The appeal of and the obsession with mobile houses are not new. Not only has tiny living been around for over two decades, tiny house builders have been striving to deliver "perfection" for just as long.
These past few years have brought tiny houses into the spotlight due to a combination of factors ranging from the housing situation, wanderlust, the ability to work from home, and perhaps just as importantly, the ability to monetize this unique lifestyle. The Latibule tiny was here before the social media-induced DIY-heavy madness and is serving today as confirmation that mobile homes have an everlasting appeal.
The Latibule is definitely timeless in that it's an elegant, distinctively masculine, and ultra-minimalist mobile house. As it so happens, it's also rugged and self-sufficient, which gives it double capability as a cozy man cave and a reliable companion on all sorts of adventures.
U.S.-based Modern Tiny Living (MTL) is a well-known name on the scene of tiny houses, having built a solid reputation (ha!) with their sturdy custom units. The Latibule was among the first models they worked on and remains one they still look back on occasionally with pride. It's not just a self-contained mobile dwelling but also a highly personalized private space and a good example of sustainable construction, as much of the interior wood was reclaimed.
Photo: Modern Tiny Living
The Latibule sits on a 20-foot (6-meter) custom trailer and features a single-person layout. As with everything in life, when you move into a home on your own, your requirements or needs will be smaller. In the case of this owner, that meant the home could do without certain features a couple or a family unit might consider essential, like a living room space, a proper dining area, and as many storage options as possible.
Consequently, the Latibule is a man cave, or what you might call a bachelor's pad. It has a small lounge with a couple of seats, a compact kitchen, an office slash breakfast bar, a bathroom, and an upstairs bedroom. In writing, it sounds like this is the kind of home a college student might be happy to call his own, but the styling and finishes add undeniable elegance and extra comfort and turn it into a proper home.
Tiny living has always relied on creative layouts and unique features to craft home-like spaces within the most constrictive footprints. The Latibule does it, too: though very, very small, it can work as a permanent residence for one person. As a bonus, it's completely off-the-grid, which means it helps that resident lead a more sustainable life – less reliant on the grid and considerably more affordable.
Photo: Modern Tiny Living
Latibule also boasts a custom glass garage door, which is fully insulated, to add volume to the space by letting plenty of natural light in. The garage door is covered by a spring fold-down deck that doubles as a terrace, so the entire house opens up to the elements. When the weather's bad, Latibule shutters to keep the warmth inside, and access is done via the main entrance on the tongue of the trailer.
Every area in this tiny is reduced to the bare bones, but you still get a three-burner propane cooktop, a decently-sized top-load fridge, a deep farm sink, floating shelves, and additional storage in the kitchen. The living room area was left empty at the owner's request, so the two metal custom chairs are bound to attract all attention.
Up against one of the walls is a single piece of wood that serves as a dining table and office. The bathroom holds a composting toilet, a fiberglass shower, and a mini-sink, while the lofted bedroom is nothing but a mattress and some storage.
Photo: Modern Tiny Living
Latibule gets power from a full solar system with 4 panels and 4 batteries, but it can run both off and on the grid. An 11,000 BTU Propane Heater and closed cell spray foam insulation in the walls, ceilings, and floors keep the interior toasty even in raging bad weather. Per the owner’s request, there's no AC, no washer and dryer, and only minimal furniture.
If you ever wondered how tiny a house can get and still be called that, the Latibule is a possible answer. It's perhaps one of the most compact tiny homes we've covered, but despite its size, it remains fully functional. More than just that, it's beautiful in its simplicity and apparent austerity.
Maybe living in Latibule wouldn't be as fun in the long run, especially for those who can't do without the creature comforts of a larger home. But it'd still be an awesome towable companion for off-grid adventures with the boys.
Photo: Modern Tiny Living
Because it's a custom unit, Modern Tiny Living didn't offer an official price tag for Latibule. However, reports in the tiny house community claimed that its total cost was around $69,000 back in 2017 when it was completed.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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