Area architect has big idea for small house

By: Rebecca Turco

Email: rturco@abc6.com

WEST WARWICK – A small house in West Warwick is packing a big punch!

New England-based architect Tracey Powell is building a tiny house on wheels so she can travel from job to job. “You shouldn't have to give up comfort to live in a small space and to stay mobile,” she said.

So she is building a “Lil’Lodge” on wheels. It’s her passion project with her brother, an electrician.

The entire house is only 150 square feet, or about half the size of a hotel room.

A tiny house movement is gaining momentum, where people can live in affordable, mobile, off-the-grid homes. While many people build homes like that to save money, Powell isn't skimping on anything. She’s looking into building codes and energy codes, even though technically she doesn’t need to since her home will be registered as a vehicle. “We're trying to meet as many codes as possible, including the highway codes of course,” she explained.

Powell wants to make her home as eco-friendly as possible. Dryvit Systems in West Warwick is equipping her house with a sustainable type of insulation, called continuous insulation. “This is much more efficient and significantly reduces the amount of energy the buildings consume,” explained Bruce Wingate, vice president of marketing and sustainability.

The “Lil’Lodge” is high-tech, too. She will be installing a smoke detector, security system, intercom and doorbell, and they all will be controlled through her cell phone.

Powell will be showcasing her “Lil’Lodge” at the Architecture Boston Expo in November.

© WLNE-TV 2015