Hasta La Ideas

2020 was a major wake-up call for the world, and since then everyone’s been aspiring toward’s eco-friendly and mindful ways of living. As a result, tiny homes have been taking over the architectural world and they continue to grow popular by the day. What started off as a cute little trend is now turning into a serious option for home spaces. And one thing is for sure – tiny homes are here to stay! And just because they are tiny in size, does not mean they cannot be beautifully done! This collection of tiny home interiors are major inspiration goals, proving big things come in small packages. Warm, peaceful, and organic – these interiors will have you drooling over them!

The interiors of the Banjo Tiny House by Little Byron are super warm and homely! Wooden flooring, bar stools, and a cozy bed, nestled next to stairs that lead to an intimate chilling spot, make it a space that may be tiny but still extremely fulfilling. An abundance of windows makes it an open and free-flowing space!

Composed of five shipping containers, Rosie’s tiny home benefits from natural eco-insulation and an industrial build that’s long-lasting and durable. Four of the five shipping containers are dedicated to actual living space, while the fifth shipping container only keeps the home’s mudroom. The mudroom primarily functions as a transitional space between the outdoors and indoors. Inside, Rosie houses the batteries, inverter, and power board for the solar panels that line the roof, keeping the hum of the inverter an appropriate distance away from the bedroom. Unfinished plywood panels line the one bedroom of the house, highlighting the panoramic view of the surrounding environment, as seen through the double-glazed, floor-to-ceiling windows.

Ohariu was built by First Light Studio and Build Tiny from a client’s brief calling for, “a refined tramping lodge on wheels.” That’s code for hiking, for all us Americans. With plenty of open interior space, when the french doors open up, the interior seamlessly blends with the outside. Poplar plywood line the walls and furniture of Ohariu’s interior living spaces for the bright, sunlight-drenched room.

Inside Gawthorne’s Hut, rich and textured timber panels stretch over the walls and ceilings, giving the home a cozy, nesting atmosphere. Gawthorne’s Hut’s micro floor plan of 40m2 feels larger than its measurements thanks to an open floor plan that extends throughout the home, with the one exception being the WC. Throughout the tiny home’s interior, repurposed bricks and rich timber panels line the walls, ceiling, and furnishings. The king-sized bed’s head post, for example, was handcrafted from recycled brick leftover from the lot’s previous building.

Ecuador-based Jag Studio designed La Casa Nueva – a timber camper that is also a fully functional tiny home so you can set up your base anywhere. It includes a bed, a roof, workstations, a kitchen, and a bathroom making it a comfortable shelter for two people. The interior is divided into five zones based on the structural modulation of the six frames that are located at every two feet to divide the camper according to its functions. The first two modules correspond to the raised bed and storage, the third module is meant for a flexible dining and desk space, and the fourth and fifth modules create a corridor and service area including a kitchenette and bathroom.

Studio Atelier Luke renovated an old row house in Kyoto, Japan. The small terrace home was transformed into a contemporary house with a black-stained timber ceiling. Deemed Terrace House, the interiors of the home are a harmonious blend of contemporary Japanese and Australian design philosophies. The dark roof is the star feature of the narrow home!

Designed so that you can have a cabin in the woods, a house on the lake, or a property on the beach whenever you want, the Time Holiday is a mobile home that’s focused on what designer Chester Goh calls ‘futuristic sustainability. The front and side, constitute full-frame floor-to-ceiling double-layer laminated glass panels that provide extravagant 360-degree unobstructed views of the outdoors while helping insulate the interiors. The entire structure is designed to telescopically expand/contract, allowing the house to assume a compact form in transit, and extend outwards to create larger spaces and an extra guest room.

Built on a client’s wish to have a cabin that feels like climbing a tree, Helen & Hard designed Woodnest to bring that feeling to life for its residents. Stationed high up in a pinewood forest somewhere in Odda, Norway, Woodnest finds its nesting place 6 meters above the forest floor. Inside, the treehouse is warmed up and coated with black alder panels. The lighter hue of black alder works to brighten up the inside of Woodnest. Warm, ambient lighting turns the treehouse into a lantern come dark.

A Forest For Rest is a flexible prefab cabin with a tubular steel frame that can be suspended from trees or set on light foundations making it versatile – think tiny house meets dream treehouse! The 19.3-square-meter tiny house is lined with timber slats and features an open-plan living space with a separated bathroom on the ground floor and an adaptable sleeping space on the upper floor that is comfortable for three people.

Cube Two is a 263-square-foot home that is designed for the future and smart living. The exterior has smooth curved corners that give it a friendly vibe and the interior offers enough space for a family of four to live comfortably with two bedrooms and an open living area. To make it feel roomier, there is a skylight that runs across the ceiling and floods the space with natural light, and also provides a wonderful frame of the night sky. The minimal interiors will resonate with all the modern homes you’ve seen with an elegant black and white theme.

