Project Microhouse: Or, How I Learned to Stop Shivering and Live Small
Eugenia Lim
In 2010, Alec built a tiny timber microhouse and lived in it, one freezing Scottish winter. His aim – to experiment with leading a more minimal lifestyle. His challenge – to fit all of his worldly possessions into two crates that fit into the 1.2m sq storage area of his temporary home. You can check out Alec’s full list here.
Alec’s microhouse was based on seminal US architect Ken Isaac’s instructions in How To Build Your Own Living Structures. You can read a copy here (or sign up to download a PDF).
‘I’m not living in the structure anymore – it was designed in the states and was not built to withstand mad weather conditions. By the time I moved out, there were 4 inches of snow on the roof. Pretty chilly!’
A scale model of Alec's microhouse. Photo courtesy Alec Farmer.
The original – delightfully 70s image from Ken Isaac's classic book 'How To Build Your Own Living Structures.'
The microhouse in situ. Photo courtesy Alec Farmer.
The microhouse in warmer days. Photo courtesy Alec Farmer.
Building another microhouse for a gallery exhibition. Photo courtesy Alec Farmer.
The great indoors – Alec and the ubiquitous Apple. Photo courtesy Alec Farmer.
(Micro)house proud. Photo courtesy Alec Farmer.
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