These portable housing innovations range from modular micro apartments to remixed Nordic cabins which take a traditional dwelling design to new heights with modern elements.
Standouts in the prefabricated housing realm include the 'NO.MADE' cabin by Italian architect Michele Perlini. The project was recently unveiled during Milan Design Week 2019 and marries an economical and budget-conscious design with contemporary elegance.
Other portable housing innovations to note include a school bus home conversion project by Wind River Tiny Homes along with The Magenta, a tiny mobile home with chic built-in furniture. While the school bus home -- built for Elizabeth J.W. Spencer, her husband Greg and their baby -- is designed to mimic an urban apartment on wheels, The Magenta boast a vibrant facade and an Instagram-friendly interior consisting of a twin bed, built-ins and a table and chair combo.
30 Portable Housing Innovations
From Remixed Nordic Cabins to Modular Micro Apartment Spaces:
Jana Pijak — May 21, 2019 — Art & Design
29
Multifunctional Eco BBQ Cabins
The 'FLEXSE' Scandinavian Grill House is Cozy and All-Season
28
Elegantly Converted Bus Homes
This Converted School Bus House Offers Space for a Family of Three
27
Customizable Tiny Homes
The True Studio Tiny Home Features an Ecological Incinerating Toilet
26
Prefab Italian Micro Cabins
The 'NO.MADE' Cabin Can be Placed Anywhere as a Tiny Home
25
Backyard Micro-Building Offices
The Lighthouse Office Offers a Cozy, Dedicated Space for Work
24
Modular Floating Prefabricated Homes
Kodasema's Floating Residence is Quite Convenience-Focused
23
Pointy Mountain Treehouses
Peter Pichler Architecture's Design Entertains Modern Sensibilities
22
Highly Sustainable Compact Homes
Estúdio 41 Builds an Adorable, Eco-Conscious House in Brazil
21
Incredibly Modern Compact Apartments
ATG Design Infuse This Flat in Bulgaria with Functionality
20
Two-Level Tiny Homes
The Tiny Heirloom Signature Series 'Goose' House is Built on a Trailer
19
Skyscraper-Inspired Tiny Homes
The 'Tiny Tower' Optimizes Vertical Space For Comfortable Living
18
Sustainable Off-Grid Tiny Homes
Gray Organschi Architecture Collaborates with Yale Researchers
17
Micro-Housing Settlements
Architects Offer Shipping Containers for an Informal Settlement in Egypt
16
Tiny Home-Inspired Apartments
This Apartment by tsai design is Just 35-Square-Meters in Size
15
Scaled-Down Farmhouse Homes
The Frontier Tiny Homes 'Orchid' is a Mini Version of a Classic Design
14
Ultra-Compact Plywood-Lined Apartments
Husos Arquitectos Designed a Cozy Dog Owner Micro Flat
13
Malleable Micro-Apartment Concepts
The 'Mini Living Urban Cabin' Was Conceived By BMW Designers
12
Mobile Off-Grid Homes
Beatrice Bonzanigo's Concept Design Spans Over a Total of 27 Square Meters
11
Rugged Minimalist Tiny Homes
IIM Interior's Micro Dwelling Boasts an Exterior of Corten Steel
10
Compact Fully Customizable Homes
Yves Behar's Prefabricated Accessory Spaces are Flexible
9
Whimsically Accented Rooftop Apartments
Vine Architecture Studio's Yellow Staircase is Striking
8
Extremely Compact Micro Flats
A Little Design's Project in Taipei Covers 17.6 Square Meters
7
Traditional Nordic-Inspired Cabins
The Iglucraft Cabin Comes in a Wide Array of Sizes
6
Coffee-Powered Tiny Homes
The Home That Runs on Dunkin' is Fueled by Spent Coffee Grounds
5
Slope-Shaped Tiny Dwellings
The 'Intrepide' Tiny Home Has a Sloping Roof for a Streamlined Look
4
Mid-Century-Inspired Mobile Homes
The Draper RV Encapsulates Luxury in a Compact Space
3
Robot-Built Ultra-Tiny Houses
Femto-ST Institute Researchers Created the World's Smallest House
2
Magenta Compact Living Spaces
The Magenta is a Vibrant Tiny House With Built-In Furniture
1
Artist-Created Miniature Log Cabins
Thomas Schütte Created a Tiny Dwelling with an Asymmetric Roof
Related Ideas
Efficient Micro Living Trailers
The Aerocabin One Supports Comfortable Camping Anywhere
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-Bedroom Tiny Homes
The Uncharted Tiny Homes 'Estate' is Compact Yet Spaciously Designed
North Carolina-Inspired Tiny Homes
