World’s Smallest Sustainable House Can Fit a Family of Four

Building "the world's smallest sustainable house" is a mighty big claim, but that's what one company says that they've done with their <a href="http://www.nanolivingsystem.com/" target="_blank">Nano Living Systems</a> prefab. The Nano is a 200 square foot <a href="../architecture/prefab-housing/" target="_blank">home</a> designed to "comfortably" accommodate a family of four. Whether you could possibly handle living in that small of a space with three other people is another matter, but with clever design and built-in furniture, the home really has all that you could possible need. Built with SIPs and ready for <a href="../solar-power" target="_blank">solar panels</a>, a green roof, rainwater catchment and even more sustainable features, the Nano is certainly making strides to live up to its claim.

The Nano is designed with solar passive design and built from metal, load-bearing structural insulated panels.

The SIPs act as load bearing support, provide insulation, interior surfaces and exterior cladding. At 4" thick, the walls have R-20 insulation.

The Nano is designed to be powered by a solar system on the roof and can be accessed via a ladder on the side of the house.

Additionally, solar heat pumps, green roofs, grey water, and rainwater catchment systems can be added to the home.

There are two models, a one-bedroom and a studio, which are 200 sq feet and 325 sq feet respectively. Here is model A with the closet and bathroom sticking off in the back.

Inside the home is designed with traditional Chinese feng shui accents and has everything necessary for a home.

The mini-home includes a small kitchen, dining room, living room, bathroom, closet and two king size beds that drop down from the ceiling.

Furnishings and storage are built in to make the most out of the limited space.

The bathroom sits off to the side of the house, and a sliding cabinet moves to cover the shower or the toilet, which is right behind the cabinet in this picture.

In Model A, two king size beds are suspended in the ceiling and then drop down into the room and rest on the dining table or the sofa and the coffee table.

Here the king bed rests on top of the sofa and coffee table.

Model B, is a one bedroom house and is a bit more private than the studio model.

Here are the layouts for both Model A and Model B.