Small prefab home; nice design

[Flaxbee]

though unfortunately, only available in Europe (for now, at least):

http://www.treehugger.com/modular-design/czech-out-new-small-prefab-design-architect-marek-stepan.html
From the article:

One of the reasons I prefer modular construction to the trendier shipping container housing is that the size of the module can be designed for people, rather than stuff. The Freedomky, from Czech architect Marek Štěpán, is a good example. It packs a comfortable 400 square foot one bedroom unit into a single box.

t is a very energy-efficient design that comes with a heat recovery ventilator and an air-to-air heat pump. All building materials are "ecologically benign." Photovoltaics and solar thermal hot water are also available.

[Sherman A1]

1. Cool!

[Flaxbee]

2. I like it! I probably would want to have some sort of

indoor/outdoor space added on (sunroom or covered porch) but, depending on price, you could always buy two of these and position them in an "L" to have room for family or guests and a nice open space for a garden.

[Kaleva]

3. Interesting homes can be built using shipping containers

"An excellent method of reusing — there are more than 300 million shipping containers sitting empty at ports around the world — shipping containers are used to build full- and part-time single-family homes and much more. "

http://www.mnn.com/your-home/remodeling-design/photos/8-eye-catching-shipping-container-homes/a-new-kind-of-living

[IrishAyes]

4. I've always wondered what the roof snow load on a shipping container might be.

[TexasBushwhacker]

5. Check out what some college students did with an old single wide trailer

http://trailerwrap.net/

http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/trailers-from-trash-to-panache

[Eleanors38]

6. The basic set up linked was used by my hunting buddy in

upper Uvalde Co., Texas. Years ago, they put a 1966 single-wide on blocks under a big shed with concrete porch. Allowed the ancient CA to work more efficiently. His family just built a new lodge on the same site -- employing the old slab.