Slovenia is a champion of tiny homes – Translation of an article that appeared in Finance, Slovenia’s daily financial newspaper, on Tuesday 30th January 2018

By Jacqueline Stuart

There is finally some indication that the tide is turning on our society of throwaway voracious consumption. A small, but significant group is fighting back against irresponsible use of our environment and resources, and choosing to live in a more sustainable way that could change the world.

Earth overshoot day

On August 2nd last year, earth overshoot day arrived, when mankind used more from nature than the planet can renew in the whole year. This has to change, or we will go from having rare resources to a shortage of resources, or none at all. Plenty of solutions exist in four major areas for improving sustainability: food, population, energy and cities.

The minimalist movement

Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus comprise ‘The Minimalists’. They help over 20 million people to live meaningful lives with fewer material possessions and less clutter. The Minimalists have been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, Forbes, TIME, ABC, CBS, NBC, BBC, CBC, and NPR.  A documentary starring the pair has been streaming on Netflix since December 2016. Minimalists don’t focus on having less, rather they focus on making room for more time, passion, experiences, growth, contribution, contentment and freedom. They argue that clearing the clutter from life helps make that room. They do not advocate a life without possessions, just that we should be more selective and only buy things that truly enhance and bring joy to our lives.

Dress with less

Project 333 is another minimalism initiative. It is a fashion challenge that invites people to dress with 33 items or less for 3 months. The 33 items include clothing, accessories, jewellery, outerwear and shoes. Thousands of people from all over the world have accepted the challenge and written about their experience.

Plastic is not fantastic

There is growing pressure on supermarkets and other retailers to ban plastic packaging now China is no longer accepting millions of tons of plastic waste from the developed world. The EU has declared war and conceived a plan that aims to make all packaging reusable or recyclable by 2030. These initiatives are overdue and welcome by anyone who has been sickened by media reports of wildlife maimed and killed by plastic waste,  and the trash that is polluting our oceans. More than 8 million tonnes of plastic goes into the sea every year, and it is estimated there will be more of it than fish by 2050. 4Ocean is a clean up initiative that funds removal of trash from the ocean through the sale of bracelets made from recycled materials. A bracelet costs 25$ and funds the removal of half a kilo of trash. Thanks to worldwide support, they sold 258,373 bracelets in 2017, funding clean up operations in 16 different countries. Many concerned individuals have subscribed to the initiative by committing to buy a bracelet every month.

Eensy weensy tiny teeny

The tiny homes movement is gaining traction in the US, and worldwide, and has inspired websites, blogs and multiple TV reality shows. Buyers of tiny homes are attracted by lower costs, the desire for a simpler life, and concern for the environment. Slovenes are the ultimate consumers of tiny homes. The average size of apartments sold in the past 5 years in Slovenia varies from 52m2 to 54m2. Two-thirds of apartments sold in 2016 were 60m2 or smaller.

Although the average sized dwelling in Slovenia is just over 80m2, most buyers cannot afford such properties due to high prices and the reality is that Slovenes buy small homes. In Europe, Cypriots have the largest average sized homes at 141m2, and Latvians have the smallest with 62.5m2.

The story is very different in the US, the average sized home increased from 165m2 in 1978, to 247m2 in 2013, in spite of a decrease in the size of the average family.

Tiny homes appeal to Americans who want to acquire a property without a mortgage, and live debt free. Europeans on the other hand have to rely on mortgages, and often have no choice but a small or tiny home due to the limited supply and high cost of real estate.

How sustainable are tiny homes?

Clearly much more sustainable than larger homes. They require less land, less materials to build and less energy to run. Manufacturers of tiny homes are by nature more environmentally aware than traditional housebuilders and many incorporate sustainability in to the design, by using environmentally friendly construction materials.

Why do planners not like tiny homes?

People wanting to build a tiny home often have problems with planners, as the structures don’t fit within the current planning framework. Many planning departments have minimum size requirements for primary residences. Current technical specifications in Slovenia mean it is difficult to build a home of less than 22m2. Some tiny homes are on wheels and cannot be categorised, neither as mobile homes nor RV’s. Spur in Texas claims to be the first ‘Tiny house friendly’ town in the US, and allows tiny homes to be used as permanent residences providing the wheels are removed, and the home placed on a permanent foundation, and connected to electricity. Some planners believe there is nobility in larger homes and that the citizens they serve deserve more than a small space.  However owning a home is a great wealth builder and everyone has to start somewhere, a tiny home at an affordable price is a great beginning. It can also be a great end, the demographic most attracted to tiny homes in Australia is women over the age  of 50.

Will Slovenia move from tiny homes to micro homes?

As most Slovenes already occupy tiny homes, there could be a move to micro homes. Tiny homes in the US are as small as 7.4m2. The ‘house in a suitcase’ from Barcelona measures 28m2.  Abito from Manchester has created apartments of 32.8m2. Tiny House Scotland has created the 23m2 Nesthouse. The Micro Compact Home from Munich provides functional spaces for cooking, hygiene, dining/working and sleeping in a 7.1m2 cube. Built as an experiment in 2005, 6 Micro Compact Homes were meant to accommodate students for one term only. The students loved their cubes so much that they stayed for the entire academic year.

How to thrive in a tiny home

Clever design, storage and multi purpose spaces are the key to successful living in a tiny home.  One occupant of a 33m2 space claims that making the bed every morning is vital, as it can be seen from all parts of the property. Many tiny homes take advantage of vertical space by incorporating sleeping platforms in a mezzanine area. Maximising light is important to make the most of a small space.  Many tiny homes extend out onto terraces, providing outdoor living areas. Because such homes are so small, fewer materials are required, and many have expensive luxury fittings such as stainless steel kitchens and solid wood floors.

Remarkable tiny homes

According to curbed.com, tiny houses in 2017 became more flexible and clever than ever. They showcase 10 tiny homes with amazing features such as an expandable tiny house with two motorized pop-out rooms; a combination of two tiny homes connected by a sunroom to provide a large family home,  a double decker tiny home that sleeps up to 8 people, a tiny home with a motorized drop down bed, another with a pizza oven fireplace, and a tiny house with a facade of commercial grade reconfigurable climbing panels.

It remains to be seen whether the tiny home trend will grow and become mainstream, or whether a minimalist, pared down life will only ever appeal to a few. Primark, the ultimate throwaway retailer known for T-shirts for 2€, will open in Ljubljana’s Citypark mall soon. The lure of the latest fashion at knock down prices will probably ensure the success of the store in Slovenia, as it has elsewhere.

Jacqueline Stuart is a Director of S-Invest d.o.o.