The Mobile Hermitage is a freestanding movable miniature house that operates entirely from battery power. This totally functional diminutive dwelling is an all-season habitat large enough for one or two (very compatible) adults.
Community. Despite its name, the Mobile Hermitage is designed to be part of a community of tiny houses. Interdependent freestanding small houses are very economical to build and maintain. By sharing common resources such as laundry, lavatory facilities, bath house, large kitchen, and activity center, a greater sense of community is established, and significant savings can be achieved.
Media. The Mobile Hermitage and owner Gregory Paul Johnson have been featured by various print and television media including: American Profile, Better Homes and Gardens (200608 page 72), CBS Affiliate KCCI of Des Moines, PBS Affiliate WQPT, National Public Radio, New York Times Real Estate, Radish Magazine, and Wall Street Journal Real Estate.
Natural Home Magazine. The November/December 2009 issue of Natural Home Magazine features an article about Gregory Johnson’s book Put Your Life on a Diet: Lessons Learned From Living in 140 Square Feet.
Simplicity. “Out of intense complexities, intense simplicities emerge.” – Winston Churchill. The Mobile Hermitage was custom designed and constructed to serve as the office and residence for the Resources for Life global headquarters located in North America. Gregory Johnson explains, “The complexity of Resources for Life demands a level of efficiency and effectiveness that can only be served through simplicity. It was with this in mind that the home’s designer, Jay Shafer, was commissioned to construct this minimalist dwelling.” Because the global operation of Resources for Life is a highly outsourced and redundant distributed network of individuals and organizations, it is possible to operate the main office out of this diminutive dwelling. Although the Mobile Hermitage is tiny enough to be pulled with a small truck, it is very roomy. The inside design is so efficient that it serves the functional equivalent of a house two to three times its size. Many areas serve multiple purposes. Tables and surfaces seem to “come out of the woodwork” on demand as needed.
Radio Interviews. Audio is now available for recent interviews with Gregory Johnson on ABC News Australia, Iowa Public Radio Book Reading/Interview, KRUU FM, National Radio in Ireland, and Public Radio Interview with Ben Kieffer from February 2007.
Learn More. Here are links for more information about the Mobile Hermitage.
- Acoustics
- Air Conditioning and Cooling
- Construction – This article posted on the Small Living Journal describes the basic phases of constructions and includes a few photos from the collection of construction photos.
- Fresh Airflow Control
- Heating
- Media Coverage
Photos
- Gregory Johnson and the Mobile Hermitage (Added 20080420su1712)
- Media Photos and Exterior Photos – Media photos as well as interior and exterior photos.
- Photos of Book Reading and Mobile Hermitage Open House. On 11 July 2008, after the Mobile Hermitage open house, Gregory Johnson was interviewed by Julie Englander of WSUI (Public Radio) at Prairie Lights Books in Iowa City. He read from his book Put Your Life on a Diet: Lessons Learned Living in 140 Square Feet. Photos are now available from the day’s events. (20080713su0410)
Open House – 2008
The most recent Mobile Hermitage open house was on Friday, 11 July 2008, in the afternoon in front of Prairie Light Books in downtown Iowa City on Dubuque Street between Iowa Avenue and Washington Street. In the evening, at 7:00 PM, there was a radio show recorded from Prairie Lights about Gregory Johnson’s new book Put Your Life on a Diet. The WSUI broadcast is available online as well. Photos of the open house are available online (a slideshow preview is below).
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