These $85K Tiny Homes Come Turnkey—But You Can Still Choose Your Own Look and Layout

Los Angeles company Minarc handles everything from permitting, to placement, to hookups for its customizable backyard units.

These $85K Tiny Homes Come Turnkey—But You Can Still Choose Your Own Look and Layout

Los Angeles company Minarc handles everything from permitting, to placement, to hookups for its customizable backyard units.

Welcome to Tiny Home Profiles, an interview series with people pushing the limits of living small. From space-saving hacks to flexible floor plans, here’s what they say makes for the best tiny homes on the planet. Know of a builder we should talk to? Reach out.

Since founding Minarc in 1999, Erla Dögg Ingjaldsdóttir and Tryggvi Thorsteinsson have designed small-scale renovations and large commercial projects alike. But when California passed ADU-friendly legislation in 2018, they shifted their focus to tiny homes. "Collaborations with the City of Los Angeles and Habitat for Humanity have allowed us to not only contribute to the community but also push the boundaries of sustainable design," the founders tell us. "We’ve had the privilege to transform neighborhoods, one net-zero dwelling at a time."

More recently, the Icelandic natives (and now L.A. residents) developed a net-zero efficiency construction material called mnmMOD, incorporated it into their builds, and started ERLA Construction to streamline fabrication. Here, we talk to Erla Dögg and Tryggvi about the specs of their smaller offerings and the values that continue to fuel their work.

The 128-square-foot the Tiny Hús and the stark contrast within its interior take cues from the landscape of the architects’ native country of Iceland: a consistent inspiration throughout their work.

The 128-square-foot Tiny Hús and its monochromatic interior are inspired by the landscape of the architects’ native country of Iceland: a consistent inspiration throughout their work.

Photo by Art Gray

What qualities make your tiny home stand apart from the rest?

The Minarc Tiny Home stands out from the rest due to several distinctive qualities:

  1. Highly Insulated Structure: Our tiny homes feature a thermally broken metal frame, ensuring superior insulation with a wall R-value of R24 and a roof value of R40. This insulation not only provides comfort year-round, but also contributes to energy efficiency, reducing heating and cooling costs.
  2. Custom Interior Design: Each tiny home is characterized by wood cladding and bespoke cabinets and countertops. This attention to detail adds warmth and personality to the living space, creating an inviting atmosphere that feels like home.
  3. Premium Windows and Doors: We utilize high-end aluminum thermally broken windows and doors, offering durability, security, and excellent thermal performance. These features not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of the tiny home but also contribute to its energy efficiency by minimizing heat loss and gain.
  4. Off-Grid Capabilities: Our tiny homes are equipped with state-of-the-art electrical systems, including DC-powered lights, controls, and appliances. These systems are directly powered by solar panels and batteries, enabling our homes to operate off-grid. Additionally, the use of a heat pump for HVAC and an electrical water heater further enhances energy efficiency, allowing our homes to achieve net-zero energy consumption.
In addition to commissioning custom cabinetry for the kitchenette, Minarc designed its sink (dubbed RUBBISH) to have a basin made from recycled rubber.

The kitchenette features custom cabinetry. Minarc designed the sink (called RUBBISH) to have a basin made from recycled rubber.

Photo by Art Gray

What’s the most exciting project you’ve realized to date?

Each project we undertake at Minarc holds its own unique significance and presents exciting opportunities for innovation and creativity. From crafting sustainable homes nestled in urban landscapes to designing serene retreats in natural settings, every endeavor contributes to our journey of creating spaces that inspire and uplift.

While we cannot highlight a single project as the most exciting, we take immense pride in all our collaborations. Our clients come from a wide range of backgrounds and industries, each with their own vision and aspirations for their space.

As we continue to push the boundaries of design and sustainability, we look forward to embarking on new and exciting projects that challenge us to innovate and inspire. At Minarc, every project is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact and leave a lasting legacy in the built environment.

The sleeping nook is just large enough to house a twin-sized mattress. Lighting is recessed into the maple-finished wall panels, and pull-out storage is concealed beneath the bedframe.

Just large enough for a twin-sized mattress, the sleeping nook houses LED lighting along its maple-finished interior and pull-out storage beneath the bed.

Photo by Art Gray

See the full story on Dwell.com: These $85K Tiny Homes Come Turnkey—But You Can Still Choose Your Own Look and Layout
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