Sustainable architecture is flourishing as we explore eco-friendly building solutions. The latest design from SA Lab (Smart architecture laboratory) is an all-season micro-dwelling solution, aka tiny house, called FLEXSE. During winter, it’s cozy and comfortable to cook and relax inside, while in the summer, the open patio is a wonderful place to spend time.
FLEXSE is constructed entirely from 100% recyclable materials while maintaining a minimal footprint. It can be assembled in parts on-site or positioned on different foundations – metal piers, concrete slabs, and more allowing it to be installed in remote areas, the countryside, in the forest, on a cliff, or even on water!
The initial prototype was a small BBQ shack (a modern version of a traditional Scandinavian grill house) intended for cooking. However, as the SA Lab team maximized the usable area, FLEXSE went from just a grill shack to a complete tiny home.
FLEXSE is designed to be versatile for many different purposes and scenarios. It includes a BBQ house, a home office, a guest house, and a sauna. If the module is located in the city, it could become an excellent place for a small shop, a café, a bakery, or an office pod.
The ellipse-shaped cabin features a wood-stripped exterior and interior with an open grill that warms the space, and Its angled roof minimizes the accumulation of rain and snow. Its most distinct feature is the large circular window, making it look like the house has a monocle with a periscope-like view.
Architect Eden Brukman, the City of San Francisco’s Senior Green Building Coordinator, said:
We are looking at material reuse as one of the areas to further reduce the city’s carbon footprint. It shouldn’t be a tail-pipe problem of how to manage landfills but a design problem of how to make our structure a material bank where the material doesn’t only retain value but also you can sell them in the future, giving it a longer, more purposeful life while reducing waste.
Since the construction industry is accountable for more greenhouse gas emissions (12%) than the aviation industry (2%), an all-season eco-friendly house is more than needed!
