To live a modest, affordable life, freelance web designer Alek Lisefki decided not just to downsize his belongings but also his actual home. To do this, Lisefki decided to design and build a 160 sq. ft. tiny home capable of housing him, his girlfriend, and their Shiba Inu named Anya. To give the innovative miniature abode yet another unique feature to hang its hat on, Lisefki built the entire thing on a flatbed trailer granting the trio the added flexibility of living literally anywhere they could reasonably park a trailer.
Dubbed the Tiny Project, Lisefki focused primarily on making the home as sustainable as possible, outfitting it with eco-friendly building materials and appliances and fixtures geared toward lowering its daily carbon footprint. Furthermore, his decision to build a place to rest his head which measures a staggeringly small 8 feet by 20 feet was to create a space in which he wouldn’t be able to hoard anything, allowing him to fully enjoy the environment and nature around him. Requiring nothing more than an extension cord for power and access to water, the Tiny Project is an incredibly impressive feat of engineering.
“The main aspect of the Tiny Project is to dwell in a tiny house, thus shifting all aspects of life and lifestyle towards greater peace and sustainability,” Lisefki said on his website. “Inhabiting such a small space will encourage me to live in a simpler, more organized and efficient way. Without room to hoard things and hide away from the world, I’ll be forced to spend more time outdoors, in nature and engaging with my community. With very low rent (for parking) to pay, I’ll save money, allowing for a less hectic work life and more time and funds for health, leisure, and travel. I won’t be able to keep closets full of clothes or store 5-year-old trinkets in a house so small.”
Though he acknowledges living in a tiny house comes with a few drawbacks, he defends his decision to live exclusively in the Tiny Project saying it makes him “free from all but what is essential.” Not content with merely sharing his own story, Lisefki also published the exact plans to his tiny house, allowing anyone with a bit of construction savvy (and $200) the opportunity to make their own diminutive house on wheels.
Furthermore, the website dedicated to the Tiny Project features Lisefki’s own experience building and living in his version, serving as an introduction of sorts for anyone contemplating the change in lifestyle. While it serves as a documented account of his time living in the home and how he built it, it also figures to feature how he integrates future upgrades such as solar panels once he makes the new additions.
