…The beams are recycled old–growth redwood, and the interior panelling is Port Orford cedar from a forest that is sustainably managed. Plaster on the exterior is a plaster mix with 80% of the sand replaced by vermiculite and fiberglass. The base consists of poured concrete ribs. It’s actually portable…
Note whale jawbone front rafters, big bone door handle.
…That’s one of Colin’s buildings on the land we live on (North Beach, Haida Gwaii). Pictures never really did justice to this sauna, none that I’ve seen anyway.
We were in Victoria on Christmas Day when we got the phone call from our caretaker that the structure had completely burned down. Hard come, easy go…
Jeanne-Marie built this pretty little house in the Pyrenees. She based the design on the old stone barns of the region, but used wood rather than stone.
…He dug out an area of about 120 sq. ft. in the bank, leaving the space open to the sky. His aim was to create a cave-type dwelling that was stable, dry, and free of moisture seepage through the clay walls — and to use all natural materials in the process…
Greatly inspired by the builders of the Pacific Northwest, Phil Reimers wanted to create his own tiny house paradise in Tofino. As an artist with considerable skill in working with wood, Phil was able to capitalize on the incredible resources around him including an abundance of driftwood to build himself an incredible home…
… Our cabin is small (20′ × 21′), but complete. The downstairs has two bedrooms, one of which we use for storage and a bathtub. The main downstairs is a great room design including kitchen, dining, and living areas. The large upstairs loft is our bedroom. It’s plenty of space, especially since we have the whole outdoors at our doorstep. The main float is 40′ × 40′ and we have additional floats for a variety of purposes: a dock, a floating woodshed and my floating vegetable garden…
This tiny house is a true head-turner. Made from natural, eco-friendly materials and built by Tofino couple Alan and Venita entirely as a DIY project, this impressive home is filled with very clever design elements.
The exterior is clad in a mixture of weatherboards and cedar shingles which give the home a warm cabin aesthetic. Fortunately, the couple were able to find an ideal parking spot for the tiny house which had existing hook-ups for power, water and sewage already in place for RV parking.
As we step inside this home it’s hard not to be impressed by the simple, yet beautiful and functional design. The house feels open and light, while all the timber used brings an undeniable warmth to the space. Wherever possible, this home has used natural, non-toxic materials, including natural oils and finishes and sheep’s wool insulation to keep the tiny house nice and warm in the winter…
There is something about the idea of a treehouse that truly captures the imagination. For builders, it’s a licence to let their creativity run wild and construct something which is playful and adventurous. For years now the team at Nelson Treehouse and Supply (better known as the Treehouse Masters from their hit TV show) have been doing just that. This week we were fortunate enough to be able to visit one of their latest projects in Seattle, Washington.
The treehouse is accessed by a rustic set of stairs which wrap around the trunk of the tree and curve down to the ground below.
The exterior of the treehouse is exquisitely finished, with spectacular yellow cedar shingles. A large porch area provides plenty of space to relax, entertain and enjoy being up amongst the trees…
…Alan did everything himself: carpentry, plumbing, wiring (solar electricity and hydro), and developed his own water supply. He drives a tractor, maintains several miles of roads, makes beer and wine, and raises pigs and ducks. A lot of people have started homesteads since the 60’s, but seldom have they got as far along as this…
In 1973 we published Shelter, which turned out to be station central for people interested in creating their own homes. Now, in the 21st century, we continue this dialog here online on shelter, carpentry, homesteading, gardening, and the home arts with this blog. We hope you will join us and contribute.