In the modern world, more and more people are trying to leave noisy and rapidly growing megacities, leaving the city for various villages and towns. You can talk for a long time about what is better, a metropolis or a country cottage, but today we will not talk about that at all.
In this article you will learn how turnkey country houses are made, see the coolest country house projects, and also learn how to make a country house with your own hands. Let's not languish, let's go!
WHAT SHOULD A SMALL WOODEN HOUSE BE, AND IS IT SICK TO BUILD?
3 rules for making a small wooden house comfortable and practical - brevity, openness and naturalness. Description of the project and photo.
With modern demands for suburban housing, a small wooden house may seem impractical and unclaimed real estate. In a traditional project implementation, this may be true. But the architectural bureau PK Arkitektar showed what compact suburban housing should look like now in order to fully satisfy the needs and desires of residents.
To do this, we adhered to the following rules:
Ensured openness of space
Panoramic glazing is not only an opportunity to achieve an impressive view from the house, but also visually expand the space. Floor-to-ceiling windows remove the boundary between the living space and the local area. It is best to arrange an open terrace here.
The house has panoramic glazing onto the surrounding area. The view into the distance is mostly blocked, as embankments were built around the building to protect it from the steppe wind. For durability and aesthetics, they were lined with stone. The house became a strong and cozy fortress against unfavorable natural conditions. In addition, embankments increase its privacy and make it almost invisible.
Achieved brevity
A simple planning solution without complex detailing allows you to make the space rational and ergonomic. It is not cluttered, and as much living space as possible is left for useful use. Due to its simplicity, a small wooden house is inexpensive to build and maintain.
Simplicity and conciseness have become a trend in architecture and design. Therefore, adhering to these trends, it was possible to build not only practical, but also fashionable small housing. Another special solution is the use of wood as a construction material. It's environmentally friendly, simple and safe. Thanks to wooden structures, a unique romantic atmosphere and a pleasant microclimate are created in the house.
Maximum naturalness and aesthetics
Neatness and modesty have become the virtues of this beautiful little wooden house. It is functional and practical. In addition to well-thought-out, free interior space, there are places for outdoor recreation - terraces with and without awnings.
The most important point in the design of the house was the roofing using live grass. Thanks to it, designers and architects managed to harmoniously integrate the object into the natural surrounding landscape. The roof also emphasizes the environmental friendliness of the home. The house itself fully complies with the highest environmental standards. At the same time, it is quite reliable and durable, since the base uses a reinforced concrete structure.
Thus, if you need relatively inexpensive country housing both in terms of construction and maintenance, but at the same time, it should compete with dignity even with luxury real estate - it makes sense to build a designer small wooden house. 100 square meters will fit everything you need for a comfortable seasonal stay. It will become a place for complete relaxation and romantic pastime.
| Architects | PK Arkitektar |
| Square | 103.0 m2 |
| Photo | Rafael Pinho |
New cottage 60 m², built on an old foundation
- Norway
- 60 m²
- Lund+Slaatto Arkitekter
- 1
- frame
The cottage is based on the foundations of an old house that previously stood on this site. It was relatively small (only 60 m²), and the new walls could not extend beyond its contours. But, as practice has shown, even within such a narrow framework you can create a feeling of space, freedom and “air”.
Unable to move the walls apart, the authors of the project took measures to visually increase the living space. First of all, the house has a huge glass area. The facades that face the water are almost completely translucent. And this is a justified decision: limiting beautiful views would be a real crime. The light decoration of the walls also added volume to the interior.
The building has two buildings - the main residential building and a guest wing, united by a common terrace. The facades are covered with resinous cedar boards, which perfectly withstand high humidity conditions. Original blinds are made from it, protecting the interior of the house from excess light.
One of the terraces is located directly at the entrance to the house and also serves as a porch. Here you can place compact folding furniture, which can be easily removed if necessary.
Read more in the material “On the Shore of Desert Waves...”
