Shanty towns or Hoovervilles consisting of tents, RVs, huts and so forth are now cropping up in many unusual places, the likes of which have not been seen since the Great Depression. One reason is the infamous credit crunch when people, especially prospective first-time buyers, cannot borrow the money to buy their homes. The other is the steadily worsening economy where people can no longer afford to even rent a living space.
This cluster offers a startling range of alternative accommodations ranging from RVs substituting as homes, car, motorbike and raft tents; tree house homes to unusual places like converted churches, lighthouses, and shipping containers.
You could even try growing your own home or build one from recycled materials or haystacks. Other innovations include really compact homes or a way of living rent-free besides residing in a shanty town.
54 Unique Alternative Homes
53
Box-Car Living
Houses Made From Shipping Containers
52
Contained Living Anywhere
Top 7 Shipping Container Houses
51
All Terrain Cabin
Life In A Shipping Container
50
Top 8 Tree Houses
Arboreal Abode Resorts & Commercial Projects
49
Container Houses
Habode (Follow-Up)
48
Modular Igloos
Styrofoam Dome Houses
47
World's Oddest Hotels
Treehouses, Volcanoes, Caves
46
Mountain Cave Homes
Kokopelli's Cave Bed & Breakfast
45
African Prefab Houses
The Abod
44
28 Camping Innovations
You Won't Find These on 'Survivor Gabon'
43
Renovating Religion
Converted Churches as Homes
42
95% Recycled Architecture
Tiny Texas Houses
41
Shipping Container Architecture
The Freitag Store Brings New Light to Upcycling
40
Custom Adult Tree Houses
Baumraum Architects
39
Rent-Free Living Around The World
CareTaker.org
38
24 Prefab Homes
From Cardboard to Shipping Containers
37
15 Caravans and RVs of the Future
36
Modern Tokyo Compact Housing
Architecture by Yasuhiro Yamashita
35
Super Tree Houses
34
Real Fairytale Houses in Trees
Amazon Treehouses
33
Converted Church Homes
Religious Renovations
32
Self-Financed Architecture
Saunders and Wilhelmsen Build Their Own Plans
31
Hammock Tents
The Nyamuk
30
Floating Houses
Four Seasons Ocean Residences
29
Jenga Block Architecture
The "Next Generation House" by Sou Fujimoto
28
Living in a Billboard
Aeroform Homes
27
Modern Water Chalets
New Design For Huts on the Water
26
Capsule Caravans
Fashionable Living by David Tonkinson
25
Free Historic Homes
Just Repair & Move In
24
Mobile Car Tents
Hannibal USA Rooftop Tents
23
Custom Caravans
The Mehrzeller RV
22
Cube-Shaped Eco Architecture
The Modular Dice House
21
Beehive Architecture
Honeycomb Housing Complex
20
Hay Stack Houses
The Watchhouse Brinta
19
Extravagent Living
Castles, Lighthouses, Convents As Homes
18
Tailgate Trailers
More Tailgating Toys
17
Flying Saucer House
Out of This World Homes
16
Backpack Tent + Hammock
The Respite
15
Secret Urban Fort
Car Tent
14
Treehouses on Log Stilts
Zigloo Architecture
13
Camping Rafts
Floating Cabins
12
Growing Your Own Living Home
Aeroponic Architecture
11
21 Wild Camping Innovations
10
Chopper RVs
BadAss Camping Gear
9
Storage Units as Second Homes
GarageTown Play Spaces
8
Houses Made of Plastic Bottles
Jasmine Zimmerman's Bumbershoot Art
7
Connected Camping
Kampgrounds of America Launch North American Wi-Fi
6
Potato Tent Pegs
Glastonbury Goes Green(er)
5
Swing, Tent, Teepee Wrapped in One
The Treepee
4
Cabana Art Tours
Beach Huts on Parade
3
$1.75 Foreclosure Homes
Credit Crunch Hits eBay
2
Recycled Swedish Barns
Hermit Cabin
1
Reinventing British Beach Huts
