10 Great Alternative Housing Ideas PLUS Loads of Inspiring Examples, Pros & Cons and More!

Summary

This video explores 10 innovative alternative housing options, offering unique living solutions for various lifestyles and budgets. From tiny homes on wheels that prioritize affordability and customization to yurts, which provide simplicity and a calming, round structure, each option comes with its own set of advantages and challenges. Boats, shipping containers, and float homes present waterfront living with varying maintenance requirements. Earthships aim for self-sufficiency using recycled materials, while natural buildings focus on health and environmental sustainability. Passive houses significantly reduce energy consumption with their advanced design elements. Converted vehicles and trailers offer mobile living for those who value flexibility, and small spaces, whether in urban or rural settings, promote minimalism and efficiency. The video encourages viewers to consider their priorities, such as affordability, sustainability, or quality of life, when exploring these alternative housing choices.

Takeaways

• 🏡 **Alternative Housing Variety**: The video discusses 10 different types of alternative housing, each with unique characteristics and considerations.
• 🚚 **Tiny Houses on Wheels**: Tiny houses have gained popularity for their affordability and portability, but legal parking and insurance can be challenges.
• 🌿 **Yurts (Yurs)**: Originating from Central Asia, yurts are portable, wind-resistant, and can be quickly set up, though not suitable for all climates.
• 🛶 **Boats as Homes**: Boats offer a waterfront lifestyle but require maintenance and may have restrictions on docking for liveaboards.
• 📦 **Shipping Container Homes**: These modular homes offer creative building possibilities but need proper insulation and waterproofing.
• ⛵ **Float Homes**: Built on floating bases, these homes offer picturesque living, though maintenance and marina space can be issues.
• 🌱 **Earth Ships**: Designed for self-sufficiency with waste materials, these homes are labor-intensive and require careful design for climate suitability.
• 🏰 **Natural Buildings**: Utilizing natural materials like wood, clay, and hemp, these structures prioritize health and the environment but may need custom building plans.
• ♨ **Passive Houses**: These homes significantly reduce energy consumption with features like thick insulation and heat recovery ventilation systems.
• 🚐 **Converted Vehicles and Trailers**: Mobile living in vans, buses, and trailers offers flexibility but comes with challenges like maintenance and parking.
• 🏢 **Small Spaces**: Living in smaller spaces can be more affordable and energy-efficient, requiring careful organization to prevent clutter.

Q & A

What is the definition of alternative housing as mentioned in the script?

Alternative housing refers to any type of housing that is a bit different from traditional homes. It can involve different building techniques, materials, or sizes, and is often located off the beaten path.

Why is it important to research before choosing an alternative housing option?

It's important to research because alternative housing options may not be suitable for every location, budget, or climate. Additionally, there may be legal considerations such as finding a place to park a tiny home legally and obtaining financing and insurance.

What are the typical sizes of tiny houses on wheels mentioned in the script?

Tiny houses on wheels can range from as small as 16 ft long by 8 1/2 ft wide to as large as 43 ft long by 10 1/2 ft wide, with an average interior space of around 300 to 400 square feet.

What are some of the advantages of living in a tiny house?

The main advantages of tiny houses include portability, as they are built on wheels and can be moved easily, and the opportunity for customization and design due to their smaller size.

What are Yurts and where do they originate from?

Yurts, also known as 'gers' in Mongolia, are portable tent structures that originate from Central Asia. They are traditionally made with natural materials and are known for their round shape and wind resistance.

What are some challenges associated with living in a boat as a home?

Challenges of boat living include the variability in boat prices, the cost of maintaining the boat, vulnerability to the elements, and the potential difficulty of finding a marina that accepts year-round liveaboards.

What are the key features of a passive house?

Passive houses aim to drastically reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling by using thick walls with lots of insulation, a tight building envelope, triple-glazed windows, and a heat recovery ventilation system.

What are some benefits of living in a small space?

Living in a small space can be more affordable, use less energy to heat and cool, require less furniture and other items, which can reduce spending and consumption, and often provide a sense of satisfaction from optimizing the space.

What are Earthships and what are they made of?