8
BEAUTIFUL SMALL HOMES – FACADE AND INTERIOR DESIGN IDEAS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
The classic gable roof is our preferred choice as we believe it offers the best aesthetics. Ever dreamed of having a bedroom in the attic?! A high roof allows you to increase the attic without additional costs. You can accommodate more rooms or build a chalet-style attic. Another modern design option is to create a vaulted ceiling for the entire house - a church style.
SUPER MINI HOUSE 10X3 M FOR YOUR VACATION FROM MARC THORPE DESIGN
Low roofs and small attics cost less, but they must be high enough to provide adequate space for a thermal barrier. If you get a lot of snow, taller roofs are preferable, while in warmer locations, low roofs are most common.
This first small wood house in California is a great example of low roof design. Clad in knotty cedar siding and surrounded by a wood deck, the house measures just 100 square feet. The asymmetrical roof extends in a sophisticated manner on one side to cover the parking lot.
With such a disproportionately wide geometry, it gets so low that you can touch the roof. This and the open gables are two of the cottage home's façade design elements that give this home a stunning bungalow look. What a lovely modern, country cottage.
This small wooden country house with a very high roof near the North Sea is the complete opposite of the previous house. It is clad entirely in Siberian red cedar, which over time turns gray and blends with the dunes. This is a beautiful holiday home on the island of Terschelling in the Netherlands.
This design is a good example of how the topography of the site determines the height of the house. The sea had to be seen from behind the dunes - that’s why the high roof, that’s why the attic. The attic is a library room from where you can enjoy beautiful views and reading - an ideal feature for a seaside cottage. Also notice how part of the A-frame appears higher than the floor below. This is because on the ground floor there is a partially dug-in basement which contains 3 bedrooms and a storage room. The advantage of this is that the rooms remain naturally cool. Overall, this amazing little cottage looks much bigger than it is and has a very unexpected and modern design. Amazing architecture.
Wow, really? This small summer house in Austria is clad in timber from the tip of its roof right down to the ground. It's almost like a painting, it's so unusual. Horizontal panels of wood continue along the sides of the house and along the hill in the form of a veranda. Such a unique design of the facade of a country house! And this is a wooden house inside and out! Notice how the roof doesn't have overhangs on all sides. This completely completes the unusually minimalist façade of the country house. Minimalist architecture for a minimalist life! Matching wooden shutters blend into the walls when closed.
144+ ONE-STOREY HOLIDAY HOUSES THAT WILL SURPRISE YOU
Video description
Let's talk about compact guest houses and their cost in the video:
Creating a layout for future housing
Before laying the foundation, you should choose a suitable location for your future miniature housing. The highest piece of land, at least 3 m away from the road and neighboring property, is best suited.
Most owners of compact summer cottages prefer to design a terrace where they can enjoy spending time on warm summer evenings.
The attic, equipped under the roof rafters, will provide the owners with another useful room, and will also give the house a unique flavor.
The attic is the ideal place to create a cozy bedroom Source pinterest.ca
A variety of country house designs allow everyone to choose the option that suits them or create their own, relying on the experience of professionals. In any case, the project must take into account all the needs of the people living in it: avid gardeners need a place to store tools, and lovers of noisy company will enjoy a spacious living room.
Selection of foundation material
The materials and method of constructing the foundation depend on the area and weight of the finished residential building, and the quality of the soil on which it is being built should also be taken into account.
A universal foundation option for a small country house is a strip type, which is dug into the ground to a depth of 50 cm. This design is durable and can withstand heavy loads.
Slab foundations are used for buildings located on “difficult” soils that are prone to movement, heaving, and with abundant groundwater.
Ready slab foundation Source stroidom-shop.ru
Pile foundations, depending on the installation depth and the material of the pillars, can be used for miniature buildings (wooden piles) or full-fledged residential buildings for seasonal living (metal piles dug several meters deep).
