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Four couples that have been best friends for 20 years wanted a better way to live closer to each other and closer to the environment, so they pooled their money and decided to build a small town just for themselves! Their settlement, called the ‘Llano Exit Strategy,’ features four tiny houses facing the Llano river outside of Austin, Texas.
The tiny homes, each of which cost roughly $40,000, were designed by architect Matt Garcia to be as sustainable and eco-friendly as possible. They feature slanted roofs with water barrels that can hold up to 5,000 gallons of rainwater, reflective walls to keep out the unwanted Texas desert heat in the summer, and special insulated windows. The interiors are made of plywood, which keeps costs down and gives the homes a warm and spacious feel.
The group of friends spends time there as often as they can, and they make their retirement plans on this property.
More info: gardenandgun.com | mattgarcia.com | Facebook | Twitter (h/t: huffpost)
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These four couples have been best friends for 20 years, so they decided to make a tiny town just for themselves
They pooled their money and build a small and sustainable place where they could grow old together
Each of these homes cost only $40,000
Every 400-sq-ft cabin at the ‘Llano Exit Strategy’ has a queen-sized bed, a couch, a bathroom and a porch
The interiors are covered in plywood – “It’s a high-design finish that doesn’t cost a lot of money,” said architect Matt Garcia
Their roofs collect rainwater into water barrels that can hold up to 5,000 gallons
“This is a magical place, but it’s arid. We’re doing what we can to reserve as much water as possible for the native trees and grasses,” said resident Fred Zipp
The corrugated steel exteriors reflect sunlight, helping to keep the inside cool in the summer
“It’s like a Disney movie out here. We have hare, bobcat, deer, and all kinds of birds. As we spend more and more time here, we find more and more,” said resident Jodi Zipp
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What do you think ?
LarenUmphlett 10 years ago
Awesome idea, but $40,000? They are simply fancy sheds. Should be much less expensive, unless this is also counting well and septic and land
DonFisher 9 years ago
Bought a very nice shipping container six years ago with added side door and two vent panels freshly painted. Cost, $2100 9x9x40ft. Two would have made a nice small home.
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KayGiddens 10 years ago
They have a 1,500 sq ft community building with kitchen, meeting space and accommodations for guests.
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ChrisWes 10 years ago
Oh hells no! Is that a tiny kitchen at the end of the bathroom? Wife cooks while hubby's s******g on the toilet. The smell! The toilet mist!
EllenSchaeffer 10 years ago
I saw that & can only hope there's a pocket door or *something* separating the areas when needed!
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MichelleSchafer 10 years ago
I'm not sure about this the kitchen and the bathroom are together.....but.....if it works for them than that's great
AngelaBell 10 years ago
What an awsome ideal. .All they need is solar panels and or a wind turbine. .Start a garden and get some chickens..If the river has fish the
TrishShortLewis 10 years ago
I agree - they need sustainable energy. And BIG yes to garden/chickens. It IS possible to garden there, but you need to know what to plant
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Teresa Chittim 6 years ago
Wow! Awesome! Wish there were more communities as such outside of the Austin Area for single individuals such as Me!!👍
LynnKetner 9 years ago
I guess if you don't mind feeling "closed in", it would be okay. Where do they cook? Shower? Photos always makes places like these look bigger, so I can only imagine just how small they are in real life. I don't think I could do it.
LeslieSlavens 10 years ago
$40K and no kitchen? Low end pylwood is not a high end finish, maybe a nice Birch Veneer Ply would have been better. I like the idea of Tiny communities, but the price tag for what they get here is high and no private spaces at all....that is gonna get old.
LarenUmphlett 10 years ago
Awesome idea, but $40,000? They are simply fancy sheds. Should be much less expensive, unless this is also counting well and septic and land
DonFisher 9 years ago
Bought a very nice shipping container six years ago with added side door and two vent panels freshly painted. Cost, $2100 9x9x40ft. Two would have made a nice small home.
Load More Replies... KayGiddens 10 years ago
They have a 1,500 sq ft community building with kitchen, meeting space and accommodations for guests.
Load More Replies... ChrisWes 10 years ago
Oh hells no! Is that a tiny kitchen at the end of the bathroom? Wife cooks while hubby's s******g on the toilet. The smell! The toilet mist!
EllenSchaeffer 10 years ago
I saw that & can only hope there's a pocket door or *something* separating the areas when needed!
Load More Replies... MichelleSchafer 10 years ago
I'm not sure about this the kitchen and the bathroom are together.....but.....if it works for them than that's great
AngelaBell 10 years ago
What an awsome ideal. .All they need is solar panels and or a wind turbine. .Start a garden and get some chickens..If the river has fish the
TrishShortLewis 10 years ago
I agree - they need sustainable energy. And BIG yes to garden/chickens. It IS possible to garden there, but you need to know what to plant
Load More Replies... Teresa Chittim 6 years ago
Wow! Awesome! Wish there were more communities as such outside of the Austin Area for single individuals such as Me!!👍
LynnKetner 9 years ago
I guess if you don't mind feeling "closed in", it would be okay. Where do they cook? Shower? Photos always makes places like these look bigger, so I can only imagine just how small they are in real life. I don't think I could do it.
LeslieSlavens 10 years ago
$40K and no kitchen? Low end pylwood is not a high end finish, maybe a nice Birch Veneer Ply would have been better. I like the idea of Tiny communities, but the price tag for what they get here is high and no private spaces at all....that is gonna get old.
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