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Heather and Kevin Fritz’s first project as Fritz Tiny Homes was a 268-square-foot dwelling sided with standing-seam metal and wood-textured aluminum. "Metal siding assures a maintenance-free exterior regardless of exposure," says Kevin.

The bespoke kitchen by Plain English pairs olive green cabinetry with a marble countertop and backsplash. The exposed brick wall and concrete floor lend an edge to the material mix.

Minimalist sliding doors separate the rooms.

A square skylight is positioned directly above the bed for stargazing.

“We wanted to make each internal element of the Hytte feel considered and intentional,” explains Little. “Small spaces demand a high level of design consideration to ensure that we maximize every piece of space. We have been deliberate in designing the furniture to be crafted into the fabric of the cabin. Our bed, kitchen, storage and seating has all been imagined as an extension to the structure of the cabin.”

The 260-square-foot Hytte module features tall ceilings of up to nearly 12 feet. Multiple windows fill the interior with natural light and frame views of the outdoors.

The L-shaped kitchenette is outfitted with minimalist black appliances and fixtures.

All interior and exterior finishes can be customized to suit different needs. The Hytte can also be co-branded to match a clients’ existing aesthetic.

Each Hytte will be clad in shou sugi ban-treated larch to recede the buildings into the landscape.

Hytte's prefab construction allows for faster setup with lower site impact.

The screened porch allows residents to customize their living space and provides extra storage. “We had to think of how things were going to fit, and where bulky items would go, so we designed an outdoor storage area,” McKinney says.

The floors are all concrete, and the kitchen, which includes a mini fridge and microwave, has blue-gray stone countertops. “We had a stone company in Austin offer to help us with the project,” McKinney says. “Our seed neighbor was so excited as we looked at dozens and dozens of big slabs of stone.”

Community First! Village is one of the safest neighborhoods in Austin. “Alan Graham, CEO of Mobile Loaves & Fishes, said that in the beginning, people were apprehensive about the community coming in and didn’t know what it would be like,” McKinney says. “It’s turned out to have one of the lowest incidents of crime because everybody is on the same page and takes care of one another.”

The home’s small footprint can be efficiently heated and cooled, and the windows and cutouts above the barn door provide passive ventilation.

McKinney York partnered with BEC Austin, whom they worked with on phase one, to build the micro homes. With phase two, their goal was to make the design “easy enough so that people who weren’t skilled laborers and were volunteers could take the drawing and build one themselves,” McKinney says. “With phase one, the houses were hard to pull off for anyone that wasn’t a carpenter.”

A profile views shows off various storage arrangements inside the approximately 36-foot-long and 13-foot-tall structure.

One person can easily raise or lower the metal front door.

A side profile of the structure shows off its minimalist facade. Shown here is the model unit, which is located in Córdoba, Argentina.

A sliding glass door in the bedroom provides direct access to the outside.