The Buxton Tiny House from Modern Tiny Living is Well-Appointed
Expandable-Roof Tiny Homes
This Unique Tiny House Benefits From a Mechanically Liftable Roof
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
Sleek Modular Camper Vans
Van Jorn Allows Campers to Create their Own Custom Camper Van
Warm Wood-Filled Tiny Homes
The Häuslein 'Luna' Tiny Home Prioritizes Timber Finishes
Fireplace-Equipped Tiny Houses
Kim's Tiny Home from MitchCraft Tiny Homes is Well-Designed
Self-Sustaining Timber Tiny Homes
The Madeiguincho 'Vigia' Tiny House Prioritizes Natural Light
Sliding Skylight Tiny Homes
The 'Raposa' Tiny House Prioritizes an Airy Interior Feel
Modernized Micro Farmhouses
The 'Extea Cabera' Tiny House is Well-Appointed with All Amenities
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
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
Spacious Family-Friendly Tiny Homes
The Tru Form Tiny Villa Max Tiny House is 36-Feet in Length
Terrace-Accented Timber Tiny Houses
The P’tit Nid Mobile Tiny Home is Clad in Natural Wood
Expansive Dual-Loft Tiny Homes
This Design from MitchCraft Tiny Homes is Spaciously Designed
A-Frame Alpine-Inspired Cabins
The Adventure Whare Retreat by Studio Well is Demure
Masterfully Modular Camping Trailers
The 'Bobo' Trailer is Built Around a Five-Module System
Oversized Luxurious Tiny Homes
The Movable Roots Tiny Homes 'Manwaring' Measures in at 40-Feet
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
Pink-Hued Shipping Container Homes
These Pink Shipping Container Homes by Ishita Ganguly are Chic
Experimental Low-Carbon Housing
Velux & EFFEKT Debut Is Low-Carbon Housing Designs in Copenhagen
Modern Multilevel Tiny Homes
The 'Castle Peak' Tiny Home Boasts a Lofted Living Room
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
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
Displaced Persons House Designs
The Essential Homes Research Project Has a Bunker-Like Form
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
Towable Affordable Compact Homes
Wind River Tiny Homes Designs the Pingora Towable House
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
Timber Micro Hotel Suites
The Nokken NKN-18 Cabin Has a Versatile, Customizable Design
Inflatable Multi-Story Tent Cabins
The Magic Fort by Thecatal Joins its Boundary Series
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
Nordic Root-Inspired Campers
The MINK-E by Mink Campers has a Teardrop Structure and Large Windows
Eco-Minded Modular Cabins
The DUB Modular Cabin Has a Cost-Effective Construction
Entertaining-Focused Tiny Homes
The Tiny Idahomes 'Arion' Tiny Home is Well-Sized
Cedar Finished Portable Houses
Baluchon Designs the Chicorée on a Double-Axle Trailer
Elevating Bed Tiny Homes
The Acorn Tiny Homes 'Elevate' Maximizes Floorspace with Clever Design
Smart Glass-Topped Lookouts
These Picturesque Cabins Offer Stunning Views Of the Sky
Serenely Stilted Houses
This Sustainable Tiny Home is Situated On An Elevated Platform
Energy-Efficient 3D-Printed Homes
Haus.me Introduces Premium Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
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
Versatile Interior Compact Homes
The Elevate Tiny Home Transforms the Interiors with a Button
Next-Generation Egg-Shaped Tiny Homes
The Ecocapsule NextGen is Ultra-Compact Yet Comfortable
Prefabricated Miniature Home Concepts
i29 Creates the Câpsula Concept for Dutch Design Week
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
Treehouse-Inspired Norwegian Residences
This House Aesthetically Connects With its Surroundings
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
Wood-Filled Familial Tiny Homes
The Modern Tiny Living 'Ojai' Tiny House Has Space for Four
Private Dual-Loft Tiny Homes
The Uber Tiny Homes 'Casa del Amor' Measures in at 34-Feet
Sustainable Off-Grid Minimal Cabins
Marc Thorpe Presents the Fremont House in New York
Contemporary Sustainable Tiny Homes
The Cosmic ONE is Offered in Three Compact Home Layouts
Minimal Mid-Century Hollywood Homes
Studio Qasabian Designs the Mulholland Home in LA
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
Unfurnished Camping Trailer Designs
