ÄûÃʵ¼º½

Events

Tiny house Shadow: living within planetary boundaries

The 34-square-metre Shadow incorporates carbon-free steel, old windows, and recycled car tires. And when the residents move, the home moves with them.

See this and other fascinating projects on display in the Designs for a Cooler Planet on 5 Sept – 28 Oct 2025.
Modern black wooden house with a single narrow window, surrounded by rocks and plants, nestled in a leafy forest area.
Photo: Nina Kellokoski

Housing makes up a significant part of the average citizen’s material and carbon footprint—and the bigger the home, the more resources it consumes. Could tiny homes be part of the solution?

The Tiny House Shadow is a prime example of the potential of circular construction. Of its total weight, 56% comes from reused products and recycled materials, while the remaining components were selected for their low emissions.

Compared to a traditional single-family house, Shadow uses 85% less material, requires 43% less land, and has a 53% smaller carbon footprint per resident. The building can be relocated as is—meaning the home can come along when you move.

‘A smaller space and fewer possessions can actually enhance the quality to living,’ says Professor of Sustainable Construction and the architect of the house, Matti Kuittinen.

Welcome to see the Varjo scale model at the Designs for a Cooler Planet exhibition!

Want to know more? Get in touch!

Tiny House Shadow

Photos of Tiny House Shadow

    Modern kitchen with open shelves and black curtains. Man in green shirt holding kettle and bread.

    Photo: Nina Kellokoski

    Interior view of a wooden sauna. Visible is a towel, firewood, a wooden ladder, and a metal bucket.

    Photo: Nina Kellokoski

    Person sitting indoors with large glass windows overlooking a lush green forest, next to a floor lamp and a wooden stump.

    Photo: Nina Kellokoski

    The image shows a person holding a small, open, lamp-like object with both hands. The object has wooden covers and is filled with folded white paper. The paper resembles an accordion, giving a sense of lightness and airiness. The background is plain and light-colored, emphasizing the object’s form and details. The person wears a black long-sleeved garment and a dark purple wristband.

    Designs for a Cooler Planet

    Aalto University’s biggest annual exhibition showcases interdisciplinary experiments at Marsio, Otakaari 2. Open 5 Sept – 28 Oct 2025.

    • Updated:
    • Published:
    Share
    URL copied!