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Spotted: Global growth in demand for tiny homes comes in large part from increased consumer interest in living more efficiently in terms of energy consumption and carbon emissions. Using the inspiring beauty of Bali’s tropics as an impetus for building with the lightest of footprints, Indonesia’s Stilt Studios specialises in high-end, modular, prefabricated homes and hotels.  

Designed to be carbon negative, the structures typically store more carbon dioxide than they emit during construction. Stilt Studios’ homes come in a variety of sizes and shapes, all of which can be personalised by the customer. The company offers lines of tiny homes, modular homes, treehouses, and studios, all of which include responsibly sourced wood and recycled materials. 

By using stilts to raise the building off the ground, the structures minimise disruption to local ecosystems, encourage natural flows of water, and reduce soil erosion. The energy-efficient designs include insulation, overhangs, and window placements that minimise the amount of heating and cooling needed. 

One design, the Tetra Pod, uses recycled Tetra Pak beverage cartons for walls, and owners can choose from either wood or recycled plastic facades for any sized building. Homes start at three metres square in size and then increase depending on the number of modules used and how they are combined. All designs are flat-packed and available for worldwide shipping.  

The company is currently building a 25-villa family village in Canggu and preparing to begin construction on its first commercial office building in early 2024. Having recently closed a $10 million (around €9.3 million) round of series A funding, Stilt Studios plans to continue growing the company internationally, expanding its team, and refining its design and manufacturing process to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) to help further reduce carbon emissions.  

Building on stilts is a practical approach to create resilience to local conditions, with a Japanese home design that uses them to avoid flooding damage also in Springwise’s database, as well as a fire- and rain-resistant home that protects inhabitants from extreme weather.

Written By: Keely Khoury