Earthships are a type of alternative housing designed to be self-sufficient, using waste products like old tires, bottles, and cans, along with natural materials like dirt to minimize the need for new materials.

How do float homes differ from traditional homes in terms of construction?

Float homes are built like traditional homes but instead of sitting on a land foundation, they are built on a floating base, often made of concrete and styrofoam, which allows them to be located in bodies of water.

What is a common challenge faced by those living in converted vehicles or trailers?

A common challenge includes the need for insurance, gas, and frequent repairs and maintenance, especially for older models. Additionally, finding suitable places to park overnight and dealing with extreme temperatures can be difficult.

Why might someone choose to live in an alternative housing option over a traditional home?

People might choose alternative housing for various reasons such as affordability, personal health, environmental sustainability, quality of life, or the desire for a unique living experience that traditional homes may not offer.

Outlines

00:00

🏡 Alternative Housing Ideas Overview

This paragraph introduces the topic of alternative housing, emphasizing the variety of options available such as Earth ships, float homes, tiny homes, and more. It discusses the importance of understanding the unique characteristics and challenges of each type, including building techniques, materials, and sizes. The video creators share their extensive experience exploring these homes and stress the significance of research and aligning the choice with personal goals like affordability, health, and environmental sustainability.

05:00

🚚 Tiny Houses on Wheels

Tiny houses on wheels are highlighted as a popular and potentially more affordable housing option compared to traditional homes, especially for those who build them themselves. They are portable, built on trailers, and can vary significantly in size. The paragraph outlines the advantages of tiny homes, such as portability and the opportunity for customization. However, it also mentions challenges related to legal parking, financing, and insurance, necessitating thorough research before committing to this lifestyle.

10:01

🌐 Yurts and Boat Living

The paragraph covers two distinct housing alternatives: Yurts and boats. Yurts, portable tent structures from Central Asia, are made with natural materials, offer wind resistance, and can be quickly set up. They are not suitable for all climates and require maintenance for temperature regulation and to prevent leaks and pests. Boats, on the other hand, are available in various shapes and sizes, with prices ranging from free to expensive. They offer the benefit of waterfront living but may require finding a suitable marina and dealing with the elements, as well as maintenance costs.

15:03

🏗️ Shipping Containers and Float Homes

Shipping container homes are discussed as a modular and imaginative building option that can be polarizing. They come in different sizes and require proper insulation, ventilation, and waterproofing. Float homes, built on a floating base, are often found in mild coastal areas and can sometimes be more affordable than traditional homes. They offer picturesque living and easy access to water activities but may involve unique maintenance tasks and challenges in finding a suitable marina.

🌿 Earthships and Natural Buildings

Earthships, designed for self-sufficiency, are constructed using waste products and natural materials, aiming to minimize the need for new resources. They incorporate passive solar heating, rainwater collection, and waste treatment systems. The paragraph also touches on natural building techniques like Cobb and hemp-lime, which use materials like wood, sand, clay, and straw. These buildings are unique, often requiring custom design and engineering plans to meet local building codes.

🏡 Passive Houses and Converted Vehicles

Passive houses are designed to significantly reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling through features like thick insulation, tight building envelopes, and heat recovery ventilation systems. They are considered easy to build and have a measurable impact on energy use. Converted vehicles and trailers, such as vans, buses, and Airstream trailers, offer mobility and flexibility, with various reasons for their adoption. However, they come with challenges like maintenance, insurance, and finding suitable parking spots.

🏙️ Living in Small Spaces

Small living spaces are presented as a common thread among alternative housing options, offering benefits like affordability and reduced energy consumption. They require careful planning to maintain functionality and prevent clutter. The paragraph suggests that choosing to live in a smaller space or downsize can be a fulfilling alternative housing option, with many of the examples shown in the video available for more in-depth viewing on the channel.

Keywords

💡Alternative Housing

Alternative housing refers to living spaces that deviate from traditional homes, often in terms of construction, materials, or size. In the video, it is the central theme, encompassing a variety of unique living options such as tiny homes, yurts, and Earth ships. These alternatives are often off the beaten path and may not suit every location, climate, or budget, emphasizing the need for research and consideration of personal goals.

