Whether you call them mini houses or tiny houses, the movement toward downsizing your lifestyle has proven to be more than a passing trend. More and more, people are looking to live minimalist lifestyles with less “stuff” and more quality. A mini house is not just cost efficient. It is also energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and offers multiple options for customization. Here are several design forward mini homes that are pushing the concept of “tiny homes” to new levels.
Breathe by MINI Living
In 2017, the car manufacturer MINI paired with architects SO-IL to produce an innovative mini housing solution. They called it “Breathe”. Their concept presents a home as an active ecosystem, with a garden like environment and ample natural light. The mini home Breathe has six living spaces and a roof garden. The five meter wide home features a modular metal frame that makes it easy to disassemble, move, and reassemble as needed.
“The approach we took with MINI LIVING – Breathe extends far beyond purely a living concept,” says Oke Hauser, Creative Lead of MINI LIVING. “We view the installation as an active ecosystem, which makes a positive contribution to the lives and experiences of the people who live there and to the urban microclimate, depicted here by the intelligent use of resources essential to life – i.e. air, water and light.”
Binishells
Binishells promotes itself as a new approach for addressing housing needs. These permanent homes are durable, quick to build, and perfect for almost anywhere in the world. These mini homes offer an intriguing option not only for minimalist living, but also to address the needs of displaced residents after natural disasters. Binishells uses a licensed process they developed which involves pouring cement over an air filled dome that has been reinforced.
Binishells draws inspiration from nature to bring a cohesive and innovative ‘out of the box’ approach to construction and design. In so doing we bring a new level of efficiency and resiliency to construction whilst adding a level of objectivity to design.
M.A.Di Home
This folding modular home is M.A.Di, modulo adaptivo dispiegabile. This innovative construction system makes for a time efficient alternative for pop up housing for sporting events, fairs, and for temporary housing after natural disasters such as earthquakes. While the units were originally designed with temporary shelter in mind, the designers offer a variety of floor plans and finishes so that the structure can be used as a permanent home. Energy efficient features, such as solar panels, make the home even more eco friendly than it already is.
M.A.DI. is one of the most revolutionary housing solutions on the market today. It grows, it changes and moves. It creates cosy and safe places highly customizable according to your needs.
The First 3-D Printed Home
The first 3-D printed home has arrived! As we mentioned in this article, technology is changing the future of home design, and 3-D printers are part of that change. The 650 square foot cement home pictured was printed and built on site in Austin for SXSW. The 3-D printing process allows for more flexibility when it comes to design. The concrete prints in layers, which gives the walls a visually interesting look with ridges as opposed to a flat cement look. The covered porch that wraps the home gives the mini home a cozy, charming feel. This welcoming, light filled spaces costs about $4000 to build. The team that produced it hopes to build communities of 3-D printed homes in impoverished areas.
These four design forward mini homes are inspiring, both in principle and in concept, don’t you agree? Would you ever go mini?
![In 2014, Fodor’s Travel said that there are four main reasons to visit Shanghai: sights new and old; multi cultural museums; one-of-a-kind shopping; and, new food and drink. They were right about all of those reasons. We’d add the beautiful luxury accommodations and continue to stress the importance of the city’s rising quality of cuisine. So much so that 26 restaurants were awarded the highly coveted Michelin stars in 2017. We’ve combed that list and chosen our picks of musts in a culinary tour of this vibrant and dynamic city. DaDong (IAPM) & DaDong (Park Place) [caption id="attachment_4020" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Photo courtesy of Foodie Traveller[/caption] While there are actually two DaDong locations in Shanghai that each earned one Michelin star, we’re counting it as one entry on our list but hoping you’ll sample both. Renowned for their roast duck, both Da Dong locations require reservations but they can accommodate parties large and small and have private dining options as well. This popular restaurant is not only busy but has a menu worth exploring beyond the roast duck. Pro tip: add the braised sea cucumber with scallions to your order, you’ll be happy you did. UltraViolet [caption id="attachment_4023" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Photo courtesy of Digital Trends[/caption] Billed as one of the world’s most high tech restaurants, UltraViolet marries food, wine, light, and sound, and it does it well enough to earn a two-star rating from Michelin. Reservations are, of course, required as they seat ten people each evening who are instructed to meet at Mr. & Mrs. Bund. They’re then driven to a location where the guests are seated at a communal table for the immersive 22-course dinner. L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon [caption id="attachment_4021" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Photo courtesy of Dining City[/caption] One of several locations, L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon boasts a 32-seat teppanyaki, the largest in Asia. The French gourmet restaurant was inspired by Robuchon’s travels through Japan and Spain and his passion has spread worldwide as have his restaurants. L’Atelier not only has an enviable menu but with views of Shanghai’s towers, this two-star Michelin-rated restaurant is one of the loveliest settings in the city for a beautiful dinner. Reservations are possible, yet not a requirement. Canton 8 [caption id="attachment_4019" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Photo courtesy of Fine Dining Lovers[/caption] Another restaurant that earned two Michelin stars, Canton 8 is a Cantonese restaurant that is most notably the world’s least expensive two Michelin-star restaurant. Forget about that, though, because Chef Jie Ming Jian will dazzle you with his use of local fresh ingredients and his humble demeanor. At the Michelin award ceremony, he said he never dreamed of earning such an accolade for his food. That food includes the popular lobster porridge and crystal prawn dumplings as well as their dim sum. Even though they’re the least expensive on the list, they require a reservation. T'ang Court [caption id="attachment_4022" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Photo courtesy of Langham Hotels[/caption] The first and thus far only recipient of a three-star Michelin rating in all of mainland China, T’ang Court features a mix of traditional and modern Cantonese cuisine under the watchful eye of Executive Chef Justin Tan and a team of culinary masters. With several set menus or an a la carte menu, T’ang Court promises a unique dining experience and invites you to experience their artistry and the reason they earned those three Michelin stars. Pro tip: According to Michelin, you’ll want to try their braised sea cucumber with dried longan and sautéed Wagyu with organic mushrooms. Reservations are required and with that rating, that’s no surprise. As you’re planning your travels through Shanghai, be sure to experience the best cuisine they have to offer. Any one of these Michelin star-rated restaurants will be a meal to remember. In addition to the five we’ve highlighted and the other 21 star earners, there were 25 more restaurants awarded the Bib Gourmand, a more affordable dining option recognition. It’s an exciting time to visit Shanghai!](https://discover.luxury/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Michelin-Star-Restaurants-in-Shanghai-vertical-377x214.jpg)
