large plot of land that currently serves as home to two ready-made mini houses and two more that are under construction . I accepted the challenge and tried to live a simpler life , based on minimalism, with more conscious consumption. My conversation with Robson Lunardi came to mind all the time, and I decided to have a week where the focus of my days was on myself and not on others. the work. The 9 m² house had everything I needed to live and work. Hyper connected, I had access to quality internet - which was a great advantage, since even in an atmosphere of calm and minimalism, I couldn't give up on the my tasks. The idea is to bring technology to an experience that disconnects from the virtual world and gives more openness to living side by side with nature . It's very easy to feel a sense of belonging when living in a tiny house . The reduced spaces contribute to this more intimate atmosphere. César would always correct me when I said "I'm in your house". He would say "not mine, now it's yours". yours". And that really happened - to the point that a feeling of sadness settled over me when I had to leave her. I also started eating healthier , especially with local produce . And that made all the difference. I lead a fast-paced life at times. During the week, I eat my meals in front of the computer, and on the first day there I decided quit that bad habit and try something new. I set up my breakfast table outside on the deck with the pool. I spent an hour eating and chatting with the caretaker, without thinking about work or anything else and I had a very productive day! Staying outside or inside is almost equally pleasurable. The cozy atmosphere inside the house , largely due to the predominance of light wood, the lighting and the aroma of nature that enters the space, gives a pleasant feeling of being there. The funny thing about adopting a more minimalist lifestyle is that nature smiles back at you. The sun that shines in the city is not the same as the one that shines on Tiny's land. It is less aggressive and welcoming, I didn't even need sunscreen. The mornings were always very pleasant. From waking up to sunlight - as one of the features of the Mini House is the large windows - to the sound of birds during the day, it all adds up to a complete and unforgettable experience.

Tiny House Projects

Below, we have selected some Tiny House projects for you to delve deeper into. Check them out!