Tiny houses on wheels have conquered the hearts of many with their unique designs, sustainability, and portable nature. They are particularly appealing to folks seeking a simpler life and a reduced environmental footprint. Living in a tiny home like Raposa from Portugal-based woodworking and architecture studio Madeiguincho offers these benefits and more.
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Photo: Madeiguincho/ jrcarranca_photography
More and more people decide to defy societal pressures and go against the stereotypical lifestyle of buying a large family house and spending the rest of their lives paying it off. Instead, they are looking for more affordable housing alternatives that allow them more freedom and simplicity and encourage sustainable living practices.
Tiny homes built with sustainable materials have emerged as cost-effective alternatives to traditional brick-and-mortar houses, reducing environmental impact, minimizing the owner's personal footprint, and generally promoting a minimalist lifestyle. Portugal's Madeiguincho is one of the compact home builders that craft small wooden abodes with sustainability in mind, and the latest addition to their portfolio is the Raposa, a model that showcases the team's dedication and excellent woodworking craftsmanship.
Designed for a Portuguese retired couple looking for a deeper connection with nature, this tiny home on wheels is clad in wood both on the outside and inside, and it harmoniously blends elegant minimalism and coziness. It is built on a double-axle trailer and is 7 meters (23 feet) long and 2.5 meters (8 feet) wide, which means it can be easily transported to different locations. Its portability offers owners a sense of freedom and flexibility that traditional homeowners can only dream about.
Photo: Madeiguincho/ jrcarranca_photography
Some people who decide to downsize choose contemporary tiny homes packed with luxury amenities that look and feel like conventional houses, but nature enthusiasts who really want to go back to basics will choose rustic, handcrafted models like Raposa. With its all-wood design and expansive glazing, it looks like a dreamy cottage that would feel right at home in any natural environment, be it in the woods, by the lake side, or even on the beach.
This charming abode has been built for full-time living with quality, sustainably sourced materials, an eye-pleasing design, and a traditional layout that ensures comfortable small-space living. Moreover, a strong connection with the outdoors was one of the designers' priorities, so this model stands out with a special design that includes plenty of glazing that opens up the interior living space to the outside, including various windows, two large operable skylights, and not one but two entrance doors that maximize natural light inside. Slatted wooden shutters for the windows and doors come in handy when the homeowners want privacy.
The simple yet efficientfloor plan comprises a spacious living room, a compact yet functional kitchen, a bathroom, and a cozy lofted bedroom. The designers compensated for the lack of diving walls inside the house with the use of different gradients for the wood panels to delineate different living areas.
Photo: Madeiguincho/ jrcarranca_photography
The double glass doors lead directly into a warm and inviting living room that includes an L-shaped sofa with integrated storage and a large coffee table. The built-in sofa is strategically placed to offer residents beautiful views of the surroundings, and a small wood-burning stove next to it enhances the feeling of coziness inside. A panoramic window and a large skylight above this space bring in even more natural light for a bright and airy atmosphere.
The adjacent kitchen boasts a minimalist design, with a clutter-free aesthetic and all its wooden cabinets aligned along the wall. There are no overhead cabinets, but the designers included some narrow open shelves for extra storage. In terms of appliances, we can only spot a sink and a two-burner induction cooktop, but the owners can always add more, such as a countertop oven or plug-in air fryer. A fridge would also fit inside the full-height closet next to the kitchen or the storage space under the staircase.
The wood panels on the walls, both in the living room and in the kitchen, have a vertical pattern on them, which, combined with the high vaulted ceilings, draw the eye up and make the home feel more spacious.
Photo: Madeiguincho/ jrcarranca_photography
The only other room downstairs is the separate bathroom at the end of the house, which has its own separate entrance from outside. This is quite a nifty addition for those who spend lots of their waking hours outdoors, as it allows them to clean up before entering the main living area.
Just like the rest of the house, the bathroom is also clad in wood and features a flushing toilet, a shower, and a custom vanity with a gorgeous stone sink and a large mirror.
The bedroom inside Raposa is accessed via a storage-integrated staircase and is a typical lofted sleeping space, which means it has low ceilings and no space to stand up. However, it is spacious enough to fit a double bed, has a half-wall for privacy, and a sizeable skylight similar to the one above the living room. While the skylight in the bedroom can be operated by hand, for the one in the living room, the residents need to use a pole to open and shut it.
Minimalist yet elegant and inviting, the Raposa tiny home offers owners a fantastic opportunity to embrace nature and lead a simpler, more sustainable lifestyle.
