About Us

It’s just one guy and his story.

Jay Shafer is recognized as an expert in small living. He is a designer specializing in sustainable architecture and urban planning. He has lectured extensively on these subjects for such venues as the Eco-Dwelling program at New College, the Boston Architectural Center and the University of Iowa’s School of Art and Art History, where he served as Adjunct Assistant Professor for more than a decade.

Jay’s designs and essays have appeared in a number of periodicals, books, and television shows including “Fine Homebuilding”, “The Wall Street Journal”, “The New York Times”, “CNN”, “Oprah”, and “This Old House”. Awards include selection for the American Institute of Architect’s 2005 Sustainable Design Symposium (Dee Williams, collaborator), and Natural Home’s Home of the Year Award for Innovative Design in 2000.

He currently lives in an 89 square-foot home of his own creation in Sebastopol, California.