Replacing 2020’s 370z, Nissan’s 2023 Z model merges retro aesthetics with a fastback chassis that hosts a turbocharged engine and integrated modern technology for the smoothest ride yet.

Since 1969, Nissan’s Z-model has been recognized for its performance reliability, inexpensive price point, and sleek fastback chassis. Today, the automobile manufacturer debuts their 2023 Nissan Z to keep the heritage strong. Returning to the 1969 model’s retro sloping roof, the 2023 Nissan Z will feature aesthetic tributes to the build of previous Z-models and incorporate modern technology to bring the car’s retro design into the scope of today’s technological possibilities.

Powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 engine, the 2023 Nissan Z will be loaded with 400 hp, 350 lb-ft of torque, and a redline of 6,800 rpm. Improving on the model’s predecessor, the 370Z, Nissan’s 2023 Z model accelerates its 0-60 mph time by 15%, positioning the newer model in the low 4-second range. The 2023 Nissan Z will also be the first model of the lineup to feature launch control with a manual transmission, allowing the car to accelerate from a standing start.

Double-wishbone front suspensions also update the 2023 Nissan Z’s geometry, making for smoother and enhanced straight-line stability. Monotube shocks with larger diameters should also improve stability when driving over uneven surfaces. Reducing the flex of the model’s chassis, Nissan integrated a strut tower brace and enlarged the four-wheel disc brake system for the 2023 Z model.

While most of Z’s technical specs have been updated to meet today’s technological advancements, the interior’s two-seat bench merges the old with the new. Some design details from 1969 still find their way inside and outside 2023’s model, from the car’s door handles to its steering wheel. Besides that, you’ll find the standard in-cabin technology we’ve come to expect with newer cars, such as an 8-inch touchscreen navigation system with built-in Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities, keyless entry with push-start, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, and blind-spot monitoring.

Designer: Nissan

The 2023 Z will come in either bright blue or yellow, giving it a standout color for everything from racing to cruising. 

The car’s turbocharged engine equips the 2023 Nissan Z with 400-hp.

Inside, interior design elements pay tribute to the car’s 1969 origin model.

The 2023 Nissan Z features larger front tires to increase cornering. 

The taillights and headlights are designed in ode to the car’s original model as well.

An 8-inch touchscreen navigation system enhances the Nissan 2023 Z’s modern edge.

The Nissan 2023 Z comes with 18×9 aluminum front wheels and rear Yokohama ADVAN Sport P245/45R18 tires.

A quaint dwelling that was once a houseboat has been renovated and enlarged by US firm Best Practice Architecture for a couple and their daughter.

The clients were searching for a new home when they found the grey-and-white dwelling in the Seattle neighbourhood of  Madison Park with an unusual history.

The building, which appears as a bungalow from the street but is now split over three levels, was originally a houseboat that had been moved to land in the early 20th century.

“One block from Lake Washington, the quaint Boathouse Bungalow checked every box for homeowners Justin and Dean in their pursuit of the perfect place to raise their daughter,” said local firm Best Practice Architecture.

While the home had been remodelled several times over the years, the new owners wanted to add space and overhaul the interior. They turned to Best Practice, a firm they had commissioned in the past to update their first house.

“Honestly, we didn’t even consider working with another firm when we decided to start our next chapter as a family,” said the clients.

Collaborating closely with the owners, the architects created a scheme that maintained the home’s original character while infusing it with contemporary elements.

For the home’s exterior, the team chose a warm white with sage accents. Visitors are greeted by a Dutch door, which is split in half horizontally.

Within the dwelling, the team opened up the main floor to bring in light and provide clear views to the backyard.

The front portion holds a great room with a vaulted ceiling clad in white-stained cedar, while a kitchen and a dining room sit beyond.

On the lowest floor, small improvements were made to an existing bedroom and bathroom that now belong to the clients’ daughter.

The architects also created a laundry room and a double-height home office with direct access to the backyard. The office has an overhead lookout that connects to the kitchen above.

The extension – an elevated volume clad in black metal – was carefully stitched onto the rear of the house. The 600-square-foot (56-square-metre) addition was designed to be mostly hidden from the front street, in order to preserve the home’s bungalow aesthetic.

“It is a contrasting black metal volume perched on top of the more traditional bungalow – an abstract version of the original home,” the architects said. “The addition is bold but complements the home’s character while standing on its own as a modern form.”

The extension contains added space on the main floor, and a bedroom suite up above. The home’s different levels are accessed via a new, open stair lined with steel-and-glass handrails.

The project took three years to complete, from start to finish. Originally 1,449 square feet (135 square metres), the home now totals 2,049 square feet (190 square metres).

