In an effort to pull together the Tiny House Scotland story so far and shape the ongoing direction, I have been working on this presentation slide show. Hopefully it will help prospective clients understand what I am trying to do with the Nesthouse…
Tag Archives: tiny house scotland
Mission Statement
I know it’s a bit Nineties but I accidentally wrote my Mission Statement this morning!
Tiny House Scotland is my personal crusade to bring together the physics of building science with aesthetic design and individual craftsmanship to create a new alternative for sustainable living. Whether it is an affordable starter home or a lifestyle micro living choice or the venue for a home based business my Nesthouse can provide a beautiful solution.

Nesthouse Medium with Entry, Sleep and Bathe modules.
Nesthouse in the rain

The Nesthouse is certainly beginning to look more complete externally. . .
The Nesthouse Moveable Small House…actually moves!

Moveable Modular Small House System from Tiny House Scotland
Central to the Nesthouse concept is the ability to actually move the house when desired….well I am pleased to say the prototype has passed its moveability trials with flying colours!! Time to get on with the external cladding and turn this weird looking UFO into a proper wooden house!
There’s still another 2 tons to add to the build - it’s currently 5 tons - so a bigger tractor may be required!
Homesteading with a Nesthouse.
Maybe you have acquired some land and are planning to build a house on it? So then you are probably facing the prospect of spending at the very least £100,000 through an architect and builder before you can live on that land.
Imagine as an alternative taking delivery of a beautiful SMALL house which is light-filled and cosy and has everything you need to survive the world for less than £50,000! Welcome to your Nesthouse from Tiny House Scotland! It will be ready for delivery within 4-6 months and can be the start of a whole new way of life. Small Living is the art of living in a compact, carefully designed space with minimal impact on the environment. It is ‘light’ on the land and doesn’t require tons of concrete for a foundation - it can be moved without leaving a trace!
The insulation levels exceed the new stringent Scottish Building Standards. It comes to you fully built (subject to site access) and can be plug and play to services or self sufficient with off-grid systems.
The planning advantages are that is moveable and classified as a caravan and also within Householder Permitted Development parameters although of course these factors will depend ultimately on the land use of your site.
The Nesthouse is built with many Passivhaus principles and being small – allows thorough attention to detail during the construction process. But this is definitely NOT a caravan, hut or shed!!! - this is a proper SMALL HOUSE and weighs between 4 and 10 tons depending on size and specification! For more details click:
Topped Out with Spruce!

The Nesthouse by Tiny House Scotland and an Autumn sky. I know its a bit late for topping out - but I couldn’t do it when the frame was first finished because the weather was threatening a wet spell and I wanted to get it wrapped and roofed!!
Nesthouse Moveable Modular Small House System

I have designed the Nesthouse as a modular system – each of the three sizes 3.6m, 4.8m and 6.0m comes in a basic form (Live) available with three optional extra modules – Entry, Bathe and Sleep – giving internal areas ranging from 11.5m2 – 32.7m2
Roof nearly complete.

The Nesthouse 4.8 prototype roof is nearing completion!
Nesthouse 4.8 protoype taking shape.

The Nesthouse 4.8 is taking shape! It’s kind of under wraps though…literally!! Housewrap!
Finally - the Nesthouse prototype is ready to start!

Finally we can get on with the prototype Nesthouse 4.8, watch this space!!
Nesthouse Concept

Nesthouse Concept Graphic
Nesthouse: a moveable modular Small House with character and architectural integrity - comprising a significant entry point, functional spaces to cook, bathe, sleep and LIVE. A light and airy compact living space with organised storage and a high level of comfort and cosiness when required.
“As snug as a bird in a nest in a nestbox!”
©Jonathan Avery Tiny House Scotland 2015
Moveable Modular Small House System - codenamed Nesthouse!
I am currently working on my prototype Nesthouse Moveable Modular Small House system. This will be available in three lengths, 3.6/4.8/6.0m and two widths: 2.4m Tiny House (road towable) and 3.2m Small House (mobile on site). They range from 8.6m2 - 32.7m2.
I am aiming to have the production version available for sale from September 2015…watch this space for news!
The plan according to …. sustainability and subsisting!

Its a clear matter of principle for me that Tiny House Scotland is a micro business - I have no intentions of it becoming anything other than just myself and perhaps a son or two if they want to get involved!
I have already done the ambitious business scenario prior to the Banking Crash of 2009 with a factory, three shops and twenty employees…
or as per the cartoon Pinky and the Brain:
“what are we going to do today Pinky?” - “Same thing we do every day Master, plan to take over the World!!!”
Needless to say we had to ‘recut our cloth’ and change direction, but I have learnt a lot about myself and the world in the process. Since 2010 I have evolved a new philosophy which started when we moved to our smallholding and founded Shangri La Farm. Here we try to live frugally and sustainably and my main aim is to continue being creative and subsist simply.
I am not therefore trying to make a massive profit or capture the Tiny House market from every angle - just loving working with wooden buildings which I am passionate about. As with the whole Tiny House Concept - Less is MORE and brings greater happiness!!
Micro businesses ARE the way ahead for many people these days - a lot of the reason the unemployment figures have improved is because so many have had to fall back on their own entrepreneurial skills to put food on the table by ‘dodging’ around running a portfolio of tiny enterprises. In addition they may have found that they have also ‘recut their cloth’ and have phased out many of the previously so-called essentials of life and are happier, healthier and with less baggage
Now, I’ve just got to go and bake some bread…!
Tiny Houses on the way.

Tiny House benefits. ©JMA2015
Cabin Fever!
It was four weeks on Sunday since my hernia op…..cabin fever was beginning to bite so I decided I needed to be physically busy again. On Monday afternoon I had the cement mixer going finishing off the Tiny Barn‘s slab edge and today I spent a good few hours on tree surgery operations at Shangri La Farm. The fresh air was great and I feel as though I have actually done something rather than just sitting around all day recuperating.
Speaking of cabin fever…the modular cabin design is coming along nicely but it is still at Top Secret level so no sneak peeks I’m afraid! Here’s a tiny barn on wheels idea though:

Tiny Barn Idea
just doodling…

just doodling with a few design ideas…