How Fabian’s Tiny House Journey Reflects His Path to Self-Discovery and Freedom
Fabian Low, originally from Singapore, is a man who found his calling in the quiet spaces of a tiny house in New Zealand. Living in this minimalist structure, he has created a sanctuary that reflects his personal journey, from a rebellious student in Singapore to a counselor and mental health practitioner in Auckland.
Fabian’s tiny house, inspired by shipping containers, stands out amidst the green pastures, a modern piece of design with a monochrome exterior. This two-story structure, which cost him NZ$220,000 to build, includes a fully equipped kitchen, a cozy living area, and a bedroom with a projector for entertainment.
For Fabian, the tiny house movement symbolizes freedom, simplicity, and sustainability, values that have always resonated with him. Having explored a variety of careers—community building, music, and gardening—he now focuses on narrative counseling, a field that blends his love for stories and his personal experiences of navigating identity.
Fabian’s journey hasn’t been without struggle. Growing up in Singapore, he felt the weight of academic pressure and an expectation to conform. This pressure, coupled with feelings of inadequacy, led him to seek a fresh start in New Zealand at the age of 14. However, the move didn’t instantly solve his challenges. In New Zealand, he still faced issues of racism and alienation, especially in Christchurch, where he felt disconnected from the local community.
His travels and experiences, including attending the Burning Man festival in the United States and learning from spiritual ceremonies in Canada, deeply influenced his philosophy. These events helped him embrace a mindset of interconnectedness, symbolized by the circular thinking he was taught at the Sun Dance Ceremony. This thinking emphasized the importance of the heart and senses over the rigid logic of efficiency and linear progress that he had been raised with in Singapore.
Returning to New Zealand in 2017 with a new sense of self, Fabian decided to build his tiny house, inspired by the communal living and self-expression he had encountered at Burning Man. The land for his tiny house was obtained through a local website that supports the tiny house movement. The process was far from easy, requiring hard work and a DIY mentality, but it ultimately resulted in a home that is more than just a physical structure—it is a reflection of his journey toward self-discovery.
Now, Fabian’s tiny house is more than a place to live; it is a space filled with personal memories and symbols of his past, including shells from Singapore and a garden where he grows food. His lifestyle is simple, sustainable, and deeply connected to nature, with llamas, goats, and chickens sharing the land with him.
Through his tiny house, Fabian has found a place where he can truly be himself, and he hopes his story inspires others to carve out spaces in their lives where they can do the same, no matter how constrained their circumstances may be.
