Like many others, over the years I have become fascinated with tiny homes. Many people seem to be gravitating toward the possibility of a lower or no mortgage, and the freedom they give homeowners to spend less time working, and more time being able to enjoy life.
Smaller homes have long been accepted in Asian countries and is now increasing in popularity in the United States.homes. A tiny home, as defined, usually consists of roughly 250 square feet. While this may appeal to a few, I suspect that over time most of us may wish to have a little bit more living space. Can 1,000 square feet be the sweet spot? A smaller home can have every bit as much character and functionality as larger homes, without the high mortgage price tag. I can clearly see several advantages to this approach to home ownership, especially in a tropical climate like the BVI where there are many good options for outdoor living spaces. For the BVI, I believe that homes in the range of 1,000 square feet, would give home owners more than enough space to be comfortable and have attractive and modern finishes at a price tag under $300,000. I am not so much an advocate for tiny homes, but for smaller homes that are better designed, have some character and are well suited to our lifestyles and environment. Our traditional houses may hold the key to happier living Looking objectively at the traditional BVI clapboard siding home, I think that there are lots of lessons to be learned there about design, practicality and comfort. Now that we are well into the twenty-first century, as Virgin Islanders, many of us are seeking to improve the quality of our lives and where better to start than improving the quality of our homes. From the 1970's Caribbean islands have been constructing our interpretation😢 of the international style of architecture, this interpretation is devoid of any character, as it is basically a rectangular concrete building with a flat roof and windows and doors wherever they may fall. Half a century of this type of construction leaves us longing for homes that boast character, and yearning for buildings that truly feel and look like a home. The time has come for a complete reinterpretation of the traditional Virgin Islands clapboard home. Traditional BVI homes were masters of ventilation and efficient cooling. The use of high roofs not only helped to keep the building cool and helped to minimize damage in hurricanes but also provided a strong exterior aesthetic on the proportions of the facade. Reinterpreting Tiny homes, BVI style After giving it much thought, here's my take on tiny homes BVI style.
Although the interiors of traditional BVI homes were not large they made good use of exterior spaces which extended living rooms and kitchens into airy, comfortable outdoor spaces. Traditional houses also made great use of exterior spaces as gathering and eating spaces. Below is a one story smaller home by Tedx design which beautifully illustrates the use of a covered central outdoor space to increase the functional areas of the home. This home is not huge but it surely looks like a fun and functional home to live in.
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Recently while working on a kitchen design, I was very much concerned about the quality of light in the space, as I often am when designing kitchens. Then I got to thinking, why do we need upper kitchen cabinets anyway?
Most homeowner today insist on having pantries to store dry goods, so are the uppers really still a necessity? Below are some arguments for and against to help you make the best decision
5 Easy concepts designers use to make our homes happier placesAs a designer, I have learned that most people know exactly what they want to achieve in their
homes. However, for most it is difficult to figure out how to get the results they want, when confronted with an unlimited supply of building materials and furnishings. In over 20 years as an architect, I've come to accept that regardless of the project's size, or budget, there are primarily 5 elements that can be effectively used to help create extraordinary spaces that occupants love.
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Avaline Potter is an architect practicing in the British Virgin Islands for over 20 years. Avaline is on a mission to help everyday BVI families achieve extraordinary homes. ArchivesCategories |