There is nothing fundamentally new in my fascination with compact, essential living. It has been done by others all over the world by all sorts of people for a range of reasons. Typically, cost is stated as a primary reason, but only a subset of small dwelling makers are addressing cost as the first reason to act. Most just like the idea of something that is carefully designed to exactly meet the holistic intent of the occupant(s). Here is a short list of some of the related work... (I took the photos).

Barier pods at the 2005 Expo in Aichii, Japan, 2005.

m-ch

Resources for Life.com, The Small House Society

Fictional Rocket Accomodations and Whatnot.!?

DOM CAPSULE modular building in Tokyo, 2005

Rolling Huts in Mazama, WA, July 2008

The Rolling Huts don't have running water, and some other features of the class of dwelling that I am building. They provide more of a glorified camping experience, but they are plenty cool nevertheless.

NYC, MOMA, 27 October 2008

I flew across the country and went to the MOMA exhibit: "HOME DELIVERY fabricating the modern dwelling". We were one day late and couldn't talk anyone into a peek, so we looked at the exhibit through the chain link fence.

Concrete Campsite, Pipe Huts - Cool!

I've long thought that a park of concrete pipe sections was the right approach for homeless housing...

Unimog

I've always wanted a Unimog...

Camper

Combining a camper with a cargo bike

Bridge control office in Amsterdam, March, 2009

This bridge control office was the closest thing to my quest for small living spaces in Amsterdam. There are surely plenty of small 'true' abodes in the city, but this is what I came across. Looks like a nice place to live!

A pending patent - another small 'living' place.

A airplane crew-rest design, hopefully nearing it's patential.

Roadside dome with dinosaur - California, north of Bishop, Oct 09.

I saw this along the road,and don't know what is inside, but interesting and fun.

Hobbiton, New Zealand, March 2010

Now I'm being a bit ridiculous, but here are some small dwellings I've explored at Hobbiton, "The Lord of the Rings" series movie set in New Zealand.

Jean Prouvé, Paris, 20 October 2010

I chanced into an opening night show at Gagosian Gallery Project Space for and exhibit of works by Jean Prouvé, including some progressive small dwelling designs. Prouvé grouvé!

small was beautiful in 1905

I found this passage while reading a randomly-selected book on my iPhone. It seems that Gilbert Keith Chesterton had a "father of the 'small is beautiful'" title a long while ago.

This mini bungalow in Seattle was featured in a Seattle Times article. I went to take a look on 16 January 2011. The Smart car is blocking a mockup of the wall construction that is covered with a tarp. This one is comparable to pico-dwelling - living, kitchen, (shower)room, sleeping loft. (I added a happy sky and removed a sign from the photo).

Passively scouting Vancouver, B.C. for small dwellings. A sculptural reproduction of a century old harbor warehouse at half-scale. As is, might make a good home away from the reaching bears? Vancouver has some small dwelling activity, including spherical tree pods operated as an inn.

Model of a room at YOTEL in New York City. Hell's Kitchen area. Great place to stay - integrated style, functional high-luxury small rooms, great amenities!

The YOTEL robot provides for baggage storage before/after your room is available.