HOUSTON – As the year draws to a close, we look back on a memorable ensemble of small houses featured on one of Houston's annual home tours.

This year's Rice Design Alliance (RDA) Home Tour, Small Houses x9, featured nine houses under 2,000 square feet, including two Hometta houses (48' House and Shot-trot), this year's winner of the 99K House Competition and Rice University's entry to the Solar Decathlon.

Prior to the home tour, Hometta founder Mark Johnson was invited to discuss – with representatives from the banking, development and government sectors – some of the issues that necessitate trends toward smaller, more efficient houses.

Watch the podcast to hear some of Johnson's thoughts.

From top: 48' House by Interloop—Architecture, Shot-trot by Brett Zamore Design.