Best Friends Build Their Own Tiny Town To Grow Old Together
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Four couples that have been best friends for 20 years wanted a better way to live closer to each other and closer to the environment, so they pooled their money and decided to build a small town just for themselves! Their settlement, called the ‘Llano Exit Strategy,’ features four tiny houses facing the Llano river outside of Austin, Texas.
The tiny homes, each of which cost roughly $40,000, were designed by architect Matt Garcia to be as sustainable and eco-friendly as possible. They feature slanted roofs with water barrels that can hold up to 5,000 gallons of rainwater, reflective walls to keep out the unwanted Texas desert heat in the summer, and special insulated windows. The interiors are made of plywood, which keeps costs down and gives the homes a warm and spacious feel.
The group of friends spends time there as often as they can, and they make their retirement plans on this property.
More info: gardenandgun.com | mattgarcia.com | Facebook | Twitter (h/t: huffpost)
These four couples have been best friends for 20 years, so they decided to make a tiny town just for themselves
They pooled their money and build a small and sustainable place where they could grow old together
Each of these homes cost only $40,000
Every 400-sq-ft cabin at the ‘Llano Exit Strategy’ has a queen-sized bed, a couch, a bathroom and a porch
The interiors are covered in plywood – “It’s a high-design finish that doesn’t cost a lot of money,” said architect Matt Garcia
Their roofs collect rainwater into water barrels that can hold up to 5,000 gallons
“This is a magical place, but it’s arid. We’re doing what we can to reserve as much water as possible for the native trees and grasses,” said resident Fred Zipp
The corrugated steel exteriors reflect sunlight, helping to keep the inside cool in the summer
“It’s like a Disney movie out here. We have hare, bobcat, deer, and all kinds of birds. As we spend more and more time here, we find more and more,” said resident Jodi Zipp
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Awesome idea, but $40,000? They are simply fancy sheds. Should be much less expensive, unless this is also counting well and septic and land
Bought a very nice shipping container six years ago with added side door and two vent panels freshly painted. Cost, $2100 9x9x40ft. Two would have made a nice small home.
Shipping containers are very cost effective and can work well for a project like this.
If you've priced out a simple sink these days, then I can definitely see where $40k would come into play. It doesn't take much.
Nah. There are creative, cost effective ways to put a home like this together for much less than $40,000. Things do add up, but used/repurposed items should also be on the table.
Hard to imagine it costing $40,000. That must be some exotic corrugated siding and plywood. I like the idea, but these homes can be built for so much less.
Costs of hookups: electrical, water, sewer, building inspection, excavating, etc. are roughly the same no matter what size of building.
You are thinking of a home built within city limits. This place looks outside city limits and regulations are much less stringent outside the city.
Where do they eat?
They have a 1,500 sq ft community building with kitchen, meeting space and accommodations for guests.
There could be fold up tables that are stored when not in use. Not everyone eats at tables and willing to give up space & use TV trays.
Look at the picture with a guitar on shelf. To the right, a glimpse of the little kitchen area. They can eat in the huge room right there.
yeah, it's a combo bath/kitchen - not liking that idea.
If you compare that picture with the one immediately after it, you can see it leads to the bathroom and not the kitchen.
i guess you are right, after looking twice, kitchen in bathroom. Novel idea perhaps a smelly one, good and bad mixed together!
if you follow the pics, the white towels are in the bathroom. I see no kitchen anywhere.
Use some imagination.
nice "art" they have in the bathroom! ;)
I noticed that also!
LOL I also scrolled back to double-check on that
Omg I know right! !serial killer status
oh, my... wow.
Wth is that? A naked woman with a bag over her head? Kinky.
With four titties. Can't forget that.
Yeah, what's up with that?
I thought that too.
Awesome idea, but $40,000? They are simply fancy sheds. Should be much less expensive, unless this is also counting well and septic and land
Bought a very nice shipping container six years ago with added side door and two vent panels freshly painted. Cost, $2100 9x9x40ft. Two would have made a nice small home.
Shipping containers are very cost effective and can work well for a project like this.
If you've priced out a simple sink these days, then I can definitely see where $40k would come into play. It doesn't take much.
Nah. There are creative, cost effective ways to put a home like this together for much less than $40,000. Things do add up, but used/repurposed items should also be on the table.
Hard to imagine it costing $40,000. That must be some exotic corrugated siding and plywood. I like the idea, but these homes can be built for so much less.
Costs of hookups: electrical, water, sewer, building inspection, excavating, etc. are roughly the same no matter what size of building.
You are thinking of a home built within city limits. This place looks outside city limits and regulations are much less stringent outside the city.
Where do they eat?
They have a 1,500 sq ft community building with kitchen, meeting space and accommodations for guests.
There could be fold up tables that are stored when not in use. Not everyone eats at tables and willing to give up space & use TV trays.
Look at the picture with a guitar on shelf. To the right, a glimpse of the little kitchen area. They can eat in the huge room right there.
yeah, it's a combo bath/kitchen - not liking that idea.
If you compare that picture with the one immediately after it, you can see it leads to the bathroom and not the kitchen.
i guess you are right, after looking twice, kitchen in bathroom. Novel idea perhaps a smelly one, good and bad mixed together!
if you follow the pics, the white towels are in the bathroom. I see no kitchen anywhere.
Use some imagination.
nice "art" they have in the bathroom! ;)
I noticed that also!
LOL I also scrolled back to double-check on that
Omg I know right! !serial killer status
oh, my... wow.
Wth is that? A naked woman with a bag over her head? Kinky.
With four titties. Can't forget that.
Yeah, what's up with that?
I thought that too.