Dream Big, Build Tiny

Originally published in the Swarthmorean, August 14, and written by the wonderful Lauren McKinney. Check out her awesome new blog, the Crum Creek Review! 

Do you think you could you live in a house that is only 196 square feet of space? Swarthmore native Lucia Cueto Kearney thinks she can. A farming apprentice at Willow Haven Farm in New Tripoli, PA, Lucia will live in a house that size on the farm property.

(Picture courtesy of Jeff Pond, CuetoKEARNEY design)

Who has designed this little miracle? Her parents, Claudia Cueto and Tim Kearney, of the Swarthmore architecture firm Cueto Kearney design (referred to as CKd). This house will serve as a prototype for future houses CKd may build. In fact, the family has been fascinated with the tiny house movement, which has come into its own in the last five to ten years. Just a few days ago, the Tiny House Jamboree in Colorado Springs boasted 40,000 attendees. Many people find that a tiny house meets their housing needs sustainably and affordably, forcing them to downsize their possessions, and freeing up their time and finances. This grass-roots movement gained an especially strong following after the economic downturn of 2008.

The Cueto Kearney family’s investment in the tiny house springs from their interest in community, simplicity, and living close to the earth. Lucia lived in permaculture communities in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, and the experience changed her life. She passed the permaculture bug on to her mother, who is now getting her Permaculture Design Certificate from Susquehanna Permaculture [along with the writer]. Claudia tries to bring permaculture design to the project, such as by making the roof bigger to catch more rainwater. As for Tim, he has taught a cohousing studio at Drexel for years. Someday Tim and Claudia want to buy land and build a community of tiny houses there. Cohousing projects are notorious for falling through, because of the huge investment required, and Tim thinks if the houses are tiny it might be easier to carry out.

Meanwhile, Lucia’s house is being built in a utility garage in Perkasie. So far a trailer has been purchased, and the base has been constructed. Framing began this week. The walls will be beadboard and plywood, and CKd is looking for windows and a sink at ReStore, as they plan to use as many reclaimed materials as possible. Mike Matotek of Open Sky here in town has helped them figure out their power needs. There will be a propane tank for cooking and a 42-gallon water tank outside the house. Claudia and Tim are making sure the energy system is redundant, which means there will be multiple ways to get power, including solar. At the same time, they are keeping the cost of building and materials at $10,000.

Lucia’s preferences are important too; she would like a desk, and a bench for storage, for example. She will sleep above the kitchen in a loft. And everyone always wants to know about the toilet. To put it simply, it will be a bucket with a toilet seat. You add sawdust and charcoal, and take the contents out to the compost. Lucia has a great entry in her blog about the house, Tiny Dreams, called “The Poetry of Poop.”

You’re asking “Wait, how is everything going to fit? I want to see this thing!” The completed house will be on exhibit at the Swarthmore Farmers Market when. In the meantime, CKd is looking for a place to finish the house once the envelope is completed. They are looking for a driveway with a power source. If you can help, contact them at 610-544-1722 or info@cuetokearney.com. And keep up with Lucia’s blog!