Microhouse a good fit for urban life
The Tikku has three floors but no kitchen or running water
With urban populations growing and housing prices rising exponentially, micro houses appear to be one option to help get more people into their own living space.
One such design, the Tikku, takes up just 8.2 by 16.4 feet (2.5 by five metres) of space, approximately the size of a standard vehicle parking spot.
A house this compact makes it possible for it to be constructed just about anywhere a traditional house might not fit — or perhaps might not be desired.
Tikku (Finnish for Stick) is the creation of architect Marco Casagrande, who debuted it for the recent Helsinki Design Week 2017. As technology site New Atlas discovered, Tikku offers 37.5 square metres (403 square feet) of total floor space, split over three floors — ideal for couples or singles starting out with their first home. The first floor can be used as a work area, the second floor for a bedroom, and the top floor perfect for a small greenhouse/living space.
The unit also includes a dry toilet and electricity courtesy of solar power. Oddly, Tikkus don’t come with kitchens or running water. Casagrande feels that, because of its location in a city setting, occupants should be able to have easy access to water, food and whatever else they need, elsewhere.
Tikkus are assembled out of cross-laminated timber spatial modules and can be constructed on site overnight.
The architect is already selling units. Its basic model starts at 35,000 euros ($53,000), which doesn’t include transportation costs (nor land to build Tikkus on).