May 12, 2010 · A team in the Interdisciplinary Design Projects sequence (DSGN 298-398) was recognized for their Tiny House Project and earned a $1000 award and an Honorable Mention for their submission to the Dow Sustainability Innovation Student Challenge.   The members of the team were recognized at a campus reception. 

The group was also awarded $2000 from Northwestern’s Breed fund.

Group members, pictured from left to right:
William Fan
Kaycee Overcash
Kimberly Huang
Alexandra Letuchy
Mert Iseri
Alejandro Sklar 

The Tiny House Project was inspired by social activist Jay Schafer, who founded the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, a business that sells plans and constructs small homes. 

The student team has researched ways to incorporate innovations in the areas of materials, electricity, and plumbing into their 130-square-foot home.  This space is designed for a single inhabitant and it contains all the amenities for comfortable living.  Generating its own inputs and outputs, the tiny house promotes an independently sustainable system.  The team hopes the house will help people understand that space is also a resource.

The house is comprised of low-embodied energy, and it relies on self-generated, clean energy.  The plumbing fixtures will be low-flow and water in the house will be provided primarily through rainwater collection.

Construction for of the home went fully underway during the spring quarter.  The team hopes to construct a prototype of the home for display on the Northwestern campus this spring.  Other options they are exploring are the Evanston Ecological Center, Ladd Arboretum, Noyes Cultural Arts Center, or the lighthouse. 

“We hope people will understand that space is also a resource,” says group member William Fan.

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The Daily Northwestern ran a story on the tiny house movement in February of 2010. 
Read the full article in The Daily Northwestern.