A completely self-sufficient tiny house that rotates with the position of the sun, in order to store an optimal amount of solar energy. That house will soon be realised according the team behind MiniStek.
MiniStek originated in the ‘Energiefabriek’ in the town Apeldoorn (Netherlands), a creative breeding ground for entrepreneurs. The Creative Industries Fund encouraged creative people to get started with a so-called 'urgent urban task'.
Photo by: MiniStek
Since there is a lot of vacancy in Apeldoorn and at the same time a housing shortage, we wanted to do something with it ", says Angelique van Lieshout of the ‘Energiefabriek’, a platform for sustainable citizens' initiatives. "We gathered a group from all interests and professions to get started. Someone called; ‘tiny house’! Another thought it must be something special.
Tiny house had to turn towards the sun
The first prototype is recently made water- and windproof. The core team of MiniStek currently consists of architects Mireille Langendijk and Ed Euser, timber designer Martijn Monné and business economist Annemarie Huisman. Angelique van Lieshout and Jos Greven are very involved with the team. They contribute by arranging a large part of the communication, promotion and administrative matters.
Tiny house 'MiniStek' is ment for two people 'who love each other very much'
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Photo by: MiniStek
MiniStek is round and has slanted roofs with solar panels that stand in such a slope that they catch as much sunlight as possible. MiniStek will soon have to spin around on the energy of that light. The cottage is, including terrace of 4 m2, 26 m2, or rather small. MiniStek is meant for one person or two people 'who love each other very much', jokes Martijn.
Photo by: MiniStek
'MiniStek' becomes completely self-sufficient
Tiny house follows the sun
In addition, there just have to be only a little preparation to be done to build MiniStek. The house should be a flexible living solution, easy to assemble and dismount at any location and therefore without too much foundation. That's why it consists of four segments that can be transported by truck. It is also the intention that MiniStek becomes completely off-grid thus self-sufficient and therefore not connected to utilities.
(Also interesting: Sustainable Off-Grid Tiny House Built With A 3D Printer)
Scale model
Three months after the first scale model, a prototype was built in an empty shed, mainly from scrap wood. The prototype has been made wind and watertight in recent weeks. It get solar panels on the roof, to generate energy on a small scale. So that people get an idea of what MiniStek is. During the many events, we hope to attract many curious and interested people.
Photo Fokke P. de Boer. The unveiling of the Tinyhouse; Ministek
'The Ministek'; self-sufficient and healthy living
Architect Mireille is particularly interested in self-sufficient and healthy living. 'MiniStek' is being built vapor-open. This means that moisture is taken up by the natural building materials of the house and given up again. As a result, you get a house with optimum humidity and the indoor climate is more constant than in an ordinary house. The regular building is not used to building a vapor open way, and because of the strict insulation standards it actually pulls a raincoat around the buildings."
By: Natalie Polman
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