Tasmanian architect Jiri Lev believes small homes are the future

Designed by Lev- The Tasmanian House at Westbury is part of this weekend's Open House Launceston event and showcases the possibilities of small home living.

With a building cost of $80,000, The Tasmanian House is designed to be economical as well as beautiful.

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Lev believes the design showcases the possibilities amidst the current Tasmanian housing crisis, by providing an economical pathway to home ownership.

"If you are a young person, the total building cost after land is under $100,000- that is the same as a standard kit home," he said.

"It's the same amount of space with a much smaller footprint."

The design allows for future additions- connecting a second living space to the original through a walkway.

Lev said this aspect of the design allowed for greater flexibility, with owners able to extend their homes to meet the growing needs of their family or to build on as they can afford to do so.

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The house was built with raw, untreated and locally sourced materials, such as Tasmanian timbers and sheep wool.

Synthetic materials were purposefully kept to a minimum to an extent where, if furniture and few other components are removed, the building could freely decompose.

"If you left the building for 30, 40 years it would be compost," he said.

Generously, Lev is freely providing the building plans, in the hope that others will be inspired to build their own Tasmanian house.

"People will have to get their own engineer and builders but the designs will be available for them," he said.

"I hope that people take the designs and they can make their own adjustments and make it their own.

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"I want to encourage people to think outside the box and look at different options other than a project home."

"I think this type of housing is a simple design but the overall concept is a sensible way of living," Lev said.

This weekend's Tasmanian House viewing at Open House Launceston is booked out, but a live virtual tour will be available at openhousehobart.org or youtube.

For more information and to view the designs, visit lev.archi.

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