Klein A45 Tiny House by BIG

In 2018, Bjarke Ingels Group and Klein completed the A45 prototype, a tiny house that can be built within 4-6 months. Inspired by traditional A-frame cabins, the house also has a pitched roof and angled walls for easy rain run-off.

Klein A45 Technical Information

• Architects: BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group
• Design Principles^1-2: Bjarke Ingels, Thomas Christoffersen, Max Moriyama, Anton Bak (Klein), Rune Hansen
• Client: LiveKlein
• Topics: Retreat, Total Black
• Area: 17 m²
• Project Year: 2018
• Photographs: © Matthew Carbone

Love grows best in little houses, with fewer walls to separate. Where you eat and sleep so close together, you can’t help but communicate. If we had more room between us, think of all we’d miss.

– Doug Stone

Klein Tiny Home Photographs

Text by the Architects

A45 is the first prototype constructed in upstate New York. It will be customizable inside and out for future home-owners to purchase tailor and have the tiny house built within 4-6 months in any location, for any purpose. The design evolves from the traditional A-frame cabin, known for its pitched roof and angled walls, which allow for easy rain run-off and simple construction.

To maximize the qualities of this classic structure, A45 creates a more usable floor area by taking a square base and twisting the roof 45 degrees to raise the tiny home to a soaring 13 ft height. The resulting crystal-like shape gives A45 an ever-changing appearance. Upon entering, the 180 sqft interior space reflects a minimal Nordic abode prioritized for ‘hyggelig’ comfort and design.

From the exposed timber frame in solid pine to the Douglas Fir floor and customizable space-grade, insulating natural cork walls, A45 brings nature inside. An elegant Morsøe wood-burning fireplace is nestled in one corner, while off-the-grid equipment is tucked away in the back. A petite kitchen designed by Københavns Møbelsnedkeri, hand-crafted furniture from Carl Hansen, and a bed fitted with Kvadrat fabric designed by Soren Rose Studio are some of the handcrafted Nordic furniture to adorn A45.

The bathroom is made of cedar wood with fixtures by VOLA. A45 is assembled in modules on-site and consists of 100% recyclable materials, including the timber frame, wall modules, a subfloor, and the triangular floor-to-ceiling window featuring seven glass pieces that allow natural daylight to illuminate the interiors. Four concrete piers slightly elevate the structure to give optimal support and allow homeowners to place their tiny house in even the most remote areas without the use of heavy machinery.

Klein Tiny House Plans

Klein Tiny House by BIG Gallery

About Bjarke Ingels Groups

Bjarke Bundgaard Ingels is a Danish architect, founder, and creative partner of Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). The studio has worked on numerous projects all over the world, all sharing a visionary view and an interest in innovative theories about contemporary society and lifestyles. Its two offices in Copenhagen and New York bring together professionals from all over the world, promoting cultural exchange as a source of wealth in design.

1. Design Team: Jian Yong Khoo, Kalina Piłat, Tianqi Zhang, Sara Ibrahim
2. Collaborators: Soren Rose Studio, Dinesen, Morsø, Gaggenau, Kvadrat, Carl Hansen & Søn, Suite New York, Københavns Møbelsnedkeri, XAL, Vola