July 20, 2017
Have you ever heard of the Tiny House Movement?
According to Tiny House Talk, a blog dedicated to the subject, the movement is a growing real estate trend where people are choosing to live simply in smaller homes to become more conscious about their lifestyle.[1] The definition of a “tiny home”, is anywhere between 65 to 400 square feet.
The Tiny House Movement made its way into the University of Texas Arlington (UTA) Architecture program, (known as Parallel Construction), when twenty design students competed for the chance to design and build their own tiny homes for a school project.
Previously, UTA Architecture had been involved in smaller structures such as pavilions, but always dreamt of something bigger! Because a project of this kind has a relatively short lead time, the UTA Architecture department felt it would be a good fit for their class assignment. They were able to receive backing from local philanthropists, suppliers, and building manufacturers to bring their ideas to fruition.
The project began in the Fall 2016 semester. Milgard Windows & Doors was asked by Architecture professors Brad McCorkle and Bang Dang to donate the windows. Because of their modern look and feel, Milgard Thermally-Improved Aluminum Series windows were selected. Compared to standard aluminum windows, the Thermally-Improved Series provides more energy efficiency, which is an important goal for Tiny House homeowners.
Two houses were created in conjunction with the project. The first house was called “Casa Modulo” and the second “Nexus”.