Domain takes a tour of this award winning 27 metre apartment in Sydney's Darlinghurst.
Victorian high school teacher Ashleigh Munro*, 26, is among a growing handful of Australians adopting the tiny house movement to combat issues surrounding housing affordability, sustainability and consumerism.
Originating in the United States, the tiny house movement advocates for living simply and comfortably within one’s means.
The homes are generally self-contained and relocatable (achieved with a composting toilet and being set on wheels) and are considerably smaller than a standard Australian one-bedroom (considered to be an average 45 square metres in Melbourne).
Ashleigh and Dan sit outside their tiny home. Photo: Darrian Traynor
While the exact measurements are hotly debated on enthusiast forums, a tiny house is generally considered to be between seven and 37 square metres.
Although there are plenty of articles about tiny house living and its potential benefits (and downfalls), there are few examples of the movement actually being adopted for permanent living (not rescue housing or holiday accommodation), especially in Australia.
The idea for the home arose two years ago when Ashleigh was looking to enter the property market for the first time.
“I was looking into buying property and everything for the budget I had was not something I was really happy with,” she says.
“My partner was living on the other side of Victoria…It was all very messy, and I didn’t want to pay that much in rent, which was the only solution I could see for the messy situation I was in.”
A tiny house is generally considered to be between seven and 37 square metres. Photo: Darrian Traynor
Heading into research mode, Ashleigh discovered the tiny house movement online.
“This was a solution that gave us something that was an investment, but allowed us freedom as well,” she says.
Designed by Ashleigh and her civil engineer partner Dan Colvin*, 25, and based off existing tiny house floorplans, the couple spent a year constructing the house in their spare time under the mentorship of a retired builder.
Referred to Ashleigh by a family friend, the builder taught the couple construction skills and built the more difficult elements of the home.
“He taught us everything we know, but we still did a lot of the work ourselves. I had a huge hand in the framing, I drilled down the subfloor, we installed the weatherboards ourselves,” Ashleigh says.
Tiny houses for sale or constructed entirely by professional builders across Australia are currently priced at up to $120,000, sometimes excluding the interior fit out.
Ashleigh has been living in her tiny house full-time for six months. Photo: Darrian Traynor
Not only was the decision to build the tiny house themselves cost-saving, the couple were also able to learn valuable construction techniques.
“There was huge merit in doing it ourselves. As a teacher, you have to love learning. To learn practical skills, of which beforehand I had none before, was really exciting,” she says.
“Doing hard physical labour that I’d never really done before in my life was challenging, but ultimately one of the most rewarding things I’ve done.”
Because there are few known tiny houses in Australia, uncovering the building regulations concerning tiny houses was one of the most tiresome parts of the project for Ashleigh.
“There was a good year of research and working out whether it was possible, whether it was legal, whether it was financially stable and all the possibilities before we even approached the builder,” she says.
She eventually learned the maximum size for a tiny allowed under local regulations is 13.7m high x 2.5m wide x 4.3m high.
At 20 square metres (and 4.3m high), Ashleigh’s tiny house is able to be towed via a custom-made trailer, and is legally considered to be a caravan.
The decision to build the tiny house themselves saved the couple a lot of money. Photo: Darrian Traynor
As well as the financial advantage of having no mortgage repayments (although Ashleigh does pay a small amount to rent the land she is currently parked on), there is also an environmental benefit to appreciate in tiny house living.
“Housing is just getting bigger and bigger, but the population is growing, we’re using more resources and it’s just really scary,” Ashleigh says.
“It’s funny, people are happy to downsize during their holidays and in retirement, when they are supposedly living their ideal life, so why not every day?”
The lifestyle also discourages the purchasing of “stuff” which usually ends up in landfill.
“Speaking to other [tiny house owners] didn’t just reassure me that living in it could be okay, but that living in it could be a morally good thing to do…I’d love for it to become more mainstream, if anything for the planet,” she says.
While tiny houses are few and far between in Victoria, the movement is gaining more traction in other areas of the country.
The tiny home lifestyle also discourages the purchasing of excess stuff. Photo: Darrian Traynor
In Fremantle, Western Australia, a proposal has been designed to facilitate the construction of tiny houses, regardless of residential density coding.
“It’s ridiculous to have a minimum house size – that should be up to you. So long as it’s safe, so long as it’s sanitary, and so long that it’s well built, it shouldn’t matter how big it is,” Ashleigh says.
“[The Fremantle proposal] is working to disband the idea of a minimum house size and that you have to live in a big house in order to be Australian.”
Having lived in her home (nicknamed ‘The Nook Tiny House’) full-time for six months now, Ashleigh has no immediate intentions to sell the property or move back into a conventional home.
“When we started, tiny houses weren’t really a thing. There were no television shows about it, just a couple of YouTube channels…. It was taking a risk – not only financially, but also physically and mentally.” Ashleigh says.
“It has paid off. The reception is really positive…I’ve never been happier than I am right now.”
*Surnames have been changed for privacy reasons