Bathing Beauties Festival Architecture
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Corrugated Cabin Prefab Models
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Tiny House Retreats
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Tiny House-Like Camper Trailers
The Ortsan Mini House Expands to Maximize Space and More
Single-Floor Tiny Homes
The Quadrapol 'Capucine' Doesn't Have Any Loft Bedrooms or Ladders
Dual-Loft Tiny Houses
Tommy Tiny House Sleeps Six in a 23.6-Foot Mobile Layout
Bohemian Mobile Homes
Tiny Birdy Mobile Home is a Custom Off-Grid Retreat for Nomadic Retirement
Single-Level Tiny Homes
The Audrey by Cozyco Tiny Homes Delivers a Compact One-Level Layout
Spacious Apartment-Style Tiny Homes
The Backcountry Tiny Homes Beachcomber is Well Laid Out
Weather-Ready Tiny Homes
The Decathlon Tiny Homes Storm is Rated to Withstand High Winds
Compact Mobile Home
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Triple-Story Prefab Tiny Houses
The DQTower Maximizes Land Usage by Building Upwards
Stationary Modular Homes
The Samuel Tiny Home Prioritizes Width Over Portability
All-Electric Wide Tiny Homes
Escape Introduced the eONE XL Wide & Tall
Stacked Two-Floor Tiny Homes
Quadrapol La Ruche Has Space for Two in an Efficient Design
Senior-Friendly Single-Floor Tiny Homes
The Mark VI - VIC is Made from a Single Shipping Container
Recycled Tiny Houses
Shadow House by Matti Kuittinen Uses Waste Materials for Full-Scale Living
Full-Time Living Tiny Houses
The Nordic & Spruce Homesteader is Highly Customizable
Lofted Trailer Micro Homes
Currumbin Tiny House Fits a Full Kitchen and Loft Bedroom
Six-Person Tiny Homes
Gerês Tiny House Packs Two Bedrooms into a 25.7-Foot Footprint
Glass Wall Tiny Homes
The Häuslein Tiny House Co. Eire Sits on a Triple-Axle Trailer
Micro-Sized Family Homes
The Removed Tiny Home Byron Bay Tiny House Supports Family Living
Senior-Friendly Tiny Homes
The Rewild Homes Rose Tiny House Has a Single-Floor Layout
Durable Storage-Packed Tiny Homes
Removed Tiny Homes Coolangatta 8.4 Has Colorbond Steel Cladding
Modular Tiny Home Designs
The Vettel Haus Tiny Home Masters the Art of Living Large
Two-Trailer Compact Homes
The Bowerbird by Unplgd Tiny Homes is Luxe Small Living
Ethereal Feminine Tiny Homes
The Plume Botanical Hut Tiny House Prioritizes Stylish Versatility
Scandinavian Tiny Homes
Scandi Inn by Backcountry Tiny Homes Fits Full Layout into 270 Square Feet
Dual-Loft Compact Portable Homes
Kookaburra Tiny Homes Designs a New Avanti SE Model
Multifunctional Tiny Homes
Julia is a 290-Square-Foot Tiny House by with Convertible Living Zones
Ultra-Efficient Tiny Homes
The Hirondelle Tiny House Offers Remote Workers a Affordable Retreat
Wheeled Tiny Homes
Ynez Tiny Home is a Compact Mobile Residence Designed by Timbercraft Tiny Homes
Climate-Responsive Prefab Homes
The Drop Pod House Adapts to Floods and Unexpected Guests
3D-Printed Home Prototypes
The Tiny House LUX 3D-printed Residence in Luxembourg
Off-Grid Tiny Houses
Duna is a Compact Off-Grid Tiny House Designed for Full-Time Living Comfort
Resilience-Focused Youth Initiatives
Covenant House Toronto Launches ‘Home of the Unbreakable’
Cost-Effective Shipping Container Homes
The Custom Container Living 'Nook' is Priced Under $40,000
Architect-Inspired Travel Trailers
Airstream Presents the New Usonian Limited Edition Trailer
Cozy Smart Tiny Homes
The Sonoma Home Offers Modern Comfort and Smart Living in a Tiny Package
Container Tiny Getaways
