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
54
Box-Car Living
Houses Made From Shipping Containers
53
Shipping Container Houses (Follow Up)
The Illy House Blooms in 90 Seconds
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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This Modern Travel Trailer Concept by Maria Prokosheva is Sleek
Balcony-Accented Tiny Homes
The Backcountry Tiny Homes 'Bivouac' Tiny House is Well-Equipped
Bubbly Camping Trailers
This Charming Caravan Lets You Explore In Consummate Comfort
Spacious Familial Tiny Houses
The 'Yaroomba 8.4' Tiny Home Offers Space for Families of Four
Recycled Plastic Tiny Homes
Gary Bencheghib's Home in Bali is Made with 35,000 Plastic Bags
Three-Season Porch Tiny Homes
The Acorn Tiny Homes 'Sherloak Homes' is Timber-Clad
Three-Bedroom Tiny Homes
The Uncharted Tiny Homes 'Estate' is Compact Yet Spaciously Designed
Six-Person Dual-Loft Tiny Homes
The Treehab Tiny Homes 'Banksia' is 30-Feet in Length
North Carolina-Inspired Tiny Homes
The Buxton Tiny House from Modern Tiny Living is Well-Appointed
Eco-Minded Micro Cabins
The Magnolia Eco-Cabin is Simple and Sustainable
Expandable-Roof Tiny Homes
This Unique Tiny House Benefits From a Mechanically Liftable Roof
Extra-Long Four-Person Tiny Houses
The Aussie Tiny Houses 'Coogee 10.0' Has Ample Storage and More
Rustic Two-Level Tiny Homes
The 'Rodanthe' Tiny House from Modern Tiny Living is Family-Friendly
Tiny Home Kits
The Home Depot Getaway Pad Provides Extra Space Outside the Home
Japanese-Inspired Portable Tiny Homes
Baluchon Designs the Portable Bonzai Tiny Home
Warm Wood-Filled Tiny Homes
The Häuslein 'Luna' Tiny Home Prioritizes Timber Finishes
Two-Story Tiny Homes
The Vagabundo Flex Expands to Reveal a Second Floor
Self-Sustaining Timber Tiny Homes
The Madeiguincho 'Vigia' Tiny House Prioritizes Natural Light
Sustainable Rugged Travel Trailers
Airstream and REI Design the Co-op Special Edition Basecamp 20X
Storage-Laden Tiny Homes
This Bright Tiny Home Packs Generous Storage In Limited Space
Folding Tiny Homes
This Towable Tiny House Can Be Folded Down to One-Third the Size
Couple-Only Tiny Homes
Uncharted Tiny Homes The Limited Tiny House is Small But Mighty
Spacious Two-Bedroom Tiny Homes
The Minimaliste 'Noyel XL' Tiny House Doesn't Skimp on Style
Deck-Topped Tiny Homes
This Towable Tiny House Has a Rooftop Deck & Novel Bedroom Access
Rooftop Patio Tiny Homes
The Ticab House Tiny House N 2 Makes Use of All Available Space
Angular Artistic Tiny Homes
The Ibiza Tiny House Captures Mediterranean Style for Comfy Living
Diminutive Permanent Dwellings
This Unique Tiny Home is Designed For Year-Round Occupation
Space-Expanding Tiny Homes
This Australian Tiny House Has a Slide-Out Mechanism to Increase Space
Comfortable Connected Tiny Houses
The Covo Mio Smart Tiny House Has Voice Control and More
Terrace-Accented Timber Tiny Houses
The P’tit Nid Mobile Tiny Home is Clad in Natural Wood
Luxury Long-Term Travel Trailers
The Living Vehicle 2024 HD-PRO is Ready for Off-Grid Life
Expanding Off-Grid Electric RVs
The Electric Transformer House is Sustainable and Luxurious
Expansive Dual-Loft Tiny Homes