💡Tiny Houses on Wheels

Tiny Houses on Wheels are small, portable living spaces built on trailers. They are highlighted in the video as a more affordable housing option that can be customized for functionality and aesthetics. The script mentions their average interior size and the benefits of portability, but also notes challenges such as legal parking and obtaining financing and insurance.

💡Yurts

Yurts, also known as 'gers' in Mongolia, are portable, round tent structures traditionally made with natural materials. The video describes them as the cheapest and simplest form of housing on the list, with characteristics like wind resistance and quick setup. They are well-suited for certain climates and offer a calming, unique living experience, although they require maintenance for temperature regulation and to prevent leaks and pests.

💡Boats as Homes

The concept of using boats, such as sailboats, narrowboats, and houseboats, as homes is discussed in the video. These can offer a waterfront lifestyle at varying costs, from free derelict boats to new purchases. The script contrasts the convenience of marina living with the freedom of travel, noting that maintenance costs and exposure to the elements are significant considerations for this alternative housing option.

💡Shipping Container Homes

Shipping Container Homes are a modular and increasingly popular form of alternative housing. The video outlines the versatility of these homes, which can be stacked and arranged in various ways. It also emphasizes the importance of proper insulation, ventilation, and waterproofing when constructing these homes. Despite their appeal, they can be polarizing, with strong opinions for and against them.

💡Float Homes

Float Homes are traditional homes built on a floating base, often made of concrete and styrofoam. The video mentions their picturesque nature and potential cost savings compared to land-based homes. They are particularly common in mild-weather coastal areas. However, the video also points out the unique maintenance tasks and challenges in finding suitable marina space for these homes.

💡Earth Ships

Earth Ships are a type of alternative home designed to be self-sufficient, using waste products and natural materials for construction. The video credits architect Michael Reynolds for the concept and notes the labor-intensive process of building these homes. They are designed to utilize passive solar heating, collect rainwater, generate electricity from renewable sources, and treat wastewater on-site. Earth Ships are showcased as impressive and sustainable but require careful planning to ensure functionality.

💡Natural Buildings

Natural Buildings are constructed using materials found in nature, such as wood, sand, clay, straw, hemp, and stone. The video highlights the preference for natural materials among those aiming to avoid man-made products that could be harmful. Techniques like Cobb and hempcrete are mentioned, emphasizing the unique and sustainable nature of these homes, which often require custom design and engineering to meet local building codes.

💡Passive Houses

Passive Houses are a building standard that significantly reduces energy consumption for heating and cooling, by up to 90% or more. The video describes design elements such as thick walls, a tight building envelope, triple-glazed windows, and a heat recovery ventilation system. These homes are noted for their ease of construction, adherence to building codes, and their measurable impact on reducing energy consumption.

💡Converted Vehicles and Trailers

The video discusses the trend of converting vehicles and trailers into living spaces, ranging from simple, low-tech conversions to elaborate builds with modern amenities. These mobile homes offer the flexibility of travel and can be cost-effective, but they come with challenges such as maintenance, insurance, fuel costs, and finding suitable parking for the night.

💡Small Spaces

Small Spaces are highlighted in the video as a common thread among alternative housing options. Living in a small space can be more affordable, energy-efficient, and can reduce consumption and spending. The video notes that small spaces require careful organization to maintain functionality and prevent clutter. It also suggests that choosing to live in a smaller space can increase the quality of life in various ways.

Highlights

Exploring alternative homes for nearly a decade, the video showcases a variety of unique and sustainable living spaces.

Alternative housing is defined as anything that deviates from traditional homes in terms of building technique, material, or size.

Tiny houses on wheels are popular and can be more affordable, especially if built by the owner, with sizes ranging from 16 ft to 43 ft.

Yurts, portable tent structures from Central Asia, are wind-resistant and can be set up quickly with a low impact on the land.

Boats, including sailboats and houseboats, offer waterfront living and can vary greatly in price, from free to brand new.

Shipping container homes are modular and can be built in various unique ways, but require proper insulation and waterproofing.

Float homes are built on a floating base and are often found in coastal areas with mild weather, offering picturesque living.

