This is a fully off-grid home, collecting rainwater and producing solar electricity, built by a professional builder. It includes a full bathroom, kitchen, and loft on a 16' trailer.
I designed the the home to minimize energy and water consumption, while also finding ways to save space. The design incorporates a number of moving elements which allows the same floor space to be used by multiple domestic functions. All the solar and water infrastructure for the house is also built directly into the furniture, maximizing the interior space available for living. It's a small house, but in my experience it always feels bigger than it is. Below I've included some answers to a few of the frequently asked questions about the house. Feel free to contact me if you're interested in knowing more.
FAQ's
1. Water
This house really celebrates water. When I designed the house, California was in a massive 5 year drought, and I really wanted to make water a central concern of the design. The roof is what's called a "butterfly roof," meaning that water drains to the center. A chemically neutral PVC roof membrane collects the water and funnels it into a clear PVC pipe that runs into the living room area of the house. When it rains, you can literally watch the water come down. This clear PVC pipe enters a long seating bench, and from there the homeowner has two options. Rainwater can be collected in a 40 gallon tank for use in the sink and shower, or by simply by turning a valve it can exit the house directly to be collected by an external container for garden use.
If collected, the water is filtered by a two-step water filtration system. The water tank can be also filled from another water source through a convenient external hose connection. While the tank is hidden within the interior furniture of the living room, it is easily accessible for cleaning, and water level can be monitored remotely by a piezoelectric water gauge.
2. Power
The house has normal 120V electrical
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