Teeny Tiny Haus is a 20-Foot Container Stay in Stonewall, Texas
Two-Bedroom Compact Homes
Tiny Rubik Fits Two Sleeping Areas into a 20-Foot Tiny House Layout
Relaxing Micro Cabin Compounds
The 'NestOff' Tiny House Was Designed by Peter Kotek
Low Footprint Compact Houses
The Nano Micro House is an Affordable Living Solution
Spacious Compact Mobile Homes
The Tiny XXL Makes Downsizing More Realistic for Families
Stationary Compact Dwellings
Craft House's Lukas Tiny Home Removes Wheels for a Fixed Setup
Shape‑shifting Retreats
This Modular Off‑Grid House Adapts to Natural Sites with Expandable Walls
Expanded Tiny Homes
The Ochoco Tiny House Shows How Extra Width Transforms Compact Design
Compact Modular Forest Cabins
The Digital House Showcases Plug‑in Construction in the Forest
Hydro-Positive Microhomes
Living on Groundwater Rewires a 25 M² Residence to Recharge Aquifers
Off-Grid Forest Retreats
The Nest Cabin by Daria Sheina Studio is Made with Stacked Volumes
Reimagined Micro Homes
The Mark VI Vic Tiny House Champions Comfort in Compact Form
Barn-Form Family Homes
The Twisted House by Andy Martin Merges Barn Form and Landscape
Converted Industrial Homes
A 1960s Warehouse Transforms into a Residence Honoring Its Raw Design
Modular Bamboo Housing
Housing NOW is a Modular Bamboo Housing System by Blue Temple in Myanmar
Sustainable Off-Grid Remote Retreats
Daria Sheina Studio Designs the Nest Home in Canada
Modernist Home Renovations
The Bauhaus Budapest Apartment Receives a Contemporary Refresh
Eco‑tiny Sanctuarys
The TIGÍN Tiny Homes Reimagine Starter Living with a Hemp-Clad Design
Climate-Smart Rural Designs
Vernacular Home Cools Interiors with Passive Clay-Pot Ventilation
Eco-Focused Family Housing
Rewild Homes Moves Environmental Design into Realistic Living
Compact 3d-Printed Housing
The Tiny House Lux is Helping Address Luxembourg’s Housing Shortage
Compact Sustainable Homes
Quadrapol Introduces the Cabana as a Tiny Dwelling That Rethinks Space
Tiny Home Designs
The Byron Bay Uses Two Bedrooms and a Picture Window to Maximise Space
Elevated Flood Refuge Homes
The Lift House Reimagines a Red Cottage That Rises with Flood Waters
Vernacular Cocoon Cabins
Cucu Cabin by Studio Bucky Draws on Irish Tower Houses and Thatch Design
Compact Urban Dwellings
Miami Tiny House Applies Modern Design to a Small Residential Footprint
Terrace-Topped Tiny Houses
The BTH Loft from Baltic Tiny House Has a Two-Bedroom Layout
Inversion Living Concepts
The Tiny Getaway Explores Upside-Down Living in Compact Spaces
Timber Alpine Shelters
Carlo Ratti Associati’s Self-Sufficient Bivouac for 2026 Winter Olympics
Modular Cob Pavilions
The Heal, Home, Hmm Pavilion by Roo Dhissou Uses Reclaimed Mud at the V&a
Solar Powered Compact Homes
The E55000 Modular Off Grid Home Brings Expandable Living Upfront
Innovative Steel Laneway Houses
Weiss Architecture & Urbanism Limited Presents a Striking Project
Compact Shelter Designs
Zodiac Building Accommodation Uses Modular Pods for Flexible Living Space
Community Housing Finders
Homes and Homies connects people for shared living and house hunting
Compact House Getaways
The Chipper BNB Tiny House Delivers Open-Plan Living for a Weekend Getaway
Modern Mobile Cabin Concepts
HYTTE Mobile Home Concept by RE:BURO Reimagines Rv Living
Pet-Friendly Tiny Retreats
The Téméraire Tiny Home Boasts Smart Features for Families and Pets
Compact Urban Residences
The Stealth House by Specht Novak Redefines Private Living in Austin
Solar Tribal Homes
