The aim of this book is not just to showcase a collection of well-designed small houses, tiny houses, or what we happily call 'nano houses'. We want to draw attention to structures that demonstrate a resounding appreciation for space, resources and materials through their effective use on a small scale. Some of the houses might be described as quirky or experimental, while others offer a more traditional approach. But all should provoke a discussion about design,efficiency, sustainability, proportion, harmony, function and necessity. Here is a survey of more than forty projects from around the world that rethink the feasibility of minimal living space in terms of all of those elements, and ask if perhaps we can do things better, even as we do them smaller.

In our growing cities, space is at a premium.In the countryside, we want to preserve the landscape and build as 'lightly' as possible.And in impoverished parts of the world,the need for sustainable, economical shelter is stronger than ever. At the same time,digital design tools, eco-materials and new brefabrication technologies have all led to an explosion in innovative ideas for our domestic spaces. Today's challenge for architects and designers is to produce small-scale habitats that are more ecological, flexible and efficient,as well as adhering to modern standards of style and comfort. Nano House offers the latest and most exciting solutions for houses where space is at a premium, nature must be preserved or accommodation created for those who need it most.

INTRODUCTION: SPACE-SAVING IDEAS

1. BUILT COMPACT HOUSES

VILLA HERMINA

HSH Architekti

Cernin, Czech Republic

HOUSE IN HIRO

Suppose Design Office

Hiroshima, Japan

CASA XS

BAK Arquitectos

Mar Azu], Argentina

XXS HOUSE

Dekleva Gregoric Arhitekti

Ljubljana, Slovenia

L41

Michael Katz, Janet Corne

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

HOUSE LINA

Ulrich Aspetsberger, Caramel Architekten

Linz, Austria

TRAILERWRAP

Michael Hughes and students

University of Colorado-Boulder, USA

A FOREST FOR A MOON DAZZLER

Benjamin Garcia Saxe

Guanacaste, Costa Rica

ONE+ MINIHOUSE

Add-A-Room

Stockholm, Sweden

2. SMALL AND MOBILE

BLOB

dmvA Architecten

Antwerp, Belgium

SILBERFISCH

Confused-Direction

O]denburg, Germany

FINCUBE

Studio Aiss]inger

Bozen, Italy

SHELTER NO. 2

Broissin Architects

Tepotzotlan, Mexico

ROLL-IT

Institut for Entwerfen und Bautechnik

University of Karlsruhe, Germany

POD HOME

Usa Tilder, Stephen Turk

Ohio State University, USA

ARKIBOAT

Drew Heath

Sydney, Australia

BUBBLE HOUSE

MMASA Arquitectos

A Coruna, Spain

3. MICRO-RETREATS

CASA INVITADOS

AATA Arquitectos

Licancheu, Chile

MERRY-GO-ROUND HOUSE

Bureau Ira Keeps

Drenthe, Netherlands

VACATION CABIN

Stephen Atkinson Architecture

Durango, Colorado, USA

LE CABANON

Cyril Brule, Atelier Corpeia

Villiers-en-Morvan, France

CHEN HOUSE

Casagrande Laboratory

Sanjhih, Taipei, Taiwan

SUNSET CABIN

Taylor Smyth Architects

Lake Simcoe, Ontario, Canada

EARTH HOUSE

BCHO Architects

Gyeonggi-de, South Korea

HOLIDAY HOUSE

Paan Architects

VSto, Sweden

BATH HOUSE

Craig Chatman, ARKit

Collingwood, Victoria, Australia

4. BIG IDEAS FOR LOW ENERGY

PACO 3M3

Jo Nagasaka and Schemata Architecture Office

Tokyo, Japan

BOXHOME

Rintala Eggertsson Architects

Oslo, Norway

SILO HOUSE

Cornell University

Solar Decathlon 2009, USA

SOLAR HOUSE I

Ohio State University

Solar Decathlon 2009, USA

LUMENHAUS

Virginia Tech University

Solar Decathlon Europe 2010, Spain

IKAROS HOUSE

University of Applied Sciences Rosenheim

Solar Decathlon Europe 2010, Spain

NAPEVOMO

Arts et Metiers ParisTech, Bordeaux

Solar Decathlon Europe 2010, Spain

FABLAB HOUSE

TAAC with the MIT Center for Bits and Atoms

Solar Decathlon Europe 2010, Spain

SMARTBOX

University of Wuppertal

Solar Decathlon Europe 2010, Spain

5. BIG IDEAS MULTIPLIED

INSTANT LUNG

Ryszard Rychlicki, 2RAM

Milan, Italy

MORERAVA COTTAGES

AATA Arquitectos

Easter Island, Chile

HOUSE ARC

Joseph Bellomo Architects

Hawaii, USA

MEADOW COTTAGES

Patkau Architects

Mill Run, Pennsylvania, USA

SOE KER TIE HOUSES

TYIN Tegnestue

Noh Bo, Tak, Thailand

PEAK SERIES

Vision Division

Solna, Sweden

HALF-A-HOUSE

Elemental Chile

Monterrey, Mexico / Milan, Italy

PROJECT CREDITS

ARCHITECT INFORMATION

PICTURE CREDITS