Our Favourite Transportable Tiny Houses on Wheels
There are tiny homes – then there are tiny houses on wheels. That’s right, some tiny houses are fully transportable, ready to move with you when you are. Transportable tiny homes have become a popular solution for off-grid vacations that bring some comforts of home to the great outdoors, offering what architect Jan van Schaik calls JOMO: the joy of missing out. The moveable homes featured on Never Too Small have largely fallen under this second category of glorious glamping escapes, showcasing some incredible design innovations, uses of recycled materials, and inspirations for tiny living however you want to approach it.
Stella the Stargazer – 19sqm
Stargazing was on the mind during the creation of Stella, a 19sqm tin structure crafted using salvaged and repurposed materials from an original farm shack. Designed by Luke Hickman and built by Aaron Shields of Ample, the tiny home was created for the purpose of being mobile, using lightweight materials within the necessary dimensions to take it on the road. Stella is completely off-grid and sustainable, featuring a three-kilowatt solar system on the roof, a 4,000-litre water tank, and its own septic storage system. It is really about being in nature, as Shields explained: “This was an opportunity to show people the Great Ocean Road, to really connect them with the landscapes of Victoria while experiencing the twelve apostles, the local wildlife, and vistas along the coastline”. Watch Stella the Stargazer.
CABN, Jude – 14sqm
“The idea and philosophy behind CABN was to create a nature-based eco escape, where the guests would disconnect from the business of their city life in a beautiful, natural landscape”, designer Shane Laidlaw, designer told Never Too Small about CABN. The little holiday retreat on wheels is off-grid, sustainable, and eco-friendly – built entirely out of locally or nationally sourced materials. With a loft bed, compact kitchen, bathroom, and windows on all sides, it does compact comfortably. Watch CABN Jude.
The Brook – 27sqm
Designed by small. to feel like a New York–style apartment appropriate for a regional setting, The Brook is a fully off-grid, transportable small house design that redefines sustainable luxury. The off grid, largely passive house home uses recycled and restored materials to minimise its impact on the environment. Something we love about this one: the expanding roof. The team created a telescopic roof system that can be raised upon arrival in order to create a more spacious interior while still being able to meet the requirements to travel on the road. The wall panels fold in on themselves to raise the roof 1.2 metres by a cog system before folding back down to fill in the walls. Watch The Brook.
Shacky – 18sqm
“Shacky’s a place to have a holiday”, architect Jan van Schaik explains. But it’s so much more than that – it is a novel means of connecting people with nature. Shacky looks to owners of farms or agrarian properties to act as hosts for the small, off grid structures, allowing them to diversify their income while offering a simple retreat for those looking to get out of the city. The shed-like design itself is contemporary yet at home within its natural environment, with an indoor bedroom and an outdoor kitchen and bath – neatly combining sustainability and comfortable living. Watch Tiny House Shacky.