Material for building walls of a house
The most common material for quick construction of a summer house is wood in various modifications: rounded logs, laminated veneer lumber, and frame construction. Eco-friendly material creates a favorable indoor microclimate, while providing a high level of thermal insulation. Fans of year-round living outside the city will be able to heat such a building quite quickly. The main disadvantage of wooden houses is the need to carefully select the material. Low-quality wood can ruin not only the appearance, but also the functional characteristics of the building.
Original wooden country house Source seattlehelpers.org
Brick houses are the most durable, visually pleasing and expensive material for construction. In addition, the finished structure is quite heavy and will require the installation of a powerful foundation. The construction of a brick house requires a long time, precise adherence to technology and additional thermal insulation, and therefore does not apply to budget construction options.
Block houses are a more affordable way to build a durable building. Depending on the materials, there are foam blocks (made from concrete foamed with a fire composition), gas blocks (material made in autoclaves) and ceramic blocks (based on clay chips). Any of these varieties requires the selection of high-quality material and compliance with all thermal insulation conditions. Otherwise, the finished housing will be exposed to drafts, precipitation and mechanical damage.
Country house made of blocks before finishing finishing Source sktvoydom.ru
Frame houses are the most budget-friendly and fastest option for building a summer house. Easy to use, beautiful country houses based on frames are affordable, you can build them yourself or with the help of a team of professionals. Patented and time-tested technologies (Finnish or Canadian frame structures) allow you to create comfortable housing in a short time at minimal cost.
Frame house under construction Source market.sakh.com
Roof finishing materials
The simplest option for designing a roof in a dacha is a gable roof, which prevents the accumulation of precipitation and subsequent leaks. In addition, this option for installing rafters involves the construction of an attic, which provides additional space in the country house.
The external finishing of the roof can be made of sheet or piece materials.
The most popular option is metal tiles, which are molded sheets of galvanized steel coated with polymers. Reliable and lightweight material withstands regular exposure to precipitation and strong winds.
Seam roofing made of metal sheets is connected to each other using “bends” along the edges of each element. Such a roof will look more aesthetically pleasing than metal tiles, but due to the complexity of installation, the services of professionals will be required when installing it.
Seam roofing on the roof slope Source centermira.ru
Ondulin is a softer material for roofing, most often used in warm climates. Under the influence of heavy rainfall and temperature changes, the material may change color and lose its performance properties.
Ceramic tiles are a traditional piece of roofing material that has a long service life. Unfortunately, the tiled roof is quite heavy, so additional reinforcements are required on the rafters. In addition, the material is one of the most expensive on the market.
Bitumen shingles are a “soft” version of the previous one. The sheets are laid out in layers; due to their tight fit, the material is resistant to atmospheric influences and has high thermal insulation properties.
SMALL HOUSES FOR PERMANENT LIVING – THE BEST PROJECTS
For a small country house in the mountains, this alpine design under a classic roof is perfect. Chalet style architecture with partial vaulted ceilings and exposed wood beams. The house is mainly clad in timber and has many intriguing features. In winter, a large corner window allows you to add heated sunlight. There is additional thermal insulation between the wooden cladding and the wall. The upper floor is extended above the ground floor to limit sunlight in the summer. So this is a rather thoughtful design of the facade of a country house, which takes into account the seasons and time of day to ensure maximum convenience for it and efficient use of energy.
Notice anything unusual about these wooden columns? Their positioning is completely out of line - they are aligned with the outermost perimeter of the roof. This is because they hide the metal pipes that collect rainwater from the roof. Not only do they make a big difference to the facade of a country house, they also help create a comfortable feeling on the open veranda. In this case, the technical problem was solved with aesthetically pleasing details. Finally, there is stone cladding for added visual interest. What a beautiful design for the facade of a country house!
Space layout
Space layout
It will not be possible to choose a place for a house in 5 minutes - the country house space is limited, you must wisely plan a site that is not too large so that, in addition to the house, additional outbuildings can fit on it. Ready-made, proven ideas will help you rationally use literally every centimeter of the territory. But according to the law, you must meet some requirements for minimum distances from your home to various objects:
- to the street – 5 m
- to the passage – 3 m
- to the neighboring plot - 3 m.
