Canada showcased within small home exhibit

A local engineer technologist has created tiny home designs to reflect every province in the country.

John Robinson is part owner of Robinson Residential Design and is the creative think tank behind the new exhibit at the Saskatchewan Science Centre.

“We wanted each of these houses to reflect the varied terrain and culture and just the way people live in different provinces and territories,” Robinson said.

The 13 small home designs are on display at the science centre apart of the Canada 150 Small Homes Exhibition. The exhibit also features 3D printed scale models of the small homes.

John Robinson w’ Robinson Residential Design explains the idea was sparked by his brother with a touch of competitiveness. He said his brother designed #Canada150 stained glass & asked John what he was creating to celebrate… 13 Small home floor plans emerged from there! #YQR pic.twitter.com/4L4mlJdhRh

— Jessika Guse (@JessikaGuse) February 1, 2018

One design that stands out amongst them all is the small home for Saskatchewan. The home resembles a grain elevator.

“Saskatchewan was actually the second design I did and it was originally planned to have a flat roof — just like Saskatchewan,” Robinson said with a chuckle. “It was going to be the shape of Saskatchewan and it was going to have a lot of technology like solar panels on the roof but be very simple.”

Robinson said as he worked on the Sask. design many people came up to him hinting he should design it like a grain elevator in which, he finally gave in.

“One of the funny things about the Sask. model is the island in the kitchen is the only time Saskatchewan will be an island because it’s the shape of Saskatchewan,” he said adding every detail both inside and out was made to reflect the province.

Robinson said they’ve already sold some of the Canada 150 small home designs to people across the country and even in the U.S. What came as a surprise to him, was that someone in South America is currently inquiring about the grain elevator design.

“We’re firm believers in the fact that not all houses should be the same size — we need to have the same options when we build a house that we have if we buy a car,” he said. “A house doesn’t have to be a certain size to be home.”

Robinson said that he hopes more dialogue opens up around building tiny homes in the future. Adding that right now there’s legislation and zoning bylaws to prevent people from exploring the smaller house option.

“I think that’s going to change — it has to change with house prices the way they are and just the fact that housing in its current form is out of reach for so many people.”

Robinson said a person could potentially build a tiny home for as little as $75,000, not including the land, and that’s if the person would do most of the labor.

The small home exhibit wraps up at the end of March.