“You don’t need more space, you need less stuff,” New Zealand-based tiny house builder Build Tiny says in one of its posts on social media. The Rourou Iti, which they completed and delivered in the summer of 2021, is a good example of that.
One way to discourage clutter and the general accumulation of things we think we need but hardly ever use is to downsize into a tiny house. As those who have made the transition keep telling the rest of the world, once you find yourself occupying a much smaller space, every purchase you make, whether it’s clothing or even weekly groceries, becomes a matter of serious consideration.
Of course, downsizing is more than just getting accustomed to living with less and, this way, leading a more intentional life, but this aspect of it is beautifully exemplified in the Rourou Iti. It’s perhaps one of the most compact tinies out there but, given its sleek and clean design, it doesn’t feel cramped or lacking in creature comforts.
As Build Tiny explains, the Rourou Iti was delivered in the summer of 2021 and marked a milestone for them as their 50th project. It was a fully-custom one that was delivered turnkey, so everything shown in the video below was included. The design was done in-house, but in close collaboration with the future owners who, we learn, had a very clear idea of what they wanted from their next home.
Photo: Build Tiny
Sitting on a double-axle trailer of just 8 meters (26.2 feet) in length, and 2.4 meters (7.8 feet) in width, the tiny features a double loft configuration, slightly modified for more convenience. The entrance is done directly into the living room, a space that opens up to the exterior by means of sliding double-glazed doors. On one side is the U-shaped kitchen, while the bathroom is on the other. Upstairs, on each side, is a bedroom, and they’re connected through a banister-protected walkway that floats over the couch in the living room area.
The interior layout is not strikingly different from other tinies, but Rourou Iti is still a standout, if only for the way it’s able to integrate a bunch of surprising features meant to make life more comfortable. For instance, the kitchen is very well-equipped despite its size, packing everything from a four-burner stove to an oven, a fridge and a freezer hidden inside one of the cabinets. The fold-down table at the end of the counter makes for a cute and very practical dining nook for two, and disappears from view when it’s not needed.
The bathroom features a composting toilet and a walk-in large shower, but also integrates a washer-dryer station in the vanity under the sink, as well as a custom-wheeled hamper for laundry. It also features ample storage in the cabinets above, including one special cabinet designed for essential oils.
Access to the lofts is done by means of a single staircase, which has integrated storage. Build Tiny admits that this solution makes for a less comfortable staircase as compared to a traditional ladder, but if you wish to gain extra storage space, it seems a worthy compromise. Here, every stair has deep storage just perfect for blankets or linens, or whatever stuff that doesn’t see everyday use.
Photo: Build Tiny
One of the lofts can be either a guest bedroom or an office. It has a one-person bed and a desk facing the window, and even a makeup station. Because sitting cross-legged on the floor as you type on your laptop only works in movies and in carefully curated IG content, Build Tiny hid a footwell under the desk, so you can get a more ergonomic position during work hours. When not in use, the footwell can be covered and perfectly hidden from view. On paper, it doesn’t come across as the most elegant solution to a very real problem for anyone who has to spend hours on the computer for a living, but its execution makes it so.
The master bedroom has the most storage space of all the areas in the house, with a full wardrobe occupying the dividing wall, and corner shelves on each side of the bed. As with the other spaces, because of the design and the use of light-colored materials, you don’t get the feeling of a constricting, cluttered space.
Both lofts are typical tiny house lofts, so they don’t have standing height – but the connecting walkway does.
This tiny has a steel frame with vinyl cladding, and interior linings of lightweight poplar core plywood, with natural cork tile flooring and bamboo finishes. Build Tiny explains that the goal was sustainability, so its design focused on creating “a sustainable, warm, dry conscious home,” in keeping with the values of the future owners. Since this was a custom project, there’s no word on pricing, but Build Tiny projects usually start around $100,000.
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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