Work and Play Figure Into One Family’s 258-Square-Foot Tiny Home in Portugal

Houses We Love: Every day we feature a remarkable space submitted by our community of architects, designers, builders, and homeowners.

Project Details:

Location: Portugal

Architect: Madeiguincho / @madeiguincho_atelier

Year: 2022

Footprint: 258 square feet

Photographer: João Carranca

From the Architect:  "The starting point for the Meco Tiny House on Wheels project was the idea of a versatile and fun house where both the clients and their kids could enjoy a comfortable working space but also a stimulating place for the children to play. The clients’ desire to express this idea of fun was incorporated in the general idea of the house and also in the smallest details. Besides the layout and aesthetic design, the clients also wanted their house to work as an off-grid system, which meant we had to designate a large amount of space for the technical setup.

"The first project decision was to play with the roof’s pitches in a way that would evoke the typical gable roof wooden house but with a different movement to arouse the visitor’s curiosity. That same playfulness shows up again through the façade’s patterns that dislocate themselves in different sizes and spacings. The round steel windows, one placed in the central space of the house and another on its upper part were naturally chosen because of the curves and light openings that they create. The steel’s rough finish was chosen as a way to balance the light ambience of the space with a heavy but still entertaining element.

"In the interior the house is composed of two bedrooms, a long countertop that serves the kitchen and office area, a walk-in closet with a wash basin, and an entrance to a small bathroom. The lower bedroom is elevated from the ground creating an external technical area that is vital for any house that wants to be mobile. Batteries, inverters, solar panels, and a water boiler are some of the elements that have to fit inside any project of this type. Because of its position, this bedroom also takes on a social roll, while the other bedroom allows for more privacy and protection for the kids. The different levels that are found throughout this project allow the kids to have a more direct presence in everyday activities and ensure a playful dynamic in the house. 

"The materials were chosen to reinforce the idea of fun: Birch plywood expresses movement through the drawings of its veins, while the yellow formica brings light and brightness to the inside, suggesting a joyful environment."