The best location for building a house is the highest place in the northwestern (northern) part. The elevation will help to avoid excess humidity, and the location relative to the cardinal points is rational from an agricultural and recreational point of view - a house located to the north will not block cultivated plants from sunlight.
BUILD YOUR SMALL WOODEN HOUSE WITH A FLAT ROOF TO REDUCE THE COST
Speaking of mountain cabins - here's one great design for you - a compact pine cottage in a Spanish ski resort. This log house is built from laminated pine beams, using wood from Finland, inside and out. This is a rustic mountain lodge with modern amenities. The interiors are as wonderfully warm as the exterior, giving each room a quaint feeling. The facade of a modern design country house with small windows and a modern stylish entrance. The interiors are in light colors in contrast to the dark exterior. The main floor is an open floor plan with a cozy dining nook among many other wonderful wood features.
The back of the house has two symmetrical terraces on the second floor. The roof is an interesting variation of the classic roof - a dovetail shape.
Look at the precision on the joinery used in this home. Houses made of timber do not require additional interior finishing.
SMALL WOODEN HOUSE WITH YOUR HANDS – RECONSTRUCTION OF A COUNTRY HOUSE
The wooden country house in Finland (below) was built by one man. With my own hands. Professionally designed, to be sure, but it's amazing that one carpenter built this.
I have to tell you - this is one of the most ergonomic summer cottage projects we have seen. The U-shape created a covered veranda between the two parts of the house. All this is formed around a central courtyard. The four roofs slope towards the courtyard, connecting at the four corners along their respective diagonals. It's like creating your own little fort where you can feel protected. With courtyard walls made up almost entirely of windows, it's like your own private enclave.
What a glorious celebration of wood design - a home with great potential, great architecture and great style.
DESIGN OF A SMALL HOUSE – A FACADE THAT SURPRISES
This small wooden holiday home below, located in Slovenia, is a serious high-tech achievement in modern construction. If you look closely, you will notice that only a tiny area of the entire structure has an actual foundation, with the rest of the parts hanging in the air. This design is similar to a swing that hangs in balance.
What happened here is worth history. This house was purchased as a prefabricated cabin. Due to strict land use restrictions, the size of the foundation could not be changed. And therefore, the cantilever design of the facade of a country house was a response to increasing the total area of this small house without changing its foundation. Once the shape was determined, the remaining task was selecting structural materials to complete it. The architects worked with structural specialists to find the right materials. Slovenia is rich in forests and the decision was made to use wood as a structural material due to speed, cleanliness and sustainability. The resulting building structure is a reinforced concrete base below and a combination of timber frames and laminated timber above. The tree wins!
The holiday home has 3 floors to include bedrooms (top floor), living area and kitchen (middle or ground floor) and work/living area (basement). Children can play outside under the large overhang no matter the weather. The façade walls, with their natural wood exterior, contrast nicely with the walls clad in corrugated fiber cement sheets (the same material used on the roof). This gives the house a very modern, almost urban feel.
Prefabricated modular house with an area of 37 m² with budget interior finishing
- Colombia
- 37 m²
- Colectivo Creativo Arquitectos
- 1
- frame
It’s almost impossible to believe, but in this tiny, only 37 m², house there was room for two full bedrooms, a kitchen-dining room, a living room and a bathroom. A family of three can live here.
The house is a construction set, the modules of which are manufactured in production and assembled on site in one working day. Each “cube” is carefully thought out so that the owner, on the one hand, does not overpay for square meters that could be done without, and on the other hand, does not feel cramped.
The walls of the house are assembled on a wooden frame, insulated with mineral wool, and moisture and vapor insulated using special membranes. The cladding is made of composite panels that imitate wood (if desired, they can be replaced with lining), as well as OSB sheets. The main advantages of this design are modularity, which allows it to be adjusted to the needs of a specific owner, ease of transportation and low price.
