BETTING BIG ON MINI HOUSES
Ambitious eco-friendly project spans a large area of woods
Claude Trépanier is hoping the mini-house trend — with its emphasis on social-consciousness — that has swept many parts of Europe and is making waves in areas of North America will be popular in a little corner of the Laurentians.
Trépanier is the developer behind “Les hameaux de la source,” a small-house development in Lantier, just north of Ste-Agathe-des-Monts, aimed at singles, both young and old; new retirees and families of modest means.
The development is an ambitious project with a definite ecological approach. It spans a beautiful wooded area of 165 acres that is divided into 85 lots. At least 50 per cent will be kept pristine. Seven houses have already been built and 50 other lots are already spoken for. Residents will be encouraged to plant a vegetable garden on their plot or in the community garden and greenhouse, as well as start some sort of home business. At least, this is Trépanier’s vision. He launched the project three years ago.
His goal is to build a dynamic, close-knit community that will bring new life to the village.
His dream is shared by Richard Forget, Lantier’s mayor who cannot hide his enthusiasm for this project.
“Officially, we have 850 residents but only 230 of them are permanent,” Forget explains. “This project will be very good for our local economy. It will also bring in new tax revenues without adding to our expenditures.” A win-win situation at all levels. Zoning bylaws and building codes had to be modified to accommodate this new type of housing but there was no opposition from the citizens. The Caisse populaire Desjardins of Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts got involved as well, striking a deal with Trépanier to make financing easily available to prospective buyers.
Financing is a major point to consider when contemplating the purchase of a mini house. At present, getting a mortgage may pose a problem in certain cases, as most financial institutions have strict rules when it comes to this type of construction.
For example, movable mini houses can only be financed through a personal loan and a minimum square footage may be required for a mortgage on a fixed mini house. Also, the land has to be owned and not rented. These regulations may be eased in the future if the market for mini houses expands as some predict.
“Considering the positive impact on consumers, communities and the environment, I hope a growing number of people will seek out municipalities that accept mini houses or will encourage their elected representatives to make changes,” Trépanier said.
Only time will tell if this trend is here to stay. But what exactly is a mini house? A mini house is a habitable dwelling that is designed with 200 to 1,500 square feet of living space, generally on two levels.
Now, that’s pretty small! So what is the attraction of living in what most people would consider cramped quarters?
In the booming housing market, the first consideration when purchasing a home is the price. For example, one of the houses in the new development in Lantier costs about $100,000, including the land and basic sanitary services.
Other economic factors that come into play, include a small affordable mortgage or personal loan, much lower utility bills and taxes compared with owning a larger home. But the appeal of such dwellings is not only financial. The environmental issues are just as important for the owners, as the impact from using less construction materials as well as the upkeep and maintenance, which is minimal. Finally, there is the attraction of a simpler lifestyle, being close to nature, without superfluous material goods, and the added bonus of more leisure time saved on house chores.
Mini houses come in different sizes, shape and style. There are fixed ones, built on cement slabs or anchored with screw-in piles. And there are mobile, or transportable, ones that can be hitched to a vehicle and transported to one place from another like an RV.
However, they all have one thing in common, a clever and practical design. Functionality is the key word here, and maximizing the space to the square inch, is the ultimate goal. The shape and look is often secondary as the home illustrated here shows. One may even find its boxlike shape stark and rudimentary. But useless embellishments would be contrary to the spirit of mini house dwellers who advocate that “less is more.”
The exterior of one house in the Lantier development is clad with rustic-looking Eastern hemlock. The facade faces south for maximum sunlight and passive heat. Inside, the walls are covered with recycled wood gleaned from a 100-year-old ancestral home nearby and insulated with shredded newspaper, both sustainable resources.
With only 506 square feet of living space, it is quite tiny, yet the interior looks airy, bright and very comfortable. The kitchen area occupies one end of the room with the basic cooking necessities, a fridge, a double coil portable cooking range, sink and adequate storage cupboards. The antique folding table matches the wooden floor perfectly and indoor plants flourish in the abundance of light coming from the windows.
Under the mezzanine, there is just enough room for a two-seat leather sofa and a side table. The white door to the right leads to the bathroom, which clearly demonstrates that downsizing doesn’t mean downgrading. It is actually quite spacious and elegant with an antique-looking wash basin on a pedestal and a bathtub standing on a wooden frame. The shower curtain hangs from a frame made of copper tubing that was designed by the owner.
Built with sturdy maple wood, the stairs that lead to the mezzanine are narrower than usual with no risers or handrail. The design is clever considering the lack of space but they could prove challenging to anyone suffering from vertigo. They can be raised by a pulley system, so they are out of the way when not needed.
On the mezzanine, a double bed sits on the floor because of the 4.5-foot-high ceiling (at its highest point) occupies most of the space (11-by-12 feet). The century-old wood used to cover the walls is arranged in interesting patterns around the two corner windows.