Talking to Jay Shafer About Making the Universal House. Few names are as closely associated with small living as Jay Shafer, the man who practically invented what is now known as the tiny house. Tiny houses have become a minimalist design and lifestyle ideal. Their tiny size permits no extraneous stuff. They occupy a fraction of the spatial and carbon footprint of a normal home. They are usually owned outright, sidestepping expensive mortgages and financial institutions. And by virtue of their trailer mounting, they can often avoid traditional building regulations. Jay invented the species back in the late nineties after he wanted something more suitable for year-round habitation than the 100 sq ft Airstream he’d been living in for a couple years.
Though there may be public indications to the contrary, Jay has not been with Tumbleweed for a couple years. David Friedlander: What happened with Tumbleweed? Jay Shafer: I took on a business partner a few years back. DF: Let’s step back a second. JS: I never set out to design tiny houses. Tumbleweed Tiny House Company. Four Lights Tiny House Company by Jay Shafer.