Since there are no canopies above the terraces of the house, a heat-treated board was used for the flooring, which is practically impervious to moisture and ultraviolet radiation
Read more in the material “Serious Games”
7
SMALL ONE-STOREY HOUSE – LOW, ELONGED RECTANGULAR HOUSES WITH FLAT ROOFS
Here we have selected long and narrow rectangular country houses, mostly one-story horizontal structures. We've seen a lot of these modern minimalist designs in Nordic countries like Finland, Norway and Sweden, but now they're popping up everywhere. Below are three examples from three different countries. But they all share one common design element: a small part of the building is open air on both sides, either permanently (without walls) or protected by glass walls. With a narrow glazing profile, you can see nature on both sides of the house without leaving your chair. The ability to easily incorporate this element is one of the main attractions of this type of architecture. This allows you to add a highly desirable home feature - a covered porch or outdoor living area - without deviating from the simple plan of a wooden rectangular building. These are very economical and very modern designs.
A flat roof offers a completely different aesthetic, and if you are drawn to minimalism and want to build a small home on a budget - this may be the most affordable type of design for you as it requires less material and is easier to build. There are many advantages to these low and narrow designs. They are senior-friendly as all rooms are on the ground floor and they are also the most energy efficient as they are easy to heat or cool. Elongated rectangular architecture is also one of the standards for prefabricated structures.
Additionally, flat roof structures may be most suitable for locations that experience high winds (high wind loads), such as ocean areas, high mountain ridges, cliffs, and wide-open areas.
This New Zealand house (below) was designed as a wooden container. But it's much more than that. With its low verandas, it becomes a home for guests - with views of the ocean and countryside. And when you are ready to leave, the verandas and shutters will be closed and it will become a sealed wooden container in your absence. The house is entirely wooden - inside and out, in the tradition of New Zealand construction.
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SMALL COUNTRY HOMES IN THE WORLD
The exterior of this beautiful prefabricated timber cottage (below) makes a striking impression with its walls and ground floor basement. Set in the Spanish countryside, it blends so well with its surroundings, leaving only two details in contrasting yellow – the door and the chimney. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls on both sides of this beautiful home offer unrivaled vistas of the ever-changing landscape and access to two exterior verandas.
This small wooden house, which looks like a simple wooden box from the outside, has a secret - underneath there is a basement, discreetly built into the hill.
Installing the roof
The roof in inexpensive country house projects can be single- or gable. First, the rafters are installed (the rafter legs are cut into the upper frame of the wall or into the Mauerlite - it is laid around the perimeter of the wall). Flooring is placed on the rafters. Next, a plank sheathing is installed, which is nailed end-to-end or in a running direction (parallel to the ridge). The roof is laid on top. Natural tiles, wavy slate, soft tiles or ondulin are perfect for a country house. At the final stage, the ridge is installed, and the roof fracture is covered with special shaped parts.
Types of roof covering
Roof scheme
After the roof has been installed, all other work is done - window and wooden frames are installed, interior decorative and finishing work is carried out, small architectural details are attached (platbands, drainage systems, etc.).
SMALL HOUSE PROJECTS – BUILD A SQUARE HOUSE IF YOU WANT TO TAKE UP LESS SPACE
When you have very little land or want a small foundation or simply want to achieve a better view of the surrounding area and want to save money with a single timber structure - a simple, square house shape will do the trick. Here are three different examples of small wooden country houses built based on this idea.
This modern timber home is located on the eastern slope of Australia's Mount Wellington. A small compact wooden box with windows that make it look large. The foundation is minimal, but the appearance is impressive. Who would have thought that a simple box-shaped house could look so elegant? The perfect way to show off your wood cladding! The home has an open floor plan and a large loft above. Simple and natural design.
