Constrained by lot size, solar shading and flood elevation, this house was confined to a 357 SF footprint.

With its main retaining wall buried below grade and the living area being situated on the lower level, natural heat transmittance was allowed to flow up the generous stairwell and percolate through interior awning windows into the master bedroom. The complete house arriving at only 664 SF created the overall heating needs to be met with a single 30K btu natural gas stove and ceiling fans. Summertime cooling takes advantage of the below grade wall as a thermal heat sink. This small design worked perfectly with the owner’s intent to reduce her footprint on the earth.

Featured in the premiere issue of Tiny Homes magazine, April 2018; Small House Swoon; Tiny Houses; Tiny House Talk; and CDA was voted Best Tiny Home Architect for this project in February 2021 by Home Builder Digest.

Contractor: Jerry Nutter Construction
Photography: Sean Bagshaw