Earthships are self-sufficient homes built with waste products and natural materials, designed for minimal environmental impact.

Natural buildings use materials found in nature, such as wood, clay, and hemp, and often require custom design for local building codes.

Passive houses aim to reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling by up to 90%, using thick insulation and efficient ventilation.

Converted vehicles and trailers, like camper vans and school buses, offer mobile living solutions for those who value travel or cost savings.

Small living spaces are a common thread among alternative housing, offering affordability, reduced energy use, and less consumption.

Choosing to live in a smaller space or downsize can increase the quality of life and is an alternative housing option for urban living.

The video provides a comprehensive look at each housing type, including the pros and cons, to help viewers make informed decisions.

Each type of alternative housing has unique challenges, such as legal parking for tiny homes or finding a marina for float homes.

The video emphasizes the importance of research and understanding one's goals before choosing an alternative housing option.

Many alternative housing options prioritize environmental sustainability and personal well-being, aligning with modern living values.

The video features in-depth, full-length videos for each home type, allowing viewers to explore further if interested.

Transcripts

if you're looking for alternative homes

you've come to the right place in this

video we've rounded up 10 different

alternative housing ideas including

Earth ships float homes natural

buildings tiny homes and more plus we

share some pros and cons about each one

we've been exploring and filming

alternative homes for close to 10 years

now and we've seen hundreds of

incredible and unique spaces so we have

a lot to share

before jumping in we just want to

quickly mention that alternative housing

for us is anything that's a little bit

different for example it might be a

different building technique material or

size it's also important to know that

alternative housing is often off the

beaten path and the housing options

might not be possible everywhere or work

for every budget or climate so it's

important to do lots of research before

jumping into anything head first there

are so many different places and

different ways to live in this world

that it can be a bit overwhelming to

choose just one some really good advice

that we got during our exploring is that

it's helpful to get clear on what the

main goal is whether it's affordability

personal health environmental

sustainability quality of life Etc and

use that knowledge as a

guide so now let's get started with

number one tiny houses on wheels tiny

houses on wheels have been growing in

popularity over the past decade and can

be a more affordable housing option than

a traditional home especially if you're

able to build it yourself they're built

on trailers and can range in size quite

a bit for example the smallest one we've

seen was only 16 ft long by 8 1/2 ft

wide and the biggest one was 43 ft long

by 10 1/2 ft wide but on average they

seem to be around 300 to 400 ft on the

inside especially when you include the

Loft

spaces one of the main advantages of a

tiny house is the portability since

they're built on Wheels they can easily

be moved around and

relocated another really cool thing

about tiny homes is that because they're

so small a lot more time and effort can

go into customizing and designing them

into beautiful and functional

spaces but a few important challenges to

keep in mind with tiny houses is that

depending on the location it can be hard

to find a place to park them legally and

to get things like financing and house

insurance so lots of research is

required beforehand

[Music]

