Hi Guys,

I have received great news today from the LOOP Design Awards folks! They have just advised me that my MouseDeck design has been voted the winner in the 2021 Loop Design Awards - Product/Office and Workspace Design Category by their panel of international judges. I would have been more than happy with an honourable mention in the competition. I now wish I had taken better photos of the setup but maybe I will be able to swap the current pics for more professional looking pics.

After my failure to achieve sufficient backing for MouseDeck on Kickstarter I was somewhat disheartened and was thinking of shelving the project. However in the past few hours alone I have received communications from a number of interested parties showing an interest in licensing MouseDeck which would suit me perfectly as I really have no interest in getting into manufacturing. Hopefully I will be able to get MouseDeck operational and move on to the next design idea .... I have a few underway that are sitting on shelves looking at me to do something with them.

SketchUp plays a huge part in my design work. Without it I would be stumped when it came to getting the initial idea formed quickly and easily.

If anyone is interested in viewing the details on the LOOP Design Awards website, here is the appropriate link.

https://www.loopdesignawards.com/project/mousedeck/

Mike

I've found an article, Traditional Japanese House Floor Plans (with Drawings), which describes the 'Minka' house. It has some interesting features and a unique measuring system!

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Traditional Japanese House Floor Plans (with Drawings)

The mere mention of Japan makes one think of sushi, anime, ramen, Godzilla, and Mt.Fuji.This “Land of the Rising Sun” is also a hotbed of the latest technology and avante-garde fashion.

Upgradedhome.com (upgradedhome.com)

@tig said:

The traditional Japanese tatami house does just what you suggest with a small core which is adjustable with sliding partitions and cupboards full of extra tatami-mats [6'x3'each]

My main worry with this project is as you hone it down it's becoming more like either a garden-shed, a caravan/camper-van or a small boat...
But I don't want to dis your ideas, I think they are interesting...

PS:
The new BBC detective series 'Vigil' [set an a trident submarine] shows how you can cram mixed uses into small spaces - although sleeping in a third-level bunk with ~500mm spacing, with two belts to strap you in while you try to sleep your 4hours seems somewhat unappealing !

Constructive crit is always welcome TIG. In fact I am my own biggest critic as I never know when a design is actually finished.

I was aware of the Jananese system but must look it up again. If you have any links, I would appreciate it.

I came across a great article on the use of pods for homeless people some time back. I'll locate it a post here.

Nothing to be sorry about Mike. I read through and found it very interesting and the conclusions accurate.

I have often thought that the balance between living area and bedroom area could be better handled. When I think about it, it doesn't matter how large a person's bedroom is when they are using it for its primary use .... to sleep in. It could be just a little over the size of the bed!

I think bedrooms could be better planned with the use of transforming furniture and sliding partitions which would allow for part of the bedroom to become common areas. This might work well in the case of children's bedrooms. Imagine two bedrooms side by side with the ability to convert to two (mini) bedrooms with a play/hobby area in the centre in which the kids could have their friends join them in various activities. This might even be a possibility with the parent's bedroom(s) and the guest bedroom.

If I can find the time I would like to do an exploratory design exercise to see what might be achieved.

Thanks for the feedback guys, much appreciated.

Joe, As I mentioned, I designed this for a client/friend that is looking at possible ways of increasing his tourist revenue by having some Tiny Houses in the large rear garden of his rental unit. He quite likes the design but it will boil down to price per unit and of course obtaining planning permission. However, I am optimistic that the project will move ahead in the near future and I will of course post progress info/pics.

Here is a pic of the airbnb rental unit (yellow house). It's located in Liscannor, Co. Clare, Ireland a very popular tourist destination with some great award winning pubs. In fact, to the left of the unit is a Egan's bar a very popular watering hole that I've stumbled out of a few times:lol:

I've finished the Tiny House design. It's now quite a simple design suited to a single user or couple. Here are a few images of the Tiny House also a link to a short short video.
https://vimeo.com/594255773

I've simplified and finished the design for the Tiny House and am now putting the presentation movie together. I should have it finished a in couple of days and will post here.

The key to the simplification was the use of the Friheten Sofa Bed which is available at IKEA.

I am attaching shots showing how this sofa bed transforms.

@mike amos said:

Thinking a bit about this, is there a need/use for a thread about these projects? Something where people can exchange idea's and ask questions? Example, just what would be considered essential for a small home to be habitable without the resident going completely round the bend and, I don't know, go into politics?

Something I was thinking for Mr Mayor's project is a roof that can be pushed up like an awning, making an opening for summer. Possibly have a screen for the biters.

Hi Mike,

I also think a thread for these kind of projects would work well. Possibly a sub forum for design projects in general where members here that are in various fields of design could show projects to the general community and at the same time benefit from concrete feedback.

Such a sub forum might also transition into a place that would allow the designers to sell the designs via SketchUcation thus generating income from their work.

