The Chipper Tiny Proposes a Compact but Stylish Approach to Living in a Mobile Home

Arguably the best thing about the popularity of tiny houses has been, if not heightened affordability of the product itself, a wider array of choices. The Chipper is designed to sit at the opposite pole of humongous, almost palace-like mansions on wheels, which are the park model tinies.

Introduced earlier this month and about to get its first public showing at the end of the month at an event held in Herons Creek, NSW, it's the latest model from Australia-based builder Häuslein Tiny House. Häuslein is all about experimenting with tiny houses, even making a model with an RV-inspired slide-out. This time, their experiment is with the idea of downsizing itself, along the lines of "let's see how small we can go without losing style and personality."

The Chipper is billed as the most compact and most affordable model from the entire range, but it comes with the same mix of functionality, comfort, and style as its bigger siblings. The tiny sits on a double-axle 5-meter (16.4-foot) galvanized, heavy duty trailer chassis.

With a width of 2.5 meters (8.2 feet), the tiny offers just 12.5 square meters (134.6 square feet) of living space, so it's designed to accommodate only one or two people on a long-term basis. It can work as a permanent home as well, but only if this drastic take on downsizing is palatable for whoever is attempting it.

Not that the Chipper doesn't have all the necessary features and appliances for a comfortable life, because it does. It's that they're packed into such a compact footprint that it lives more like a student's apartment or studio than a proper home, and it has the playfulness of one.

In theory, this tiny uses a single-level layout to make that happen. In reality, it's more like a bunk bed situation, where the bedroom (*"sleeping space" is more accurate phrasing) sits on top of the lounge space, which is small enough to fit a two-person couch and a coffee table. Neither is included in the price of the tiny, so keep that in mind if you're thinking of putting down a (non-refundable) reservation.

The ground level also includes a small galley-style kitchen and an equally small bathroom. To the builder's credit, they've found a way to integrate a laundry station and even to leave some room right in front of the entrance, so you get the impression of a much larger space.

Glazing also helps with that: double-paned sliding glass doors and awning large windows allow in plenty of natural light and help with air circulation. Optionally, you can add reverse-cycle AC, but that will also add to the final tally.

The interior is premium birch ply lining boards with premium oak floors and plywood cabinetry, fully insulated with fiberglass earth wool and silver sarking. Creatively placed LED strip lights aim to make the space feel slightly more accommodating than it is, particularly in the kitchen and the lofted sleeping area.

Speaking of the kitchen, the space is incredibly compact but still features space for most basic appliances and features. You get a deep sink, an induction dual cooktop, and space for a 3-in-1 cooker, a bar fridge, a small drawer dishwasher, and a washer/dryer combo. Storage options also abound, including a drawer with a trash can.

The Chipper is described as a "tiny house meticulously crafted to ease the housing crisis – in style." Customization options are very limited, but you can add some extras, including appliances, off-grid options, a deck or awning, entrance steps, and electric blinds. You also get limited choices for furniture colors and the possibility to opt between a standard flushing toilet or a composting one, the latter being a logical choice for the off-grid package.

As a standard, the Chipper comes with RV-style hookups for the mains. The starting introductory price for the first 5 units is AUD79,090 (approximately $52,200 at the current exchange rate), going up as you add more options or certain personalized touches.