Tiny Houses

Minimod small home designed with flexibility in mind

Minimod small home designed with flexibility in mind
Minimod, by MAPA Architects (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
Minimod, by MAPA Architects (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
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The Minimod home sports a modular interior layout that includes four living space (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
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The Minimod home sports a modular interior layout that includes four living space (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
There's also a generous green roof (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
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There's also a generous green roof (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
The home measures 27 sq m (290 sq ft) (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
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The home measures 27 sq m (290 sq ft) (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
Minimod contains a reasonably proportioned bedroom, living room, dining room, and bathroom (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
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Minimod contains a reasonably proportioned bedroom, living room, dining room, and bathroom (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
Lighting is provided by efficient LED bulbs (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
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Lighting is provided by efficient LED bulbs (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
The Minimod home sports a modular interior layout that includes four living space (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
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The Minimod home sports a modular interior layout that includes four living space (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
Minimod contains a reasonably proportioned bedroom, living room, dining room, and bathroom (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
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Minimod contains a reasonably proportioned bedroom, living room, dining room, and bathroom (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
Minimod is transported by truck and put into position with a crane (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
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Minimod is transported by truck and put into position with a crane (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
Minimod, by MAPA Architects (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
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Minimod, by MAPA Architects (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
Architectural model (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
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Architectural model (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
Architectural model (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
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Architectural model (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
Large glass windows and partly-ventilated facade should be perfectly practicable for warmer areas (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
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Large glass windows and partly-ventilated facade should be perfectly practicable for warmer areas (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
The Minimod home sports a modular interior layout that includes four living space (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
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The Minimod home sports a modular interior layout that includes four living space (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
Minimod's plywood construction doesn't look capable of handling challenging climes (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
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Minimod's plywood construction doesn't look capable of handling challenging climes (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
Large glass windows and partly-ventilated facade should be perfectly practicable for warmer areas (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
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Large glass windows and partly-ventilated facade should be perfectly practicable for warmer areas (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
View gallery - 15 images

Though embracing small footprint living doesn't always require one deal with a challenging interior layout, a compact home that's designed to be flexible certainly bodes well for a harmonious lifestyle. It would appear that MAPA Architects had this in mind with its Minimod (or Minimal Modular) prototype home, which sports an adaptable interior layout comprising four living spaces.

Minimod measures 27 sq m (290 sq ft), and comprises a lightweight steel frame enclosed by plywood and glass. Its simple rectangular box-like appearance doesn't really break the mold, but is easy enough on the eyes. Unlike the similar Passion House M1, Minimod doesn't look suited to handle challenging climes, but those large glass windows and a partly-ventilated facade should be just fine for life in warmer areas. It's also raised on stilts to avoid ground moisture.

Minimod contains a reasonably proportioned bedroom, living room, dining room, and bathroom (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)
Minimod contains a reasonably proportioned bedroom, living room, dining room, and bathroom (Photo: Leonardo Finotti)

Though still in the development stage and so subject to potential change, Brazil and Uruguay-based MAPA Architects told Gizmag that it plans to make the homes available for purchase in the next few months at a price of roughly US$1,000 per sq m (or $27,000 for the model shown), not including foundations, land-removal costs, or plumbing and power facilities.

Each unit will be prefabricated in a factory with a build time of around 45 days, before being transported via truck and placed into position by crane.

Customers will have the choice of sticking with the layout featured here, which has a bedroom, living room, kitchen dining room, and a bathroom – or if preferred, they can tailor the home to suit their own needs. Some furniture is included as standard, such as air-conditioning, wardrobe mini fridge, and mini-oven. Lighting is provided by efficient LED bulbs.

Minimod isn't designed to operate off-the-grid as standard, though could be fitted with solar panels and a composting toilet. It does, however, sport a green roof and rainwater tank which combine to filter and reuse rainwater.

Source: MAPA Architects

View gallery - 15 images
6 comments
6 comments
Thomas H Wood
Love this idea. It's nice as well that the customer can change and modify their own little pod to suit them.
BigGoofyGuy
I like the idea that is customizable to fit ones needs. With cost of living going up, this could well be the way to save money. I like the simplicity of the design.
EddieG
This looks like a coffin. When you die, they just shovel dirt over the top.
JSSFB
I love the concept, but think that the insulation should be improved, even air-conditioning would be more efficient with good insulation, and of course cheaper to run. The idea is very versatile and could be developed on so that it could be used all over the world, I think that this is the way of the future. Off the grid it good but not necessary in the world yet
Bob
$27,000 for a modified container box seems rather pricey. Sod on the roof doesn't look like a good idea either. It also doesn't appear to have much insulation. Almost no cabinets or storage would also be a problem. Why doesn't someone just modify a container box with a heavy duty awning and floor plan it like a modern travel trailer??? That would beat almost of the tiny house designs that I have seen so far. For short term, I'd rather just live in the travel trailer and go south in the winter.
Bevin Chu
Simply outfit a freight container instead. I see no reason to pay this much for so little.