and number two yurs yorts are probably

the cheapest and simplest housing type

on this list yurs which are also called

gar in Mongolia originate in Central

Asia and are basically portable tent

structures made with natural materials

traditional yurs have a round shape that

makes them wind resistant and they're

built with several layers the frame is

built with wood lattice walls and roof

Rafters that are attached to Central

support poles and a dome at the top

they're insulated with several layers of

sheep wool felt and are covered with a

canvas cover on the outside for

weatherproofing some North American made

URS use different materials like PVC for

the covers reflec titics for insulation

and they might even add windows or

connect several yurs together yurs make

incredibly beautiful homes and there's

just something very special about being

in a round structure that's hard to

describe

but it's quite calming they can be set

up really quickly usually in just a day

and they have a low impact on the land

around them but they aren't suited for

all climates and it's often better if

they're lived in fulltime to maintain

the space above freezing to manage

humidity to make sure there are no leaks

and to prevent Critters from getting

in number three boats boats come in all

shapes and sizes and we've seen many

people make cozy homes out of sailboats

narrow boats house boats and more boat

prices vary wildly from free derel boats

all the way up to more expensive brand

new boats so there are lots of options

at different price

ranges some liver boards like to keep

their boats docked at a Marina and

rarely take them out in the open water

being at a marina fulltime is definitely

more expensive than anchoring out but it

can make boat life quite comfortable

with services like electricity water and

internet right at the dock other liver

boards spend very little time at marinas

and are on their boats to travel

sailboats are a better option for open

ocean house boats can be great on lakes

and narrow boats are an option for

places with Canal networks like the UK

France and Amsterdam living on the boat

means you have a waterfront home and all

the benefits that come with that but

depending on the location it can be

tricky to find a marina that accepts

yearr round Li boards so it's always a

good idea to find a dock before buying a

boat some other challenges we've heard

about boat life in general are that

boats are expensive to maintain hence

the acronym break out another thousand

and that living on a boat means you're

more exposed and vulnerable to the

elements like extreme temperatures and

[Music]

storms number four shipping container

homes shipping container homes are

popping up around the world but as we've

seen in the comments on our videos they

can be very polarizing some people love

them and some people kind of hate them

but it's easy to see why they've

captured people's imaginations with all

the different possibilities of building

with these modular containers like

stacking and caner Levering them in lots

of different unique ways shipping

containers come in many different sizes

ranging from 10 ft long all the way to

53 ft long and they can be 8 and 1/2 or

9 and 1/2 ft tall they're often

purchased used after a single one-way

trip most people don't like to buy

containers that have been used more than

once because it's hard to find out if

the container transported dangerous

goods a couple things that are important

to get right when building with

containers is making sure the insulation

and ventilation are installed properly

to prevent condensation issues and

making sure that the seams where the

containers are joined are properly

waterproofed to prevent any leaks

[Music]