This Design from MitchCraft Tiny Homes is Spaciously Designed
Oversized Luxurious Tiny Homes
The Movable Roots Tiny Homes 'Manwaring' Measures in at 40-Feet
Generously Glazed Tiny Homes
This Vacation House Has An Ingenious Interior Layout
Railroad-Style Tiny Homes
The Aussie Tiny Houses 'Casuarina 9.0' Has a Main Floor Bedroom
Multifunctional Tiny Cabin Designs
The Western Colorado Tiny House is Off-Grid-Ready
Floating Bamboo Houses
This Vietnamese House Aims to Protect Residents From Rising Water Levels
Canadian Winter-Ready Tiny Homes
The Minimaliste Thuya Tiny House is Clad in Cedar
Open-Concept Tiny Homes
The Aussie Tiny Houses Mooloolaba 8.4 Has Ample Storage Space
Compactly Cubical Camping Shelters
The 'Maverick' Offers Durable Dwelling Both On & Off the Grid
Capaciously Compact Houses
This Spacious Tiny Home Allows For Elegantly Comfortable Living
Cat-Centric Compact Homes
This Japanese Dwelling Embraces Feline-Friendly Design Choices
Cube-Combining Tiny Homes
This Unique Tiny Home Uses Modular Spaces to Enable Flexible Use
Hitch-Style Camping Tents
The U-RANG 'HITCH-HOME' Offers an Alternative to Rooftop Tents
Displaced Persons House Designs
The Essential Homes Research Project Has a Bunker-Like Form
Futuristic Portable Pods
This Ventilated Pod is Designed For a Multitude Of Applications
Accessible DIY Housing Strategies
Manuel Cervantes Estudio Promotes "Assisted Self-Production"
Feline-Friendly Tiny Homes
This Luxurious Tiny Home Boasts a Number Of Cat-Centric Features
Spaciously Cozy Homes
This Off-Grid Tiny Home Offers Efficiently Laid-Out Floorspace
Shipping Container Tiny Homes
UnContained Dreams Designs the Rising Sun Tiny Home
Off-Grid Timber Tiny Homes
The 'Horta' Tiny House Has 107-Square-Feet of Living Space
National Park-Inspired Tiny Homes
The Backcountry Tiny Homes 'Basecamp' Tiny House Has a Roof Deck
Mobile Office Tiny Homes
The Uncharted Tiny Homes 'The Office' Can Be Taken on the Road
DIY Pretzel Cabins
Snyder's Pretzel Cabins Put a Salty Spin on Gingerbread Houses
Sustainable Pop-Up Shelters
The Maawa X is Ultra-Compact and Can Fit into a Suitcase
Family-Friendly Tiny Homes
This Spacious Tiny Home is Extra-Wide For Capacious Comfort
Transforming Family-Friendly Tiny Homes
The 'Cedar' Tiny House Has a Murphy Bed and More
Glamorous Camping Experiences
Volodymyr Hahonin Designs the LULU Glamping Experience
Elevating Bed Tiny Homes
The Acorn Tiny Homes 'Elevate' Maximizes Floorspace with Clever Design
Serenely Stilted Houses
This Sustainable Tiny Home is Situated On An Elevated Platform
Outdoor Entertaining Tiny Homes
The Acorn Tiny Homes True North Retreat Has a Barbecue Area
Temporary Cabin Hotels
Overtreders W Utilized Locally Sourced Materials for This Project
Prefabricated Miniature Home Concepts
i29 Creates the Câpsula Concept for Dutch Design Week
Garage-Converted Sustainable Homes
Modern Granny Flat Designs the Carlsbad ADU Conversion
Loft-Free Tiny Home Designs
The Freedom Series 8400NLR Tiny House Has a One-Floor Layout
Weather-Resistant Tiny Homes
This Off-Grid Tiny House is Designed For Year-Round Enjoyment
Shutter-Accented Tiny Homes
The houzEKO Tiny House Offers All-Season Efficiency and Privacy
High-End Cottage-Like Tiny Homes
