The Light Shed, a fibreglass-clad multi-functional shed in London by Architect Richard John Andrews.

The 12-sqm studio was constructed by Andrews and his assistant in just 21 days.

📷 Chris Snook.

The prefabbed Cabin Y by @dmva_architects in Belgium was designed to be easily transportable with a flatbed trailer, with a related goal to be as light as possible. The construction system consists of ten wooden frames that are connected by stainless steel tension cables in an X-shape, whereby the tensile and compressive forces are neutralized when lifting with a crane. Between the sandwich panels there is thermal insulation of hemp fiber. The exterior cladding is burnt larch and inside they used oiled white pine. Burning wood is a natural way to make wood sustainable without using chemicals. 

The unit is equipped with a toilet, a shower and sleeping for two. Solar panels on the roof provide renewable energy. The front facade is entirely in glass with a steel frame as pivoting door. 

“…clad in Weathertex, a carbon neutral product of compressed sawdust and wax panels, measures in at just 150 square feet (14 sqm), is prefabricated, and portable…”

an off-the-grid cabin by Fresh Prince

Introducing a newly-completed summer cabin project in the Finnish Archipelago, conceived and created together by partners Milla Selkimäki and Aleksi Hautamäki.

They call it the Project Ö, where “Ö” means ‘an island’ in Swedish. They purchased the 5-acre island, on the edge of the Archipelago National Park, two years ago and have since built the main cabin with a sauna and the workshop.

The buildings pay a tribute to the traditional Finnish archipelago aesthetics, with cabled roof, long eaves, extended gutters and vertical cladding. The shape of the cabins is long and narrow, which allows for large window surfaces with varying views, as well as possibilities for very different types of functions at the opposite ends of the building; for example, sundowner drinks with friends at one end, while the kids are sleeping in the other.  

The vision was to have all things necessary with as little space as possible. All individual spaces have been designed to be as compact as they can without compromising the functionality and comfort. The two buildings are just 70m² in total, yet they sleep 10 adults comfortably if needed.

Their island is totally self-sufficient, as it uses solar power for energy and filtered sea water for drinking. The houses have running water, flush toilet, heating, cooling, and a modern kitchen. Hot running water is produced with a sauna stove and the same system provides heating to the floors.

You can follow along by following @project_archipelago

Photos by @Archmospheres.

A tiny off-grid cabin designed and built by Alice Nivison + Richie Northcott. Perched on the edge of the Cobark River in the remote range of Barrington Tops, Australia

The 160-square foot cabin was made inside a warehouse and towed to the remote site.The pre-fab, portable design means it can perch on the river’s edge, and towed up the banks if the river rises, to avoid being swept away. Built as a timber framed structure with a birch ply interior, a black birch kitchen and fibre cement bathroom with exposed copper plumbing the cabin was created in just over 60 days.

The off-grid design uses solar-power, a composting loo and water collected from the River. Large windows surround the bed, and french doors open out to the river to give a feeling of expansiveness to the dwelling’s tiny footprint.