ON-CENTER

I'm trying a new thing here.

I’ve been working diligently behind the scenes exploring better ways to connect with y’all, provide authentic value, and continue this conversation around our narratives of ‘Home’.

The term, “on-center”, often abbreviated "OC" (or "o.c.)," is commonly used in construction drawings, architectural plans, and woodworking designs to indicate the distance between the center of one framing member to the center of the next member.

As a mirror to this technical convention, Micro Modula aims to align design, materials and process with intentions. It's a constant work in progress to get in right relationship with design for the self, community, and the natural world.

So welcome, and pull up a *virtual* seat.

‘on-center: aligning design with intention’ is a new monthly snapshot of tips, stories, and tools to help you align with your personal journey towards ‘Home’. I hope you enjoy!

Let's build.

Do I think tiny houses are the end-all be-all solution for our current housing crisis? Probably not. But if 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that Capitalism is fragile. The housing system we currently have in place is un-sustainable (with deep roots in racism and inequality). Even the tiny house movement has layers of privilege and whiteness that needs to be more openly addressed (but more on that later).

We need to collectively re-imagine housing options that serve everyone, not just those grandfathered into wealth or resources. One of the main reasons sought a tiny house back when I started in 2015 was to become a more resilient person. For that, I’m super grateful and feel privileged now at times like this.

So let’s get in it. I hope you enjoy.

But let me back up a little, have you peeped my mini-doc yet? With the help of the SUPER talented Sarah Winters and Julie Cohen, I was able to tell a little more about my tiny house backstory and process.

Check it out:

Photo: Stacy Keck

Photo: Stacy Keck

FRAMING

After I got the trailer back to my build site, I looked at it for weeks, not knowing where to even start. Now that I have this trailer, how the heck am I gonna make this thing a livable house? How do I frame this thing? Wood? Aluminum? Steel? Although I had absolutely no experience with metal, the more I evaluated, I felt like the structure needed to keep the same steel frame material.

The used trailer I purchased was a custom ATV trailer built in the 90's. It was designed to haul motorcycles and bikes out to the desert, hence the double deck. It was framed using 2x2" 11 gauge square tubing. The original intent was to enclose the existing frame. But after I got the trailer back to my build site, I determined that the existing frame was too small for my needs. The interior roof sat just above 6' and the interior width, just over 7'. I realized if I were to enclose it as so, I would definitely feel cramped. So, I re-framed my thinking and decided to re-frame the trailer, again out of steel.

Directing on Day 1 of build

On the first day of the build we cut off the existing frame, leaving the flatbed naked. This first day humbled me to my core - I realized, "oh, s***, what did I just get myself into? Proceeding this first day came months of building back a new frame that would suit my needs. We started by adding 1' to the width, and 3' to the interior ceiling height.

Starting anew - my oh s*** moment after we chopped off my original frame.

What I thought would take a couple months ended up taking over a year. Why so long? Primarily because I chose to go with a steel frame. I hired a structural welding friend to get me going.  For the first couple of months, I got schooled in metalworking basics - sourcing, cutting, grinding, and prepping the metal for my welder. Within about six months of building, I became more confident in working with metal. I took a "Mig" welding class at my local DIY fabrication shop. Then another welder friend moved out the country and gifted me his flux core welding machine. I started slowly and began welding myself. This tiring but thrilling new skill propelled my confidence to keep going with this huge undertaking.

Finally welding on my own!

TRAILER

          It took me 8 months of research, planning and saving before I finally bought my trailer. I scoured Craiglist until one day, I found a used ATV trailer in LA. I rallied a friend to drive up to LA and check it out with me. Everything checked out - good tires, solid metal frame, double axles. It had the perfect bones for my project. I had already invested almost a year of my life getting to this point, but up until then, it still wasn't tangible. As I was finishing up the transaction, I could feel the excitement and pride swell up inside me. Then, I got a text from my mom. She was on her way to the Philippines to see my ill grandmother. But, she did not make it in time to say goodbye. My grandmother passed away moments before I embarked on my greatest life journey. Stunned,  I took a long breath, and cried. The two extremes of utter joy and a longing sadness shook me into a humble reality. Grounded, I felt, more than ever to pursue my dreams and my creative truth from the path that my ancestors paved for me. I bought the trailer, and named her "Lola", which means grandmother in Tagalog. I dedicated my build to the both of my grandmothers, (both immigrants). Without their resilience, grit, and fire I would not be who I am or where I am today. Right then, I could tell this build was going to be so much more that just a house.