The 'Burrow' Tiny House from Rewild Homes is Family-Friendly
Height-Conscious Tiny Homes
The 'Ruru' Tiny Home Looks Upwards to Increase Feelings of Airiness
Dual-Function Bedroom Tiny Homes
The Movable Roots 'Lindstrom' Tiny House Has a Murphy Bed
Luxe Home-Like Travel Trailers
The Living Vehicle HD24 Brings the Home to Off-Grid Locations
Versatile Interior Compact Homes
The Elevate Tiny Home Transforms the Interiors with a Button
Sustainable German Homes
Atelier Kaiser Shen Design a Sustainable & Clean Home in a German Village
Wood-Filled Familial Tiny Homes
The Modern Tiny Living 'Ojai' Tiny House Has Space for Four
Sustainable Off-Grid Minimal Cabins
Marc Thorpe Presents the Fremont House in New York
Countryside-Inspired Tiny Homes
The Acorn Tiny Homes English Country House is Rustically Finished
Contemporary Sustainable Tiny Homes
The Cosmic ONE is Offered in Three Compact Home Layouts
Towable Affordable Compact Homes
Wind River Tiny Homes Designs the Pingora Towable House
Tranquil Elevated Tiny Homes
Jan Tyrpekl Designs the Cozy Zen House in Austria
Energy-Efficient Prefabricated Homes
The 'SON.DER' Home Offers Environmentally Responsible Living
Flax Fiber Floating Homes
The Conceptual 'Blue Nomad' Floating Home is Sustainable
Minimalist Adventurer Tiny Homes
The Noyer Tiny House On Wheels Prioritizes Sustainability
Customizable Backyard Tiny Homes
My Little House 'Reatreat' is 13-Feet in Length
Unfurnished Camping Trailer Designs
Kworks and Lixil Join Forces on the Mio Space Trailer
Incredibly Modern Lakeside Houses
Stephenson Design Collective Converts an Old Boy Scout Camp
Upgraded Off-Grid Tiny Homes
Minimaliste Designs the Nomad 30 Small Home with Improved Interior
Modern Amenity Micro Dwellings
The Little Tahoma Peak Tiny Home Has House-Inspired Finishings
Family-Friendly Tiny Homes
The Indigo River Tiny Homes 'BERTHA' Has 360-Square-Feet of Space
Ultra-Compact Bungalow Designs
Satish Jassal Architects Completes the Haringey Brick Bungalow
Minimal Portable Tiny Homes
Acorn Tiny Homes Unveils the Paddock Paradise Small Home
Bauhaus-Inspired Mobile Doghouses
Conran and Partners Design the New Bowowhaus Doghouse
Pull-Out Deck Tiny Homes
This Tiny House from Tiny Homes Builder is Petite Yet Efficient
Rain-Harvesting Homes
Robert Hutchison Architecture Partners with Javier Sanchez Arquitectos
Socializing-Centric Tiny Dwellings
The 'Buttercup' Tiny Home Lets You Have Guests Over
DIY Portable Electric Campers
Designer Quiet Nerd Creates a Unique New Electric Camper
War Plane-Inspired Off-Grid Homes
Peter Markos Designs the Tiny Monocoque Cabin
Author-Honoring Compact Homes
Baluchon Introduces the Idyllic Miss Twain Tiny Home
Bunker-Borne Vacation Homes
This Subterranean Home Was Formerly a Wartime Bunker
Spacious Miniature Portable Homes
Mint Tiny Homes Designs the Orca Edition Park Model
Remote Work-Catering Modern Homes
Studio Plow and Brit Epperson Creates a Workspace-Home
Rentable Miniature Modern Cabins
The Nest is a Tranquil Rental Space at ReWild Rentals
Double-Axle Trailer TIny Homes
Baluchon Designs the Eucalyptus Tiny Home Structure
Bio-Based Compact Housing
Woonpioniers Designs the Sustainable Sprout Ruben & Marjolein House