I take your points regarding a cabrio roof and screen for 'biters' but here is Ireland we really don't get a lot sun and we have very few 'biters'. I have modified the design further to include a fixed cantilevered canopy. I'm currently finalising a short presentation movie and will load a link to same shortly for comment.

Mike

Meeting the kitchenette requirements has been a little tricky but I'm nearly there. I have to yet change the single bowl sink to a bowl/drainer and its done.

Yes Mike, I'm finding the project very interesting.

The stairs is tricky to get right. My proposed ground floor to bottom of floor joists will be 2.1m (approx 7'0"). I will expose the floor joists in order to give the impression of more height. The rise per step will be approx 230mm a shade over the normally allowed maximum in standard dwellings (225mm).

I've used this type of stairs on a few attic conversions in the past and once the occupier gets used to them they work fine. I have included two hand rails which wrap around the 1st floor partition. These should help to make the stairs safer to use.

.... still playing with the tiny house design. I've eliminated the Velux windows also the eaves on the current design iteration and am looking at corrugated bitumen sheeting. I've sourced a manufacturer that produces sheets and accessories from 100% recycled materials, so that's a plus.

Thanks for showing your interest guys, much appreciated.

Joe, good point. However I'm now looking at the possibility of a mono truss type construction. This would serve two purposes, elimination of fascia/soffite and allow for a single material for roof and walls. Not sure, yet about which sheeting material to use yet, ideally it would need to be able to take a 45 degree bend. Timber ventilation would then be from the base (wall) to the ridge with vents positioned there.

Hi Liam,

I changed the YouTube video to Public. Hope it works.

Mike

Hi Bep and Baz.

I've made the YouTube video public and it can be located in this post, https://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=179&t=74026

Sorry for the inconvenience

Mike

Hi Guys,

I'm resurrecting this post as I'm currently designing a Tiny House for a client/friend.

The regulations for in-situ Tiny Houses here in Ireland are far more strict than they are in the UK. In the UK it seems a Tiny House is classified as a caravan but here in Ireland it falls under the domestic structure category with all the building regs that entails. I suppose I could put it on wheels!

Still, my initial attempt is, I feel, more in keeping with the Tiny House ethos and I'll push as far as I can until I reach a brick wall. It's the Fire Regs that are sticky but from past experience I have learned that if its possible to meet or possibly surpass the regs by other means it might be a flier.

The areas of contention are the sleeping loft head room and the short (overall) run of the stairs with its single foot area per step/thread. I've used this type of stair design before for loft storage entry. Once the user gets used to them they work fine.

The HWB/Shower/WC Pod construction should be fun but the upside is that one can soak their feet while on the WC

I'm attaching a short video of the initial design, warts and all for comments, here. https://youtu.be/Nh1LWAkVwEI

Mike

Hi Guys,

I'm resurrecting this post as I'm currently designing a Tiny House for a client/friend.

The regulations for in-situ Tiny Houses here in Ireland are far more strict than they are in the UK. In the UK it seems a Tiny House is classified as a caravan but here in Ireland it falls under the domestic structure category with all the building regs that entails. I suppose I could put it on wheels!

Still, my initial attempt is, I feel, more in keeping with the Tiny House ethos and I'll push as far as I can until I reach a brick wall. It's the Fire Regs that are sticky but from past experience I have learned that if its possible to meet or possibly surpass the regs by other means it might be a flier.

The areas of contention are the sleeping loft head room and the short (overall) run of the stairs with its single foot area per step/thread. I've used this type of stair design before for loft storage entry. Once the user gets used to them they work fine.

The HWB/Shower/WC Pod construction should be fun but the upside is that one can soak their feet while on the WC

I'm attaching a short video of the initial design, warts and all for comments, in this post.
https://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=179&t=74026

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Mike

Sorry to hear this Majid. You are young so will be over it soon and then you will be immune!

Dave,

Those spark plugs bring back some fond memories! Long gone are the days when we could do most of you car servicing!

Mike

.... I just looked up the translation for 'Noli Illegitemi Carborundum'. Good one, I must keep that to hand for sign offs.

Mike, we are on the same wave length. What you say is accurate, very accurate!

I find many folks take an interest in all things eco when its pointed out to them. As an example, Sir David Attenborough, brought the plight of the earth to the eyes of many and is still doing so at 95! I hope he will continue for many years to come.

One of my all time favourite comedians, George Carlin, said (in a joking rant) that the planet is not in trouble, its the human race in particular along with other species that we are dragging down with us that are.

George said the planet will some day ... 'shake us off like a bad dose of flees' and continue on as it has been doing so over billions of years. The image he conjured up really stuck in my head and his message was so right. We are not destroying the earth, it's our delicate habitat we are destroying. The earth will find better occupants if need be.

I suppose all we can do is to keep nagging on about it even if we are looked on as being a nuisance.

Mike