Small House Bliss

Small house designs with big impact


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Two small houses by Architekturbüro Scheder

Zwei Kleine Häuser by Architekturbüro Scheder

This pair of identical small houses is located on the outskirts of Kaiserslautern, a historic city in western Germany. They stand out from their neighbors with minimalist black-stained wood exteriors embellished only by the crisp white window frames. The tall and narrow houses are placed at right angles to each other on the sloped lot, giving both views over the neighboring rooftops to a church and a historic castle. To take full advantage of those views, the architects at Architekturbüro Scheder opted for a reverse floor plan, placing the living areas on the highest of the three floors.

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A striking contemporary float home by Steeltec37

Contemporary float home at the Lausitz Resort by Steeltec37

This eye-catching small house floats on a lake in the Lusatian lake district of Saxony in Germany. Its unique curved roof resembles a sail under wind, fitting imagery for a floating home. It is one of two floating homes available for vacation rentals at the Lausitz Resort.

The house was constructed largely of steel by Steeltec37, with a steel structure and steel exterior finishes. Floating homes are often flooded with light due to the reflection of sunlight off the water and the lack of any vegetation near enough to offer shade. Steeltec37′s solution was to install sliding slatted screens (made of steel of course) for light control.

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Haus Bru 1.25, a barn-like home by SoHo Architektur

Haus Bru 1.25, a small house by SoHo Architektur

Haus Bru 1.25 is a small house by architect Alexander Nägele of SoHo Architektur. It was designed to make the most of a limited budget. Although built in Germany, the austere form and economy of materials remind us of a New England barn. The irregular window placement adds to the utilitarian appearance, having seemingly been driven by interior function with no regard for exterior appearance. However each facade has in fact been carefully balanced. Not everyone will appreciate the barn-like styling, but to us the proportions are pleasing and the arrangement of the variously-sized square openings is quite interesting.

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The Silberfisch, a modern floating home by Confused-Direction

courtesy of SchwimmHausBoot

Living on the water is an option in many places. Unlike a houseboat, a float home has no engine of its own and must be towed from place to place. They are typically left moored in one location and not moved often. In many cities where berths are limited and water views are highly-sought, living in a float house is very costly. However in some places, float homes can be a very affordable housing alternative.

The Silberfisch (silver fish) was designed by Flo Florian and Sascha Akkermann of German design firm Confused-Direction. Their stated aim was to “create a quality home that represents a balanced mix of design and a maritime romance”, and they have succeeded. The wedge shape is fresh and at the same time reminiscent of the industrial sheds that line any working port.

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