Feb 22, 2017

Stunning Small Homes Form Part of a Communal Compound for Best Friends

By Lighter Side / blamnews.com
Stunning Small Homes Form Part of a Communal Compound for Best Friends

If you’re lucky enough to have longtime friends even as an adult, then you know probably already know how much it means to be able to spend time together. Maybe you even have a dream to retire together and sit on each other’s porches with your families, sharing stories from the good old days.

That’s exactly what four Texas couples had in mind when they decided that living in the same town just wasn’t enough. They’ve been best friends for over 20 years, and they weren’t about to let life separate them, so they decided to literally build a “Bestie Row”. Being fans of the tiny house movement, they built a compound of small, functional homes all in a row.

Architect Matt Garcia was enlisted to help make the dream a reality.

row of tiny houses

The couples purchased land along the Llano River, right on the outskirts of Austin, Texas.

row of tiny houses

Initially, they were thinking of just making one huge house, but they decided a little personal space is always good, even for best friends.

row of tiny houses

But that’s not to say they didn’t want to be together either, so they also built a 1,500-square-foot community building with a kitchen, dining room, and guest and activity space.

row of tiny houses

The individual houses are all 400 square feet and cost around $40,000 each.

row of tiny houses

They dubbed the community the “Llano Exit Strategy” and designed it to withstand the harsh Texas climate.

row of tiny houses

Every building was designed with sustainability and environmental impact in mind.

row of tiny houses

Galvanized metal siding and spray foam insulation helps keep things cool in the summer and retain heat in the winter.

row of tiny houses

Sloped rooftops catch rainwater in runoff tanks. When you live in an arid desert climate, every drop counts.

row of tiny houses

The surrounding area is a beautiful place to raise families.

row of tiny houses

The interiors of the homes are a mix of modern and rustic design elements.

row of tiny houses

The prominent wood grain and barely treated floors really add to the rustic feel.

row of tiny houses

400 square feet doesn’t sound like much, but creative space management allows for all the essentials to be right where you need them.

row of tiny houses

Considering the relatively low cost, other “Bestie Rows” may not be far off in the near future.

row of tiny houses


Editor's note: It seems like the families do not live in these properties full time, but instead use them occasionally through the year and rent them out on Airbnb the rest of the time.

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