This is my style! I have lived in tiny cabins with an outhouse before, and it was all so simple and easy. My dream is to build a tiny camp like this and make it my permanent home. It certainly keeps me from collecting junk when my space is small.

Lloyd -

I just can't understand how you can possibly think these industrial boxes that you so admire could in any fashion be attractive. The last thing we need is for beautiful landscape to be turned into what would appear to be an abandoned factory site.

And "corrugated copper" siding?

Are you not aware of the problems of copper theft? How long do you think the siding would stay on this box?

Lloyd -

I just can't understand how you can possibly think these industrial boxes that you so admire could in any fashion be attractive. The last thing we need is for beautiful landscape to be turned into what would appear to be an abandoned factory site.

And "corrugated copper" siding?

Are you not aware of the problems of copper theft? How long do you think the siding would stay on this box?

I like a good joke as much as the next guy ...

Copper siding?
Even if no one steals it the security is minimal. A pair of hand sheers will cut it.

Worse, a high viability, high heat transfer surface is not ideal in living quarters.

Why is a site that is focused on minimal human foot print on the environment pushing a "permanent" cabin? (and yes it's technically a cabin)

Wouldn't it make more sense to promote a "leave no trace" campsite with temporary and removable tents? Just a thought.

It looks like a Dalek.

I am typing all the following with a smile and no ill will :)

It would seem kind of silly for an architect to design and win an award for "dirt to put a tent on and leave no trace on" If that happened I imagine Treehugger would blog about it! But that didn't happen, some guy built a cabin, and won an award.

What is the obsession on this blog with policing entries. Since when does posting about something mean you are promoting it.If it does imply promotion, since when does it imply "THIS IS 100% TREEHUGGING." As much as I would like to imagine we all are reading this from tiny beautiful efficient off grid shacks with lush gardens outside....I am pretty sure most of us are just wasting time at work and letting our computers eat up energy so we can eco-masturbate and play out our sustainable day dreams.

No one is going to do something crazy and terrible to the world because of this post. A story about leave no trace camping didn't get deleted from the interwebs so this story could take its place.

It looks to me like a tragic waste of expensive copper that would be better used for electrical conductors (which are increasingly being replaced by less efficient aluminum as copper becomes more expensive).

Steve you had some funny points in there and did raise some good issues. (And I don't take offence to your comments at all)

But here's the heart of the matter for me really. The reality is that no matter how smartly designed, no one is going to live in what amounts to a tin box on the top of a hill.

That being said if someone did have a cabin (I refuse to call any permanent structure camping) as the one describes that means they likely live somewhere else. So now we have a person using more materials spread over greater distances and meanwhile there are probably more efficient, smarter ways to enjoy the outdoors.

To answer your comment about policing entries. I think there is a point to raising the issue about whether posts are valid to be on this site or not. This site has very clear aims, and it has a very clear goal. Something that is illustrated time and again as they discuss serious issues of policy about environmental items etc. Therefore I think it only makes sense to question whether a given topic fits within the context of the site. If the blog title was "Steve blog of whatever" then you can post pretty much whatever you want and no one can critique whether it's appropriate.

You also question whether postin something actually means you're promotiing it. If you aren't trying to communicate some sort of idea when you add a post then what are you trying to do? The very act of posting something online is the promotion of an idea. Even my responses here are promotions of ideas, so was your response. So I think it's fair to question what it is the poster is trying to communicate, in this case it's even more relevant if you consider the aims of this website.

Had the posts above been on an architectural blog, no problem in fact I would see the relevance. But considering it's on treehugger a site with very clear aims and goals I think my comment above questioning it's validity is fair and justified.

As an aside I often scratch my head at the some of the architectural postings on this site. (Yes I know some of the authors have an architectural background, and there is a large green movement in architecture) Many times the posts in here seem more to be about architecture porn than having any relevance to green topics.

I agree with Monk on what I believe is the reason some entries on the Architecture section of TH get so much criticism- I've found out about a lot of interesting buildings here but no matter how innovative or beautiful I find them they seem a bit off-topic.

This cabin here appeals effectively to the ideal of a refuge in the wild we all have and a fundamental empathic connection with nature but ultimately it isn't relevant in responding the needs of our planet or its inhabitants, despite its water storage effort.
It's a nice entry in architecture blog but in order to be TH material it would have to show a bigger environmental potential in a larger scale.
In order to make a difference.

i like this little cabin but it needs to be a little bigger. and all you fucking tree hugging hippies need to get a job like the rest of us.

Although not an avid TH reader I'm involved and interested in this stuff and feel like I have to comment on this. The needs of the site are very different to what most US situations need. Being a fellow southern hemisphere dweller (south africa), I can relate a little.

The desire is to get outside of the city and into some of the unspoilt surroundings but how to do it? This is a good example in my opinion but especially for its specific surroundings.

- considering its a green-field site he placed it on stilts and built up rather out
- the copper, although a more scarce material, will age better than other corrugated sheeting (used extensively in SA and AUS), therefore dealing with local vernacular and readily available material but slowly blending into the grey-green landscape found in both countries
- addressing water concerns (important in both countries) by relying on rain-fall and using a composting 'long-drop' toilet (an assumption based on what is often used in similar places in SA)
- fire concerns are ever-present and the metal siding provides perhaps the best protection possible

So in reference to TH, 'larger message' appropriateness, if you're looking at various climates and countries, definitely. If you're looking for US specific solutions, maybe not. For me personally, I know a handful of friends living in similar situations and few are as elegant or functional as this.

I agree with Lloyd that this structure has a less-is-more appeal about it, and any post that inspires an appreciation for "less-is-more" is a post that is appropriate for TreeHugger in my opinion. And, although a structure such as this certainly doesn't match the eco-friendliness of a tent, it does represent a step in the right direction when compared to the full-scale / fully-wired second homes or vacation rentals that many Americans retreat to.

TheMonk: Dirt-cave living may be low-impact, but how many people are you going to get to sign up for that? Might it not be better in the end to inspire the masses away from plywood palaces and McMansions?

How something like this gets an award, and the hooch (another vastly better small footprint structure) gets no recognition, is mystifying. Yes, I love our hooch, and we do indeed almost permanent camp- in our backyard. Our 950 square foot house? Our teenage daughter can have that, sharing with our "back for the summer" son. Laura and I spend our time up in the trees- in the hooch. Secure, quiet, with a killer view- and no permanent foundation! I built a hooch in St. John to be used as a guest house- roof water collection, vernacular furniture (made from local bamboo), pre-fabricated (minimal waste), small footprint (literally and figuratively), and beautiful!
www.tropical-treehouse.com

I cant believe how negative some of these comments are! I use this site for inspiration and just seeing this one post has given me a heap of ideas!
Of course the copper sidings are not secure and use valuable resource but as far as i can see he isnt starting a production line of these things is he?
I just wish i could see more photos of it, detail of the inside..

1) It is NOT copper cladding, it is corragated iron cladding, and no one in there right mind will pinch it as it is dirt cheap and people give the stuff away down here, it is common roofing tin.

2) yes I agree it is as ugly as a hat full of arseholes, but function begets form for a minimalist lifestyle, on a bush block.

3) to reduce sun heat building up from the corragated Iron, a simple silver wrap of reflective insulation is all that is required under the tin cladding.

4) I am assuming the entire structure was built using recycled materials as it looks old!

5) Yep it beats me how it recieved any sort of award, just looks like any old knock up run of the mill donger you find around these parts.

Cheers & frothy beers
Beau