JULY 2020
Seven years ago, Bryce Langston, with partner Rasa Pescud, launched the YouTube channel Living Big in a Tiny House to explore and showcase the tiny home movement from around the globe. With nearly 3.5 million subscribers and a view count standing just shy of half-a-million, it’s easily in the top five most successful online New Zealand shows, and climbing.
“I never expected it to be quite so wellreceived,” beams Bryce. “It all started from me wanting to build my own tiny home. I thought it would be an interesting opportunity to create some videos and create some conversation around alternative housing and maybe inspire a few people. The growth of the channel has been unbelievable and we’re super proud of the show and the response it generates.” Why do you think that it has been so wellreceived? “For a lot of people, life is so hectic, and I think they’re drawn to things that may create a little more resilience in their lives, a little more freedom. In addition, while architecture shows such as Grand Designs are great to watch, for many—‘generation rent’ especially—they can be disheartening. Most younger people will simply never be able to build those multimillion-dollar homes, but tiny homes are seen as achievable projects.” Bryce’s easy-going manner and inquisitive style of presenting no doubt also helps lure and hook viewers, too. No stranger to being in front of the lens (Rasa is the one behind the camera), Bryce has previously starred in Shortland Street and Spartacus. He’s also a talented singersongwriter and in 2018 published his first book, also called Living Big in a Tiny House.
staggering in their imagination and execution, including one legendary example that unfolds from a trailer into a castle replete with turrets. “One of the earlier tiny houses that had a real impact was in Japan, built by a master craftsman called Mr Tagami,” recalls Bryce. “Whereas in Western tiny homes, people generally look to find ways to cram as much in as possible, his philosophy centred around only putting in what was necessary. His attention to detail was breathtaking—he even made sure that all of the timber lined up so that the grain ran continuously throughout, with nothing to break up the eyeline and the harmony. It really influenced what I thought possible in small space design.” Is minimalism something that has always interested you? “I’ve always enjoyed travel and have moved frequently, spending a lot of time overseas, so never really had the opportunity to acquire lots of things—whether or not my personality leads me to being that way, I don’t know!”
“I think that another reason the show works is that I’m not someone who goes out there pretending to be an expert,” says Bryce. “Everything I’ve learnt, I’ve learnt on the job. I’m not afraid to ask questions.” Episodes are generally 15-20 minutes long, covering topics such as innovative DIY tips and ingenious storage solutions (stairs that double as hidden drawers is stand-out example), while following countless folk who have embarked on a tiny home journey. The houses are often Rasa Pescud and Bryce Langston
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