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Houzz Tour: Pint-Size Cabin in Rural Canada
An ecofriendly and cost-effective house smaller than 300 square feet offers a fresh start
After surviving a divorce and a serious illness, Denise Franklin was more than ready to start over. With a $25,000 budget, she approached architect Henry Yorke Mann to help her build a home fit for a fresh start in rural British Columbia. Mann saved money by severely restricting the size and material cost. Designing the 280-square-foot space in a mandala shape, Mann gave this home all the essentials and more.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Denise Franklin
Location: Rural area outside Oliver, British Columbia
Size: 280 square feet, with a 100-square-foot basement
That's interesting: Only one builder was used, to save on labor cost.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Denise Franklin
Location: Rural area outside Oliver, British Columbia
Size: 280 square feet, with a 100-square-foot basement
That's interesting: Only one builder was used, to save on labor cost.
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| Franklin loves nature, and it was important that the home feel connected to the outdoors. A front porch reaches out into her front yard and vegetable garden. Mann used all natural and local materials — no synthetic or plastic materials were used in any part of the home. Durable, insulated metal roofing keeps the home well protected from the elements. |
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| Mann looked closely at the bare minimum of what Franklin would need and what would meet local building code requirements. He chose a mandala shape — a form commonly found in Buddhist and Hindu art. The house has an identical design on all four sides, which simplified construction. A small basement under the central core stabilizes the structure, while the four peripheral building segments are supported on posts. |
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| Mann divided the home according to function and created four well-defined areas: an outside porch and entrance, a kitchen and dining room, a sleeping area and a bathroom. |
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During construction, Franklin decided to move her bed from the main floor to a small loft above the entrance. Not only did this provide room for the dining area, but the higher spot stays warmer during colder months.
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A small kitchen area with all of the essentials sits just next to the dining area. The interior floors, ceilings and walls are all made with the same tongue and groove pine as the exterior and are finished with simple drying oils.
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To keep the house at a consistent temperature without air conditioning or heating systems, high-quality insulation was installed in all of the walls. The metal rain-shedding roof is separated from the insulated roof by an airspace, which helps keep the home cool during the summer. A single propane fireplace provides heat during the winter.
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Mann researched storage and space-saving techniques used in yacht and trailer construction and applied them to the home's design. Extra ceiling beams in the bathroom help make use of every available nook and cranny. The stained glass window is one of the Franklin's own creations.
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Mann wanted to reduce the use of wood in the project to save on cost, so the interior stud walls are paneled only on one side, with small shelves inserted in the spaces between the studs on the other side. All the walls in the house were designed as breathable constructions to increase airflow.
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The 100-square-foot basement is set directly underneath the main living area. Here, Franklin cans and stores goods from her vegetable garden.
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"The house is a complete thing of itself, not an assemblage of parts," says Mann, pictured here with Franklin. Given Franklin's previous illness, it was important to them both that the home was a healthy physical and emotional environment.
Builder: Ken Silbernagel
Photography: Stuart Bish
More:
Tiny Home Built for Big Adventure
A Tiny, Ecofriendly Home
Builder: Ken Silbernagel
Photography: Stuart Bish
More:
Tiny Home Built for Big Adventure
A Tiny, Ecofriendly Home
Ideabook published on April 23, 2012.
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Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda in "On Golden Pond"
I envy people who get to live like she is living one with nature. Can't get any better than that.