Kworks and Lixil Join Forces on the Mio Space Trailer
Sustainable Smart Cottages
The LG Smart Cottage is a Compact Prefab with Cutting-Edge Tech
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
Minimal Portable Tiny Homes
Acorn Tiny Homes Unveils the Paddock Paradise Small Home
Box-Like Innovative Apartment Designs
Photon Studio's Designs the Box in the Box Apartment
Bauhaus-Inspired Mobile Doghouses
Conran and Partners Design the New Bowowhaus Doghouse
War Plane-Inspired Off-Grid Homes
Peter Markos Designs the Tiny Monocoque Cabin
Pull-Out Deck Tiny Homes
This Tiny House from Tiny Homes Builder is Petite Yet Efficient
Remodelled Denim-Detailed Modern Apartments
Studio Edwards Remodels the Microloft in Melboune
Socializing-Centric Tiny Dwellings
The 'Buttercup' Tiny Home Lets You Have Guests Over
Spacious Lounge-Like Tiny Homes
The 'Roanoke' Tiny House Has a Large Living Room for Lounging
Pre-Fabricated Compact Portable Homes
PODX Go's Grande S1 is a Packable Portable Home
Contemporary Sustainable Mobile Homes
IAAC Designs the MO.CA (MOBILE CATALYST) Mobile Home
Modular Camping Furniture
'Owomo' Created a Line of Build-Your-Own Camping Panels
Spacious Miniature Portable Homes
Mint Tiny Homes Designs the Orca Edition Park Model
Rentable Miniature Modern Cabins
The Nest is a Tranquil Rental Space at ReWild Rentals
Farm-Inspired Guest Houses
Kaja Kühl Designs Two Guest Houses in Upstate New York
Outdoor-Blended Summer Houses
Erling Berg Studio Designs the I/O Cabin in Risør, Norway
Captivating Modern Prefab Cabins
Lloyoll Prefabs Creates the SKALI BackCountry Cubiod
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
Micro-City Housing Nooks
Notan Office Transforms an Industrial Site in Brussels
Remote Work-Catering Modern Homes
Studio Plow and Brit Epperson Creates a Workspace-Home
Prefabricated Exposed Structural Homes
Workshop Architecture Inc Designs the Unfinished House
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
Contemporary Wooden Blue Cabins
Markéta Cajthamlová Designs the Wooden Cabin in the Mountains
Nature-Surrounded Miniature Homes
STUDIOFEM Designs The Mini Located in the Village of Cavusin
Versatile Tiny Workspace Homes
The Browny Home is a Multifunctional Space-Saving Design
Luxe Amenity Tiny Homes
MitchCraft Tiny Homes Presents the Casey’s 32′ x 10′ House
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
Harmonious Modern Wooden Cabins
MARDI Designs the MOT.22 Home in France's Cap Ferret
Welcoming Prefabricated Student Housing
Ignacio Prego Architectures Designs New Student Housing
Log Cabin-Inspired Minimal Homes
Gartnerfuglen Arkitkter Designs the Årestua Home in Telemark
Medieval-Themed Towable Micro Homes
Acorn Tiny Homes Designs the Purple Heart Manor
Local-Inspired Modern Residences
Duravit and Studio 804 Create the Pinkey Neighborhood House
Shiplap Interior Contemporary Homes
Dragon Tiny Homes Presents the 16’THOW With Loft
Elevated Treetop Modern Cabins
NAMO Architecture & i29 Architects Create the Buitenverblijf Nest
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
Glass Bridge-Connected Small Homes
PJCArchitecture Finishes a Micro-Home Design in Ecuador
Compact Affordable Cozy Homes
Dragon Tiny Homes Designs the Element Compact Homes
Modular Wooden Holiday Homes
Arsenit Designs the Piil Home Resting in an Estonian Forest
Log Cabin-Inspired Modern Homes
Balbek Bureau Renovates a Home in Ukraine with Steel and Concrete
Hospitality Contemporary Cabins
Andreas Martin-Löf Deisgns the Landet Series of Cabins
Minimal Bird-Watching Cabins
Inclume Architects Designs the Cozy Hide Cabin in England
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
Climate-Friendly Waterfront Homes
From 4 to 1 Creates Three Pavilions in Copenhagen
California-Inspired Tiny Homes
Modern Tiny Living Designs the Buxton Home for Four People
Nomadic Community-Themed Pavilions
Joar Nango Designs Girjegumpi: The Sámi Architecture Library
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
Architectural Tranquil Cabin Retreats
Snøhetta Designs the Bolder Lodges in Lysefjord
Cedar-Clad Custom Compact Homes
Häuslein Designs the Grand Sojourner Layout 3