Te Mata
The Project
The Te Mata Tiny House is 7.5m long, with a mezzanine, bathroom, kitchen and 2.4m wide bi-fold cedar doors. It is fully insulated and double glazed. It includes a composting toilet, a combination of painted iron and stained wood siding, plywood panelling throughout the interior, and steel roofing. The sleeping quarters consist of a loft, which is opposite the kitchenette/living area, making the most of the living space.
The most striking feature of this Tiny House is the attention to detail with regards to the design and the craftsmanship of the finishing. Virtually everything incorporated into the home has been hand crafted with very few exceptions. For instance all the windows are made rather than factory bought, as are the kitchen cabinets, the staircase, and so on.
The house can detach from the trailer to be fixed in a desired location (such as on pilings, slab, or another foundation), or can remain fixed to the trailer for easy and frequent transport. (It should be noted that, in most cases, taking the tiny house of the trailer will cause it to be classified as a building rather than a vehicle).
Low Cost
Though the Te Mata Tiny House is a high-quality home, it is a small structure, which would be the number one reason why it costs what it does. Being small means fewer materials, less labour, and easier management of the whole building process. Further, being on a trailer makes the job simpler as permits are not required and the time taken up working on such documents is eliminated.
During a talk with Francois Guittenit from Le Workshop, he revealed that he tries to keep his pricing low out of his passion for craftsmanship. He’s not out to make a killing in the market or to scale up his business but to provide quality Tiny Houses and making a living from it.
About Le Workshop
Le Workshop is a husband and wife team; Francois Guittenit is the builder/craftsman, and Sarah-Lee is the designer. Le Workshop is a small operation; an additional employee or two help out when needed.
After relocating to Hawke’s Bay, the couple decided to build themselves a tiny home. This home wound up being featured in write-ups and magazines, bringing it to the attention of the public. When people saw the home in magazines, Francois began receiving requests for builds. This prompted the couple to create their website. The business continues to take in orders, making homes that cater to the requirements of their customers.
Guittenit noted that he needs to be able to ‘look at his work and be proud of what he has done’ which explains the quality of the craftsmanship and design of these Tiny Houses.
For the handy-woman or man Le Workshop also sells steel framed Tiny House shells with trailers which you can complete as a Do It Yourself project.
Contact
If you’d like to check out more from Le Workshop, or if you’d like to contact them, you can do so at their website leworkshop.co.nz
