The Legend Two X Prefab Tiny from Nestron Is Expensive, Luxurious Downsizing

Even if one downsizing option would count as upsizing for the rest of us, both on considerations of size and pricing, it's still downsizing for someone who chooses it over a mansion with a dozen bedrooms. But this unit is different in that it's still fairly affordable. Think of it as affordable but luxurious downsizing, which is how manufacturer Nestron often describes it.

Nestron is a relatively new name to the market of tiny houses, but a very popular one. It's a Singapore-based company that deals in prefabs that took off during the 2020 international health crisis. Not that anyone still needed reminding, but 2020 marked a shift in perspective on various issues, including working from home, traveling more, affordable housing, and re-prioritizing personal life over work.

Nestron makes very futuristic, shipping container-like prefab homes under $100,000. There's an asterisk to that, but more on it later.

The Nestron prefabs are not just prefabs but smart tinies that promise a healthier, more sustainable, and more stress-free life. An attractive price, smart tech, and the promise of extra-durability, if not a particularly high degree of mobility, add to the appeal of Nestron prefabs, which are grouped under two ranges of models: the Cube and the Legend.

The main difference between the two is that the Legend series is slightly more traditional-looking. The premium model of the Legend series is the Legend Two X, which comes with three options as regards finishes: Folksy, Opulent, and Lux. Introduced as a concept a couple of years ago, the Legend Two X is the fanciest take on downsizing from a prefab maker, but with a price tag still affordable by comparison to other prefabs and tinies: the Two X starts at $88,000.

The Two X is the larger, flashier, and more expensive big brother of the Legend Two, the first showcase unit of which arrived in North America in May this year. Units from Nestron were already available for shipping here, but the arrival of the display model in Canada meant that potential buyers could now see the house before paying for it or that they no longer had to fly to Singapore for a viewing. This marked the first step in a planned international expansion for Nestron and a much-needed strategic move since demand for all its prefabs had skyrocketed.

There is no showcase unit for the Legend Two X outside of South-East Asia as far as we know, so today's tour is more like window shopping. But at least it's fancy window shopping because Nestron promises a unique and very elegant take on downsizing.

Living in a shipping container conversion may be a lot of things, but perhaps words like elegant or fancy don't exactly come first when describing it. Shipping container homes have also seen a rise in popularity in recent years, which, in turn, has led to more creative and nicer interiors. But even in this context, the Legend Two X stands out.

Measuring 9.5 meters in length (31.3 feet) and 2.8 meters in height (9.19 feet), this prefab offers 33.4 square meters (359.5 square feet) of living space divided across two bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a lounge. Like the other Nestron homes, this one, too, is wrapped in glazing with automatic tinting for privacy reasons and is described as ready-to-live because it's shipped furnished.

Do take that last part with a grain of salt. The Two X ships with stuff like a bed frame in the bedroom and a sofa in the living, but you don't get any kitchen appliances (no fridge or dishwasher for you!) or, for that matter, stuff like air-conditioning or solar options. In return, you get Canny, the Nestron AI assistant, and stuff like a smart toilet, adjustable lights, and the possibility to control features and monitor consumption on a single control panel or on your phone.

The styling of Two X is what sets it apart from other Nestron prefabs. The Folksy model, for instance, is inspired by classic American architecture, while the Opulent is "modest, extravagant, and timeless," even though common sense would say at least two of these descriptors are mutually exclusive. The Lux model is all about black (probably fake) stone with dark woods, golden accents, and premium fabrics like silk. You’ll still be living in a very compact home, where downsizing is a must, but at least it'll be a looker.

The Legend Two X is available for pre-order only, so you have to register to get on the waitlist if this kind of fancy compact living falls within your take on downsizing – and your budget.