Photo: Baluchon (Composite)
Given the recent proliferation of park-style tiny homes, you’d be forgiven for thinking that there’s nothing “tiny” about tiny living these days. If so, Baluchon and their recently completed Nano Suisse would like a word.
Baluchon is perhaps one of the most well-known European builders of traditional tiny houses, that is, towable houses that still adhere to the original principles of tiny houses: compactness, mobility and sustainability. Baluchon houses are beautiful and well-made and, despite their size, are full of features.
Based in France, Baluchon only deals with miniature transports in the Old Continent. However, his units are a good example of downsizing “by the rules”, where the focus is on a more sustainable alternative housing solution, responsibly sourced building materials and the desire to enable a more intentional lifestyle. Just like the tiny houses of the early 2000s.
In contrast, tiny houses in countries such as the United States, Canada, New Zealand, or Australia tend to be larger in both length and volume, offering more sleeping and living space, at the expense of mobility. Many European tiny houses, especially those from Baluchon, choose to focus on compactness, although this is probably due to park model legislation.
Photo: Baluchon
Even in this context, the Nano Suisse stands out. A few years ago, Baluchon presented his smallest tiny house to date, appropriately named Nano. If there were a world record for size, the Nano would probably earn it: The single-axle home is only 3.3 meters (10.8 feet) long, but still offers sleeping accommodations for three people, a full bathroom that isn’t the wet type, and a versatile space that doubles as both a dining area and workspace.
The Nano Suisse is the Nano’s slightly larger, smaller sibling. As such, it can’t compete with the Nano for that hypothetical record, but it still deserves recognition for how it manages to pack a surprising amount of storage into its small footprint.
The Nano Suisse was built to order as a weekend getaway on a private plot of land in Switzerland, hence its name. It is 3.5 metres (11.5 feet) long and sits atop a custom Baluchon twin-axle trailer, using a similar layout to the Nano to accommodate all the basic needs during a short-term stay. Unlike the Nano, it is designed for just two people, with no provision for an overnight guest.
Photo: Baluchon
Instead, the Nano Suisse focuses heavily (*for its size) on storage. The layout is similar to the original Nano, right down to the home office/dining area at one end of the trailer, the daybed that converts to a bed for two at night, and the bathroom at the other end of the house. Directly across from the daybed is the small kitchen, which should be enough for a few quick meals for two.
The original Nano had a mesh loft above the sofa, with a mattress for a third person. This has storage in cabinets that match the kitchen cabinets and other furnishings. Access to this loft was via a ladder to a platform above the bathroom in the original Nano. The newer model has even more storage in the small loft above the bathroom.
Thoughtful touches like a large porthole window above the double home office, finishes in contrasting shades of light brown and gorgeous deep turquoise blue, and the occasional floating shelf wherever there’s room for them make the interior welcoming and surprisingly elegant. The Nano Suisse is not intended as a full-time residence, and that’s the number one prerequisite for appreciating its beauty.
Photo: Baluchon
In the construction, Baluchon used spruce for the structure and mostly spruce and oak for the interior: spruce panels on the ceiling, poplar plywood for the walls and stained oak for the floor. The entire house is insulated with a combination of cotton, flax and hemp, in keeping with Baluchon's commitment to building sustainable tiny homes.
The house must be connected to the electricity and water grid with a camper-style hookup. However, it is equipped with a composting toilet to increase autonomy as much as possible. In theory, it could be completely disconnected from the grid, but this would require additional investment by the owner.
Features also include double glazed windows with mixed aluminium and wood joinery, an electric water heater, a Lunos double flow VMC extractor, LED lights and fan heating. The kitchen is only equipped with a small fridge and a portable hob, but then again, you wouldn't have room for much more even if you wanted to.
Photo: Baluchon
When it was introduced as a model, the Nano was priced at €39,500 ($43,100 at today's exchange rate), but that was four years ago, during which tiny house prices exploded. Baluchon does not provide a figure for the new Nano Suisse, but an empty Baluchon unit starts at around €85,000 ($92,900).