The tiny house movement is as much about lifestyle as it is size of dwelling. Simplicity and efficiency are key characteristics of such a house. Not only is Stereotank's Taku-Tanku very small, it has few components, can be easily assembled, and even towed by a bicycle.

Gizmag has featured a number of other portable tiny houses. The Leaf House, for example, is small enough to tow with a car but can still accommodate a family of four, whilst the Salsa Box is smaller, but squeezes a huge amount into 9 sq m (96 sq ft). The Taku-Tanku is similar in size to the Salsa Box, but is much less palatial.

The design, created by Stereotank in collaboration with Takahiro Fukuda, was created for the Little House Competition in Saitama, Japan, earlier this year. It is made primarily of two 3,000 l (670 gal) water tanks that are connected by a ring of wood. In addition to joining the two tanks, the wooden ring also incorporates an entrance and a skylight.

The Taku-Tanku can accommodate two to three people and has a compartment to store some luggage or belongings

The Taku-Tanku is aimed at being compact and affordable. Its interior can accommodate two to three people and has a compartment to store some luggage or belongings. It is also equipped with solar-powered LED lights. There are no frills inside, however. The house is simply said to be easy to build with off-the-shelf and re-purposed materials, and able to provide shelter in a variety of landscapes.

The house sits on a two-wheeled trailer and Stereotank says it is light enough to to be pulled along by one or two people or towed by a bicycle. It can also be towed by a car or even, the company suggests, by a boat.

The Taku-Tanku can be pulled by hand or towed by bike

Stereotank is in the process of looking for a sponsor to fund a prototype of the Taku-Tanku. It is expected that a first prototype would cost in the region of US$8,000 to $10,000.

Source: Stereotank