Minim House, via Boneyard Studios (click to expand).

Princeton resident Anne Neumann wrote an article in the “Princeton Packet” last week singing the praises of ‘Tiny Houses’. Long-time ‘Walkable Prineton’ readers will remember that we have written about micro-apartments and the Tiny House movement several times in the past, and it’s great to see the concept get more exposure. But are Tiny Houses a realistic solution to urban housing problems, like those faced in Princeton?

Perhaps the best example of a ‘village’ of Tiny Houses is the Boneyard Studios in Washington DC. Located in a regular residential neighborhood, the cluster of tiny houses stands out because of their small size and unique character. The ‘village’ offers tours to interested people, and is a popular fixture in the neighborhood. Each house has unique features, such as the ‘Minim House’ shown above. The only thing they have in common is that they are quite small- some as small as 140 sq ft for the whole house! Click the link above to take a look at some of the other designs. If anything, these homes justify Ms Neumann’s enthusiasm about Tiny Houses.

Princeton used to build tiny houses too- such as those at Butler Apartments and at Franklin Terrace. Here, small homes were built in the 1930s-1940s specifically to cater to affordable housing needs. We don’t build many tiny houses any more. Perhaps we should.