number five float homes float homes are

built like traditional homes except that

instead of sitting on a foundation on

land they're built on a floating base

and usually it's made of concrete and

styrofoam float homes are often found in

coastal cities and towns that have mild

weather like Vancouver and Seattle

although we've also seen some in places

like Toronto where they use bubblers to

prevent the water from freezing around

the house in the

winter living on the water in the float

home is absolutely picturesque and a

side bonus is that it can sometimes cost

less than traditional homes and condos

in the same area probably in part

because there's no land ownership

involved another perk to float homes is

being able to hop in a kayak right from

your front door but like most

alternative housing options float homes

are not perfect for example they can

have some extra fun maintenance tasks

like regularly emptying out a septic

tank it can also be difficult to find a

marina that has space for float homes or

that will least the space for more than

a couple of years at a time which can be

stressful number six Earth

ships Earth ships have to be one of the

more beautiful ambitious and labor

intensive types of alternative homes

that we've seen people build the goal

with an Earth Ship is that the home

would be completely self-sufficient in

terms of its inputs and outputs the

concept and design came from Michael

Reynolds who's an architect in New

Mexico they're built using waste

products like old tires bottles and pop

cans and natural materials like dirt to

minimize the need for new materials and

they're designed to be heated and cooled

using passive solar to collect rain

water from the roof to generate

electricity from solar and wind to grow

food in indoor gardens and to treat

waste water on site they're incredibly

impressive spaces and Earth ships have

been built all over the world the waste

materials used to build Earth ships can

be quite inexpensive but the real

expense comes in the form of land and

especially labor because they can take

months and even years to build we've

seen a mix of official Earth ships that

were built using plans from Michael

Reynolds and we've also seen DIY

versions where people come up with with

their own

designs it does seem like it's quite

important to get the details right to

ensure that the systems function the way

they're supposed to so it's probably

worth it to purchase plans and to make

sure that the design is appropriate for

the climate where it's going to be built

an energy modeler can help figure this

out number seven natural buildings

natural buildings are built with

materials that you can find in nature

things like wood sand clay straw hemp

and stone a lot of folks we've met like

to use natural materials when they build

if they're trying to avoid using

man-made products that might be harmful

to human health and to the environment

things like concrete plastic and

products that contain

voc's a good example of a natural

building technique would be Cobb Cobb is

a type of Earth building that uses a mix

of sand clay and straw to sculpt thick

sturdy walls sometimes they're

loadbearing walls and sometimes the cob

is used to build walls inside a timber

frame structure hemp cre is another

natural building material that we've

loved learning about over the years it's

made with hemp herd which is the Woody

part of the hemp plant and lime to

create a mixture that can either be made

into blocks for later use or to build

walls on site by pouring it into

forms these are just a couple examples

but there's all sorts of fascinating

natural building techniques out there

like straw bale ramed Earth and log

homes to name a few natural materials

can also be used in the finishing

elements of a home for example using

natural plasters instead of drywall or

cork flooring instead of vinyl Etc homes

that are built using natural materials

are often quite unique and will probably

require custom design and Engineering

plans to make sure they meet the local

building code

[Music]

number eight passive houses passive

house is a building standard that aims

to drastically reduce the energy

required to heat and cool a home

sometimes by up to 90% or more which is

huge some of the design elements in a

passive house are thick walls with lots

of insulation a very tight building

envelope triple glazed windows that are

oriented according to the sun and a heat

recovery ventilation system that brings

in fresh air and preheats it with the

stale air that's being exhausted which

minimizes heat loss A lot of people are

concerned that passive homes will be

unhealthy to live in because they're so

tightly sealed and think it'll be kind

of like living inside a plastic bag but

the reality is that most non-passive

homes also have a plastic Vapor Barrier

the difference is that with a passive

house the ventilation system is there to

ensure that the home always has fresh

air coming in

of all the housing Alternatives we've

seen over the years passive house seems

to be the option that's the easiest to

build just about anywhere because it's

built with standard construction

materials and because the design usually

exceeds the building code requirements

it also has the most impressive and

measurable impact on energy

consumption number nine converted

vehicles and

trailers over the past last 10 years

we've met many people living in all

types of Vans vehicles and trailers like

self-built Camper vans converted school

buses and renovated Airstream trailers

there are lots of reasons why people

live in vehicles and trailers sometimes

it's the travel sometimes it's out of

necessity and sometimes it might be a

choice to spend less money on rent

whatever the reason it's always

fascinating to see the innovative ways

that people find to make a home in small

mobile spaces from really simple low

Tech conversions to elaborate builds

with all the modern

conveniences in terms of where people do

this some folks park for free on city

streets and move around every night or

most nights other people might travel

around to find free campsites on

crownland and BLM land and there's also

the option of having more of a home base

by renting a seasonal site at a

campground or by paying to park on

someone's

land living in a van or vehicle

full-time is doable but it's definitely

not for everyone and it comes with its

own set of challenges it's not as easy

or as cheap as it might seem a vehicle

needs Insurance gas and lots of repairs

and maintenance especially if it's an

older model it can also be challenging

to find places to park for the night and

to handle very hot or very cold

weather and finally with number 10

small spaces small spaces might seem

like a vague category of alternative

housing but small living spaces are one

of the common threads between all of the

alternative housing ideas we've shared

so far living in any small space can be

beneficial in a lot of different ways it

might be more affordable than a bigger

space or use less energy to heat and

cool it and a small space also needs

Less Furniture and things like that so

it cuts down on spending and consumption

in that way too

many of the alternative housing ideas

we've talked about so far are easier to

find outside the city but for people who

want to live in an urban area there are

loads of small spaces like apartments

condos and small houses that can be

found in the city which might also mean

better access to jobs public transit and

other social

opportunities as we progress through

life we tend to continue to outgrow

spaces and move into bigger and bigger

spaces but but choosing to stay in a

smaller space or downsizing to a smaller

space is an alternative housing option

as well small spaces are definitely more

challenging to live in and require

constant work to make sure that the

space remains functional and doesn't get

cluttered but there's something really

satisfying about optimizing a small

space to make it just right and

regardless of the type of home keeping

it small and simple can increase quality

of life in many different ways

all of the homes shown in this video

have a more in-depth fulllength video on

this channel so if something caught your

eye you can definitely find it in our

playlists we'll also include links to

the playlists in the description of this

video we'd love to know which of these

alternative housing options you found

most interesting and let us know in the

comments if you have any other housing

ideas we should explore thanks to

everyone who's taken the time to share

their alternative home with us over the

years and thank you for watching