Musings: An Author’s Tiny House Environment

An important design aspect of an author’s tiny house is its environment, including the building site, the neighborhood, and the geographical area.

First, the building site should provide a sense of place – the home’s place on the property and the author’s place in it. The house must fit the space well and the writer should feel simpatico within it.

Second, the selection of a neighborhood must suit. A standard sized lot or acreage? A gated community or one with no fences at all? A neighborhood of varied sized houses or all tiny houses?

Third, the preference in the geographical setting is equally important. Flatland, desert, rolling hills, mountains, or forest? A tiny house on wheels for mobility or on a permanent foundation? Juxtaposition to ski slopes, lakes, rivers, biking/hiking/running trails?

My environmental preferences include: a town with a population under 100,000; an oversized lot in a neighborhood, at the edge of the city, of varied architectural styles; the house situated close to the center of the lot; no sidewalks, underground utilities, and old-growth trees and shrubs. I prefer country in the city. I’d like access to a main road leading to a renovated, historical Old Town, cultural opportunities, exercise areas, and outdoor activities.

These choices are linked directly to my writing – the privacy to concentrate on writing, a community of neighbors to inspire my writing, and access to cultural and physical activities to support the energy of creativity.