Effective Living > Housing > Small House Society

5 February 2013

Friends,

Thanks to everyone who has inquired about the Mobile Hermitage. It’s now been sold. In the small house real estate market, homes move quickly… or at least as fast as they can go down the road!

One of the highlights of my lifetime were the 6 years I spent living in a home designed and built by Jay Shafer. These tiny homes are truly inspirational and a transcendent experience that positively impacts just about every area of one’s life.

If you’re interested in learning more about my experience, I’ve dedicated a book and a webpage to that topic.

~ Greg Johnson

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Overview. The Mobile Hermitage is a freestanding movable miniature house that operates entirely from battery power. This totally functional diminutive dwelling is an all-season (well insulated) habitat large enough for one or two (very compatible) adults. This home is almost identical to the XS-House by Tumbleweed Houses costing about $39,000 new. Yet, this home is special because it was built at the beginning of the small house movement. You can continue to follow the journey of this home by visiting the new owner’s website, TinyHouseTimes.com.

Community Focused. 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 Appeal. 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.

• Sustainable Home Day, ABC News Radio Canberra Australia, Interview with Gregory Johnson, 10 September 2011. This recorded-live-interview with ABC Radio News Canberra Australia was on 10 September 2011 (11 September 2011 in Australia) as a part of the Sustainable House Day event.

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)