By Thomas Møller Christensen, AAU Communication & Public Affairs
Photos: Peter Cox

On a grassy field in Djursland stands a small house that, despite its only 24 square meters, holds big dreams of sustainability and freedom. Peter and Marie Cox live in the house with their two cats. After graduating and saying goodbye to city life, they chose to go their own way and build a tiny house.

"We wanted to create a home that gave us the freedom to live in a way that is consistent with our values – both economically and environmentally," says Peter.

A new way of thinking about housing

Peter and Marie's house is part of a global movement that challenges the norms and asks the question: How much space do we really need? For Peter and Marie, it was about taking a stand against the idea that you have to have both a large debt and a large house to live well.

"We wanted to show that you can live simply and still have everything you need," Peter explains.

Peter and Marie built their tiny house from scratch for around DKK 150,000 five years ago. Today, they feel that their experiences have confirmed that it is possible to live big, even if you live small.

"Living simply is a luxury. We have more time, less stress and a stronger connection to nature," says Peter.

Simple, functional and cozy

Peter and Marie's tiny house rests firmly on an old boat trailer, which gives them the freedom to take the house with them if the adventurous spirit arises. The space is small, so everything in the house has multiple functions and fits into an almost creative puzzle that makes up their home.

"It was important to us that the house should be simple and functional, but also cozy – it is our home, after all. It shouldn't be too advanced, because it can quickly become a burden," Peter explains.

The stairs to the loft hide hidden storage cupboards, the dining table can be folded up and down and a hammock serves both as a cozy spot and extra seating at the dining table.

"We've always had to think creatively to make it all fit together. But that's part of the charm," says Peter and elaborates:

"It's not about living with the very smallest, but about surrounding yourself with what really makes you happy. We have decorated ourselves with things that mean something to us – but only what we have room for."

Even though the house can be moved, Peter and Marie expect to stay here for many years to come, because the garden around the small home has become a new adventure for the couple.

"In the past, the freedom to move was an important part of our choices, but now we dream of making our little corner of the world greener and more self-sufficient – and that takes time and roots," Peter explains.

Freedom outweighs the challenges

A life of 24 square meters can be cozy, but in winter, the few square meters also mean that the house quickly gets cooler during the night.

"With such a small volume, the temperature drops faster than you might think. If we have 21-22 degrees in the evening, we can wake up to 14-15 degrees the next morning," Peter explains.

Although life on a few square meters is not for everyone, the advantages for Peter and Marie far outweigh the disadvantages. For them, it's about freedom and choosing an everyday life that makes sense.

"The simple life gives us the freedom to prioritize time over money," says Peter, adding that it is precisely freedom that has been the driving force behind their choice.

Wants to do away with prejudice

Even though tiny house life is becoming more popular, there are still many prejudices about who chooses to live small. Peter and Marie want to change these perceptions and show that the choice to live small does not necessarily mean that you live in a different way than others.

"There is a perception that people who live in tiny houses do not want to work or are too ideological. We want to show that this is not the case," says Peter.

Therefore, they created the Facebook group "The Small Potential" when they started their house project. Today, more than 9,000 people follow along as Peter and Marie share their experiences of building and living in a tiny house.

"We wanted to create a place where people can find inspiration and gain insight into what we have learned along the way, and at the same time show that you can easily work and be part of society, while choosing a simpler lifestyle," says Peter.