Micro-Living Portable Homes
Modern Tiny Living Creates the Buttercup Tiny Home for Hosting
Porch-Embedded Portable Homes
Wind River Tiny Homes Designs the Tellico House on Wheels
Scattered Boulder-Inspired Homes
Omar Gandhi Architects Designs the Rockbound House
Multipurpose Camping Shelters
The 'Nomad Cape' Serves As a Hammock, Groundsheet, Poncho & Shelter
Off-Grid Self-Sufficient Island Homes
Vollebak and Bjarke Ingels Design the Earth House in Canada
Economical Modular Wooden Homes
The Cake House Reinvents Housing in the Czech Republic
Relaxing Wooden Holiday Homes
Norm Architects Designs the Heatherhill Beach House
Affordable Tiny Home Communities
Durham Region Launches a Tiny Home Project to End Homelessness
Repurposed Wooden Shoreside Homes
H2 Designs the Tree House by the Lake in Vietnam
Narrow Modern Home Designs
STD Design Consultant Designs the Chic Vid House in Vietnam
Versatile Tiny Workspace Homes
The Browny Home is a Multifunctional Space-Saving Design
Dynamic Convertable Camper Vans
Citroën Unveils the Type Holidays Inspired by the Type H
Beachfront-Inspired Small Wooden Homes
Raglan Tiny Homes Presents the Beach Home Design
Free-Flowing Bright Compact Homes
Baluchon Adds the Bois Perdus Tiny Home to its Roster
Multifunctional Vietnamese Homes
H-H Studio Designs the House for Young Families in Da Nang
Shiplap Interior Contemporary Homes
Dragon Tiny Homes Presents the 16’THOW With Loft
Cement Block-Decorated Homes
Bloom Architecture Designs the Small Houses Collection
Medieval-Themed Towable Micro Homes
Acorn Tiny Homes Designs the Purple Heart Manor
Cult Film-Inspired Rented Spaces
AirBnB Unveils Shrek's Swamp AirBnB to Book in Scotland
Bunker-Converted Holiday Homes
Corstorphine & Wright Joins Symmetrys on a New Design Project
Sleek Miniature Lifestyle Campers
Bürstner Designs the Bürstner for Those on Camping Ventures
Modern Mobile Futuristic Homes
Nestron Presents its Range of Contemporary Tiny Homes
Compact Affordable Cozy Homes
Dragon Tiny Homes Designs the Element Compact Homes
Stilts-Reading Suspended Homes
ElasticoFarm Designs The Hole with the House Around in Italy
Natural Landscape-Surrounding Homes
All(zone) Designs the Under the Rain Trees Holiday Home
Minimal Urban City Apartments
GRT Architects Designs the East Village Apartment in NY
Pale Yellow Minimal Townhomes
i.B. Archstudio Designs the VVV Townhouse with Pastel Hues
Eco-Friendly Miniature Homes
Berghaus' Dufour House is a Tiny Sustainable Home
Billboard-Transformed Tent Shelters
Wunderman Thompson Morocco Creates the Life-Saving Outdoors
Climate-Friendly Waterfront Homes
From 4 to 1 Creates Three Pavilions in Copenhagen
Rustic Contemporary Bunkhouses
SHED Architecture & Design Unveil the Guemes Island Bunkhouse
California-Inspired Tiny Homes
Modern Tiny Living Designs the Buxton Home for Four People
Disaster-Ready Housing Prototypes
Holcim & Norman Foster Join on the Essential Homes Project
Engineered Wood Compact Homes
Modern Tiny Home Designs the SANGJA Home with Cozy Touches
Spacious Portable Compact Bunkhouses
Timbercraft Tiny Homes Designs the Denali XL Bunkhouse
Weatherized Visual Wooden Homes
Denizen Works Creates the Hundred Acre Wood House in Scotland