Founded in 2011, Best Practice Architecture is led by partners Ian Butcher and Kailin Gregga. Other projects by the Seattle studio include a storage shed that was converted into a backyard studio, and the conversion of a garage into living quarters for a grandmother.

The photography is by Rafael Soldi.

Project credits:

Architect: Best Practice Architecture
Team: Ian Butcher (lead), Sam Wilson, Kip Katich
Structural engineer: Harriott Valentine Engineers (James Harriot, lead; Tess Pietro)
Client/owner: Armintrout
Contractor: Ainslie-Davis Construction
Cabinetry: LEICHT Seattle
Metal siding: Loeberg Roofing
Custom vanity lighting: Fixture Design Studio (Josh Leggett)
Custom metal fabrications: Twisted Metalworks
Plumbing fixture sourcing: Seattle Interiors
Decorative lighting sourcing: Inform Interiors
Fireplace: Sutter Home and Hearth
Windows and door sourcing: Windows, Doors, and More

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Dezeen promotion: Pearl Academy dean Tingbin Tang has introduced a range of competitive problem-solving exercises to the design school’s curriculum to prepare students for challenges they will face in the design industry.

According to Tang, the problems designers face while working in the industry are “of a magnitude not encountered in a typical school environment”

Using knowledge from throughout his diverse career, Tang’s educational approach aims to give students at Indian design school Pearl Academy a holistic understanding of the design industry.

Pearl Academy aims to enable design students to “handle real-world complexities”

“How do we educate design students so they can handle real-world complexities?” he asked.

“This is addressed at Pearl Academy by adapting gamification methods that enable real-world problem-solving opportunities being brought into the studios. As the new dean of school of design and a creative entrepreneur myself, I’ve personally administered the implementation of crucial experiences and training for our students.”

Tang’s programme at the academy places importance on ensuring students experience resource management, competition and risk management among other organisational processes that contribute to new product development (NPD).

The programme is part of an experimental design education approach that Tang likens to the board game Monopoly. The methodology intends to ensure that Pearl Academy students graduate with a deep understanding of organisational dynamics while giving them a competitive advantage when they enter the industry.

Tang’s approach emphasises the importance of understanding diverse groups of people, using role-play techniques and psychological principles to understand the journey of a product from an idea through to launch.

In the gamification approach, students encounter real-life projects and develop a range of creative problem-solving solutions.

“Through this way of design thinking, young designers will not only be able to deliver innovative design solutions that generate new waves in the market but can also be equipped to provide cost-effective redesigned solutions to address the emerging and unforeseen market needs,” said Tang

Pearl academy design curriculum puts emphasis on role playing

Tang emphasises that students should consider all stakeholders when understanding the market. This includes considering the designer’s relationship with their suppliers, partnerships, customers and regulators.

“This can be achieved by including industry representatives and organisation or government regulators during project briefing and also incorporating role-play of various stakeholders, competitors, customers and end-users during intensive brainstorming sessions,” said Tang.

During their projects, students experience a range of design tasks including research, modelling and prototyping while performing roles including CEOs and marketers.

“With simulated roles similar to those in a real-life company, the project conversation within the team will be similar to what happens when they migrate to the industry as professionals,” explained Tang.

Token system used to simulate real-world budgets

In role-play exercises, the academy uses tokens to represent resources, where teams can trade tokens for materials, pay suppliers or hire talent.

“The customers, even if they are the actors or actual customers invited into this game, can also pay using these tokens to purchase their desired products,” said Tang.

In the tasks, students define a target market and analyse the competition. Teams often compete with each other to provide different product solutions and marketing strategies.

“Students get to learn ‘design’ beyond just being able to create products and are able to consider factors that also affect product design and its success in the market,” said Tang.

At the end of their projects, students summarise what they have learnt from role-playing from various perspectives across the industry and present a report.

“A team that makes the best and most compelling ‘value proposition’ will be the winning team,” said Tang. “Project teams will also get a chance to look back and introspect to see what they could have done better, and the lessons learnt.”

To learn more about Tang’s approach to design education and Pearl Academy’s courses visit the school’s website.

Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen for Pearl Academy as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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Rafa de Cardenas, Casa Bosques Chocolates and DeVonn Francis have collaborated with three artists—Mary L Bennett (of Gee’s Bend quilters), Joe Light and Ronald Lockett—for the new, limited edition Makers Series. The chocolate within, thought up by Francis, is inspired by his Jamaican heritage and the artists’ work. Made with single-origin cacao beans from Chiapas, Mexico, the chocolate is enhanced with chamomile, ginger and bay leaf—creating a zesty, slightly floral flavor. Best of all, 100% of the profits will be donated to The Okra Project, which focuses on supporting Black Trans people who face food insecurity.