Building a very small low budget house - space saving tips desparately required

[dejags]

As many might know - I live in South Africa.

We are due to emigrate to Australia soon and as a parting gesture, DH and I have decided that we would like to pay towards building a small home for the lady who works for us (she is a combination childminder/housekeeper).

At the moment, Noma lives, like many millions of South Africans in an "informal settlement", her home is a shack, consisting of tin walls and roof, with no bathroom facilities or running water. She does have electricity - and considers herself fortunate for this.

We hope to build her a brick home with a proper roof, running water, electricity and of course with a bathroom.

The thing is, is that she has four children so needs at least two bedrooms. Building costs are per m2 and as we don't have unlimited funds, we need to come up with a good way to maximise space on a budget.

I have so far come up with:

1. Bathroom with shower only
2. Bedrooms - this is the huge conundrum, currently the children share 1 bed (yes all 4 of them!!), I would dearly love to see them all in their own beds, but the only way I can see this happening is by putting in two sets of double bunks, which will leave precious little space for a desk, etc (their eldest child starts High School next year and will need a study space).
3. Kitchen, I will be buying them a washing machine, is it ever feasible to plumb a washing machine outside (i.e. under a lean-to or something similar, or will the machine just rust?)

Sorry for this rambling brain dump, but I need to get this sorted ASAP because we are leaving in 7 weeks and time is limited.

TIPs? Hints?

TIA.

JATHL - I would LOVE to do that. I have googled and cannot find any resources pointing me in the right direction though.

Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks JATHL.

I have since spoken to the Building Inspector at the Municipality which covers her area. Unfortunately, where she lives is not an area designated for any RDP housing any time within the next 10-15 years so we are at the mercy of independent builders.

I am trying to get the bank involved - at least this way they will ensure that regular inspections take place before money is handed out.

I lived in Tokyo, where the average family seems to live in around 30 sqm (people kept asking us how many kids we had 'cause we wanted more than 20 sqm!).

Washing machines usually outside or on balcony.

The whole of the bathroom was tiled and had a drain in the floor, effectively the bathroom was a shower cubicle wit a sink and an upright bath in it (japanese baths are very small but deep, you kneel in them. Separate toilet.

Beds are futons which are rolled up and stored during the day.

Fold down tables for dining/kitchen workspace. I've seen a place where the kitchen table is attached to the door and folds down, so when the door is closed you can use that space. '

Lovely project, if I think of anything else I'll come back.

Slightly lower ceiling in bathroom/toilet and storage above.

Wow IB! 30sqm for a family! Thats insane.

Even N's existing accomdation is bigger than that.

I like the idea of the futons - I will look into it.

these plans are interesting too

There is an irish charity which builds houses in South African townships. There is a sample plan of their houses on this page of their website I think (at the bottom of the page). They have lots of experience in this kind of thing and may be able to give you advice.

I have seen a cooker hob that folds away so that the space underneath can be used as worktop - it was in a studio flat with the teeniest tiniest kitchen

I'll see if I can find something similar online or failing that if you CAT me I should be able to find a photo (long, boring story as to why we took a photo of a cooker!)