The tiny house movement is obviously on the rise. It is the hopeful solution to the imbalance of ever-increasing growth versus shrinking resources, taking the statement “globalization is shrinking the world” by its literal meaning. The paradigm of aspiring to own a large single-detached suburban home is finally shifting, along with cultural perceptions, with the advent of better designed, more desirable micro-homes. Architects are now creating homes with a much smaller footprint, producing less waste and usually costing much less to purchase and maintain.

The tiny home trend has taken over Sonoma, even inspiring a 16-year-old to build his own. ‘We, The Tiny House People’ is a full-length documentary in which TV producer and Huffington Post blogger Kirsten Dirksen explores “the tiny homes of people searching for simplicity, self-sufficiency, minimalism and happiness by creating shelter in caves, converted garages, trailers, tool sheds, river boats and former pigeon coops”.

I you’d like to read more about the tiny house movement, be sure to check out The Tiny Life, an inspiring blog devoted to do-it-yourself shelters, uncluttered lifestyles and sweet little houses, and our interview with its founder Ryan Mitchell.