To achieve an even smaller footprint, you can adopt a vertical home design, adding layers of additional living space. Basically, take a similar box shape and turn it to the shorter side.
This vertical structure (below) is just that. A 4-story towering box that emerges from a tiny apartment on a steep hill in Brissago, Switzerland. And it has its own cool design story. Read below the following image.
The customer demanded that construction costs be minimal. Therefore, the natural choice was to stick to “simple shapes and minimalist solutions” – mainly a rectangular design. But there was a huge logistical obstacle - the property doesn't have street access, even now. Because of this and to minimize costs, the type of construction chosen was a prefabricated timber building. And this is how it was done - fully finished and pre-finished timber panels (prefabricated windows and breathable insulation) were transported across the Alps and then assembled using a helicopter. Very cool! The house was built in just three days.
This tiny barn conversion into a compact timber home is stunning, isn't it? A small barn in Italy was in complete disrepair before reconstruction. It is now a charming little two-bedroom holiday home. During construction, the architect made maximum use of height. Each room is on its own level and the result is a stunning, modern and compact home that takes up minimal space.
The woodwork in this home is amazing. And the interior is so cozy.
Metal frame building of 65 m², standing on a mountain
- Chile
- 65 m²
- Paul Steel Bouza Arquitecto
- 1
- frame
The house is built on a mountain overlooking a picturesque lake. From this point there is a dizzying 360º view. Difficult terrain and changeable weather conditions influenced the appearance of the building. In plan, the building has an unusual shape in the form of a right triangle, with one of the sharp corners “cut off”. By design, it is a metal frame standing on a pile foundation. The facade is covered with wooden panels, which are also present in the interior decoration. Thanks to the huge windows, which reflect the changing pictures of the sky and forest, the house successfully “mimics” its environment.
The first floor of the building is divided into two equal parts. In the public space, the living room, kitchen and dining room have merged - there is no obvious division here, each zone has its own small corner. Behind the partition there are private rooms: a bedroom, a compact dressing room and a bathroom. Both parts are united by a glazed façade with access to an open terrace. There is a second bedroom on the mezzanine floor, which can be accessed using a regular ladder.
The open terrace allows you to admire panoramic views of the lake
SMALL, COZY WOODEN HOUSES OF UNUSUAL SHAPE
Small country houses are ideal subjects for experimenting with unusual architectural ideas. Maybe you wanted to have your own children's playhouse, or maybe you want a high-tech home that uses all the latest architectural tricks, or maybe you just want to be very original. Then wood is the ideal material for creativity. Here are some examples of other people's creativity.
This country wooden house is shaped like a boat, but there is no sea. It is located in the middle of a forest in Finland. The small house is laid out like the interior of a sea ship, and there is a lot of wood in it. The round windows are real nautical details, and when the fireplaces are lit, they make the house look like a steamship.
The fireplace is as unusual as the house.
The C-shaped house in Casey Key, Florida is basically a tree house. When you're inside, you're not only surrounded by gorgeous curved wooden beams, but also by treetops. What a beautiful little house. These dramatic arches are a great example of what can be done with wood as a building material. There are practically no limits, only your imagination. One of the most innovative timber houses we have ever seen!
This wooden house with a curved roof has a warm wooden interior.
This unusual wooden house was designed and built near Lake Starnberg, a popular southern Bavarian holiday area for Munich residents. The house sits on stilts, lit from below to further showcase itself. And, of course, beautiful wood trim inside and out.
The architect who designed this residential building lives there. Not surprising. Look - these exposed wooden structures become shelves. And there's even a bridge that runs between the walls for easier access. This is a good example of how creative minds create things according to their creative needs. Such designs are never common.
Come up with your own unique country house if you are young and modern. Enough of this dull, gray dacha development following the example of our grandparents. You don’t need a vegetable garden, you don’t need a chicken coop with a pigsty - you need a green lawn, fruit trees (primarily for shade) and a comfortable, comfortable home that pleases your eyes every day.