Chhattisgarh Links Housing And Rooftop Solar For Tribal Families
Japanese-Inspired Recycled Pavilions
Second Edition's Love Shack is Made of Recycled Materials
Resilient Modular Bamboo Housing
Housing NOW by Blue Temple is Resilient in the Face of Disaster
Reading-Focused Compact Houses
Backcountry Tiny Homes Designs the Library Tiny House
Clever Elegant Compact Homes
Vagabond Haven Designs the Honey 216 Tiny Home Measuring 12.9 Feet
Temporary Workforce Housing Models
Target Hospitality Launches Dickens County Worker Camp
Homelessness-Focused Architecture Studies
Architecture Without Borders Quebec Identifies Issues
Contemporary Weatherized Homes
OOF! Architecture Designs the Acute House for a Family
Compact Corner Residences
MoDus Architect's Hometown House Reconfigures a Urban Corner Site
Toronto Healing Shelters
Anduhyaun Emergency Shelter Nods to Indigenous Traditions to Aid Recovery
Compact Family Homes
Vagabond Haven’s Zenith Tiny House Fits Four People Within 473 Square Feet
Multigenerational Shingle Homes
Lil Shingle by Best Practice Architecture Transforms a 1950s Home
Eco-Friendly Modular Refugee Shelters
AllSpace has Designed a Special Shelter Prototype
Intimate High-Altitude Cottages
The AltiHut Cottages Expand Mountain Refuge Ecosystem
Adaptive Bunker Housing
The SAR Residence by OAD Converts Military Bunkers into a Coastal Home
Adaptive Family Homes
Carlton Cottage Extension Rethinks Terrace Living for Flexibility
Dual Loft Tiny Homes
The Goa Tiny Home Sleeps Up to Five People Within a 24-Foot Footprint
Residential Cruise Living
Fabled Voyages Designs Long-Term Community Living at Sea
Adaptive Backyard Studios
Love Shack Adapts Reclaimed Materials into a Multifunctional Pavilion
Humanized Waiting Pavilions
The De Wachtkamer Pavilion Reimagines Temporary Housing
Expandable Off-Road Motorhomes
Shiver x Expandable Motorhome Provides Shelter for Six Occupants
Revived Stone Sheds
A Compact Stone Cabin Gains Quiet Charm in a Modern Micro-Home Renovation
Artful Home Renovations
Rude Haus Updates the Clover House with Upcycled and Vintage Elements
Unconventional Triangular Barnhouses
A Dutch Barnhouse is Organised Around an Open Layout
Compact Vacation Rental Designs
The Kinnakeet from Modern Tiny Living is Built for Airbnb
Wooden Compact Thoughtful Residences
Madeiguincho Designs the Compact Barca Home
Thatched Roof Wildlife Retreats
Ma+rs Serenity Retreat Anchors Hillside Residence in New Zealand
Warm Compact Living
The Spruce Blends Big Living with a Rustic Balcony in a Small Mobile Home
Budget-Friendly Flexible Homes
The Fairfax is a Compact Home by Dragon Tiny Homes
Upside-Down Tiny House Layouts
Lou Tiny House Unveiled the Véronique Tiny Home Model
Single-Level Compact Residences
Unplgd Tiny Homes Design the Bellbird Home for Warm Weather
Terracotta Concrete Retreats
The Alloa Hills Weekend Home Blends Recycled Brick and Warm Concrete
Biodiverse Floating Housing Developments
MAST Creates a Floating Neighborhood in Europe
Slender Alley Dwelling Revivals
The Brown House Uses Ecological Materials to Redefine Urban Infill
Compact Cottage Revivals
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Low-Impact Garden Dwellings
The Senior Shelter Offers a Connected Space for Aging Family Members
Thatched Modern Guesthouses
The Hata-Mazanka Guesthouses Reinterpret Ukrainian Vernacular Forms
Vertical Rooftop Tiny Homes
Craft House Introduced The Erica Scandinavian-Finished Tiny Home
Carbon-Negative Housing
The Marknesse Homes Use Bio-Based Materials and Prefab Timber