- Jenina, 36, and Adam, 38, spent about $60,000 building a tiny house in the Philippines countryside.
- They were inspired by the design of shepherd’s huts in the UK, where Adam is originally from.
- Now, they’re renting it out on Airbnb, and rates start from $150 a night.
Jenina, 36, and her husband Adam, 38, have always wanted to own a tiny house in the woods.
The couple, who met as students at a party while studying in the UK, dreamed of having a cozy place they could escape to and reconnect with nature.
The two of them — who asked to be identified only by their first names for privacy reasons — were living in Bulacan, a province in the Philippines, at the time. Bulacan is about an hour’s drive from the capital city of Manila.
Every weekend, they would visit the 22-hectare farm owned by Jenina’s parents.
The couple always thought it’d be a good idea to have a small retreat there, somewhere they could bask in nature. The family farm is in Doña Remedios Trinidad, also known by the acronym DRT, in the Bulacan countryside. In July 2023, they turned their tiny house dream into a reality.
“Initially, we envisioned this property as our personal holiday retreat— a sanctuary for relaxation,” Jenina, who co-owns a digital marketing agency, told Business Insider. “Being fans of tiny homes, we loved the idea of creating something minimalist yet functional.”
Designed like a shepherd’s hut
The couple was inspired by the design of shepherds’ huts in the UK, where Adam was originally from, and decided to model their tiny home after it.
“We’ve always been fans of shepherd’s huts for their practicality and charm. Their unique compact design inspired us, especially since they aren’t widely known in the Philippines but are quite iconic in the UK,” Jenina said.
The couple thought the distinctive style of the shepherd’s hut would stand out aesthetically against the surrounding greenery, she said.
The land was previously used as a pineapple plantation and to grow other fruit and vegetable crops. The couple made sure to build on a spot that was already cleared so that no trees had to be cut, she said.
The whole construction process took about eight months, and the couple worked with a structural engineer and an architect to complete the project.
They said the hilly terrain of the plot made things especially challenging.
“We had to dig out four septic tanks and lay a solid foundation, bringing in a structural engineer to ensure the build was both secure and sustainable,” Jenina said.
She said it was also difficult to transport building materials to the remote site, as it was miles from the nearest main road.
It didn’t help that there was no electricity back then either, she added.
Sourcing materials was another major hurdle since finding unique items like cast iron wheels, and frames required custom orders, which the couple collaborated on with a local architect.
“Managing the entire project ourselves tested our patience and problem-solving skills, but seeing the final result made all the challenges worthwhile,” she said.
Turning it into a vacation rental
The two of them aren’t the only ones who have hopped onto the tiny house movement.
As housing keeps getting more expensive for people all around the world, tiny houses represent a cheaper alternative to real estate.
Six people who live in tiny houses previously told BI that it was a way for them to improve their finances. Not only did they reduce their housing expenses, living in a tiny house also forced them to reevaluate their daily spending habits.
“We evaluate what we buy a lot more carefully, which in turn ends up saving money from those ‘I need to have this’ moments. This allows us to invest back into our lives,” Tim, a tiny house blogger in Florida, told BI previously.
Jenina says they spent about 3.5 million Philippines pesos, or $60,000, to build the tiny house, including the cost of the landscaping around the structure.
The tiny house measures about 194 square feet and has a double bed, a sofa bed, a mini kitchen, and a full bathroom.
The internal and external walls are made of fiber cement, which helps keep the interior cool and comfortable even in tropical weather, Jenina said.
The curved roof is also crafted with durable Polyvinyl Chloride material that can last up to 50 years — much longer than traditional roofing options, she said.
Although the hut was meant to be their little getaway, the couple relocated to Cambodia in July this year after Adam accepted a job offer. He’s a brand director for a luxury goods brand.
With the move, the couple also decided to turn their shepherd’s hut into a guesthouse so that others could enjoy the space.
The tiny house — which can accommodate up to four adults — is available for rent on Airbnb or through their Facebook, with rates starting from 8,500 Philippine pesos on weekdays and 10,000 Philippine pesos on weekends and holidays.
The tiny hut is surrounded by plenty of natural sights that guests can enjoy, such as the Biak-Na-Bato National Park, and the Verdivia Falls, a waterfall with clear pools popular for swimming and relaxing, Jenina said.
Their family members use the hut often, and the couple will always pop by for a quick stay whenever they’re back in the Philippines to visit the family.
While living in the tiny hut permanently isn’t in their immediate plans, they’re definitely open to the idea in the future.
“Our favorite part of the hut is the stairs at the front. From there, you can take in the breathtaking view of the mountains. It’s the perfect spot to relax and connect with nature,” she said.
Have you recently relocated to a new country and found your dream home? If you have a story to share, contact this reporter at agoh@businessinsider.com.
