Teen Luke Thill Builds $1,500 Sustainable Tiny House in Iowa

At age 13, Luke Thill designed and constructed an 8‑square‑metre tiny house in his parents' backyard in Dubuque, Iowa. Funding the project with $1,500, he sourced about 75 % of the materials through recycling and bartering, including electrical work in exchange for cleaning a garage. The wooden structure featured a compact kitchen, a fold‑down table, a loft bed, and a small refrigerator, but lacked permanent plumbing.

Thill documented the year‑long build on his YouTube channel, which attracted widespread attention and led him to become the youngest exhibitor at a national tiny‑house convention. After completing the house, he put it up for sale and eventually left the channel in 2021. Now 23, Thill has moved on from the project, which remains a notable example of youth‑led sustainable DIY construction.