By Justin Vood Good Ph.D., Author and Architectural Critic
Hans Lohse’s Tiny Homes are the result of over 50 years
of architectural research into housing and building construction
that embodies deeply principles of sustainability and environmental harmony,
sacred and unfolding geometry, and profound comfort.
Sacred Geometry
Designed following principles of unfolding wholeness,
Each home creates sacred space –
space which is small in terms of square footage,
and yet feels and functions as a much larger space.
Unlike experiments in tiny housing which simply shrink a conventional dwelling
down in size making them feel cramped inside,
Tiny Homes are unfolded from a design seed,
making them feel expansive, alive and cozy.
Sustainable and Non-violent Living
Tiny Houses are totally off-grid, transportable, self-composting,
local water resources and gray-water disposal.
Profound comfort
The sacred space is augmented by cutting edge Technology
including a cooking-friendly Kitchen, a Bathroom full of light/ventilation,
hand sink, shower with seat and on-demand hot water.
What is Beauty?
The harmony of natural systems, the unfolding wholeness of nature,
the environmental and social crisis we face
are being met by visionary green architects,
answering to the challenge of sustainable building traditions,
economic parity and even deeper principles:
The cosmic patterns embedded at every level of scale in the natural world
which serve to maintain and enhance the web of life.
Introducing
TINY TEMPLE FOR THE HOMELESS
A RESCUE TOOLBOX FOR THE REST OF US
THE STRUCTURE IS FABRICATED USING
PREFABRICATED LIGHTWEIGHT
HIGH-R STRUCTURAL STRESS SKIN PANELS
WHEN FOLDED INTO POSITION
A 128 SQUARE FEET, 1024 CUBIC FEET BOX IS FORMED.
ONCE THE BOX IS IN PLACE THE TEMPLE UNFOLDS
TO 180 SQUARE FEET OF LIVING SPACE
IN THE FORM OF AN OCTAGON.
THE BOX CAN BE TRANSPORTED OR PERMANENTLY INSTALLED
ON A 16 FEET FLAT-BED TRAILER
THE BOX CAN BE STACKED FOR SHIPPING
THE AUDIO-VISUAL PRESENTATION SHOWS
HOW THE BOX UNFOLDS
WHAT IS INSIDE THE BOX – CREATING THE TEMPLE
HOW THE TEMPLE FOLDS BACK INTO THE BOX
THE TECHNICAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR THE TEMPLE
SOLAR ELECTRIC POWER
HEAT
VENTILATION
WATER / HOT WATER
SANITARY WASTE
GRAY WATER FILTER AND VAPORISATION SYSTEM
TINY TEMPLE MECHANICAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS
The Pre-Wired Morning Star PS-MPPT-25 CHARGE CONTROLLER
and the Magnum MS 2024 2000-WATT 24VDC 120 VOLT AC INVERTER
are connected to 2 Q-Cell 285-WATT SOLAR MODULES mounted on the roof.
The electric power is stored by 4 Trojan 31 AGM BATTERIES
concealed, waterless and maintenance free
SELF-COMPOSTING TOILET CONCEPT
The composting toilet demonstrates the viability of small scale,
decentralized, ecologically regenerative technologies.
This project relies on composting humanure
and avoids issues and complications
associated with conventional wastewater treatment practices.
Composting is microhusbandry; specifically, the use of microorganisms along with soil,
moisture and oxygen,
to biologically decompose organic residues, including humanure,
into soil, specifically, humus.
Humus is a stable material which is critical to soil fertility
and to soil’s ability to retain moisture.
It also releases nutrients essential for plant growth,
\helps to balance soil pH,
and supports microbial populations that add life to the soil.
The composting process requires moisture, oxygen, temperature
(and time), and a good nitrogen/carbon(CN)ratio (approximately 30/1)
A 50 cubic feet curing chamber is installed under the floor
and a access door to the exterior allows the humus to be removed
approximately once or twice a year.
The humus is usable as fertilizer for flowers, shrubs and plants.
HEAT
CB-1210 GRIZZLY Cubic Mini Wood Stove – Black
CB-2013-SS Stainless Steel Wall Mount with Sliding Tray
Produces 8000 to 18000 BTU’s.
Designed to cook and will heat up to 400 square feet.
HOT WATER
Hot water is created by a TAKAGI propane gas indoor, on-demand water heater
that produces instant and continuous hot water without a storage tank.
Two 20 LB propane gas tanks are used to fuel the water heater
and a two-burner cook top. A generator provides back-up power.
WATER COLLECTION AND GRAY WATER DISPOSAL
Once in place,
The North and South walls unfold and become walls and floors.
Two interior built-in insulated water tanks on the North-side floor
hold 80 gallons of roof collected filtered rain water.
Two exterior built-in insulated water tanks on the South-side floor
hold 120 gallons of roof collected filtered rain water,
150 square feet of exterior floors contain a 6” deep built-in
SILVERSPONGE™ GRAY WATERFILTER Evaporation System.