It occurred to me that the process was akin to fermentation. The primary fermentation was the interaction between the architect and the client. We met several times a month, working through the scheme, moving from boxes to circles, and finally to hexagons, fine-tuning with each iteration to achieve greater livability. Once the design was filtered through the permit process, the secondary fermentation began. Over the course of a year, the interaction between the client and the contractor, which was fundamentally about costs and logistics, translated the drawings – the by-product of the primary fermentation – into the Tattuplex.

The end result of this collaboration combines exactly what Tim was hoping for the project – for sustainability, the use of prefab steel cut directly from Revit files reduced construction waste; the insulated panels, deep overhangs, and operable windows reduced energy consumption; and the herb and vegetable garden – fed both by compost and soon-to-be installed rain cisterns, provides Tim with home-grown meals. As for sexy, Tim has listed both units on AirBnB; he lives in whichever one is not rented, giving him not only the lack of attachment his Zen practice demands, but – with a steady stream of renters from Europe, Asia, and beyond – exactly the social life he was seeking.