The Bonzai Tiny House Is the Teeniest, Most Creative Mobile Home You've Seen

For many, tiny houses represent the sum of a number of great things, starting with reduced living costs, enhanced affordability, and a higher degree of mobility, down to a smaller carbon footprint and the ability to lead a more intentional, decluttered life.

That's not to say that tiny living, or any other type of mobile lifestyle, is for everyone, but those who do fit the profile must be happy to know that the range of options available has boomed over recent years.

In some countries, like the U.S. or Canada, larger, oftentimes park-model tinies are more popular. Oppositely, downsizers on the Old Continent seem to prefer smaller units, which, in turn, means more ease of travel and more compromises to achieve everyday comfort.

Nowhere are these more obvious than in the builds from French maker Baluchon, a staple on the market of tiny houses due to its proven ability to combine sustainability with functionality and aesthetics. Baluchon tinies aren't just tiny homes; they are the closest thing to functional works of art. They're also priced like works of art, but that doesn't seem to dampen customers' enthusiasm in any way.

The latest build from Baluchon is perhaps the most illustrative example of the original meaning of downsizing by means of a tiny house. It's called Bonzai, and it was built on commission for an owner who is in love with Japanese culture. As such, Bonzai is directly inspired by Japanese dwellings – down to the use of materials and iconic building elements – while also displaying the same kind of versatility, style, and functionality.

Bonzai is also the teeniest-tiniest tiny home you've probably seen in a while. To say it's compact is a vast understatement, as it sits on a double-axle trailer that measures under 15 feet (4.5 meters). Yet, it's still a complete home, including a kitchen, a dry bathroom, and a lounge – and even a rooftop terrace and two entryways.

To achieve all this, the team at Baluchon had to do some very creative thinking, and it probably started with the decision to use an elevated platform to integrate storage. The owner travels a lot, and the plan was all along to take the tiny with her on the road in the UK. Storage for essentials was… well, essential.

The main entrance is at the front of the tiny, allowing for a smoother transition between the towable and the towing vehicle. It gives way directly into the bathroom, on a section of floor with wooden slats between the shower and the toilet areas that effectively doubles as a mudroom. You can also enter the home through the lateral oversize sliding window that gives into the lounge, but that one is probably reserved for guests.

From the bathroom, you move into the kitchen. It's very compact, so every item here is measured by tiny house standards. There's a sink and two-burner stove combo, a small fridge, and compact furniture, but Baluchon was still able to include here a slide-out countertop extension and a slide-out pantry drawer.

As compact as the kitchen is, it's probably perfect for single occupancy, which is what it was designed for.

The kitchen and bathroom sit on an elevated platform that hides four extra-deep storage drawers accessible from the lounge. The lounge doubles as entertainment room and bedroom, though you'd probably not be able to guess either functionality at first glance.

For daytime use, the lounge boasts a two-person dinner table by the circular window and a cozy wood-burning stove that keeps the home toasty even on colder days. At night, the owner simply takes out a futon from storage and rolls it on the floor for sleeping. Alternatively, she can catch up on her favorite shows on a video projection screen with a Sonos soundbar hiding in plain sight over the sliding divider door.

The Bonzai is clad in red cedar and has all-natural insulation made of hemp, cotton, and linen – a mix Baluchon uses for all their builds. The roof is aluminum, and the interior is done in spruce, but the finishes are Japan-inspired.

For instance, the door that separates the kitchen from the lounge is made of oak with Washi paper panels, while the carpets are pressed rice straw tatami mats. The stools in the dining area are cardboard, with an accordion-style base that allows you to fold them for easy storage. Even the electrical panel gets a Washi paper housing, thus perfectly integrating into this very Zen and very minimalist space.

And Bonzai is nothing if not Zen… or minimalist. If you've been looking for an example of the very essence of tiny living or downsizing, this is it. This tiny is a very clean, airy, and decluttered space that also happens to be a mobile home for one.

As per usual, Baluchon doesn't offer pricing for its custom projects, and that includes the Bonzai. Don't expect it to be cheap, though. A Baluchon turnkey unit usually sells for €85,000-€100,000 ($92,500-$109,000 at the current exchange rate), while a shell starts at €25,000 ($27,000).

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