Cabin Kits from Copeland Casati
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto 
on 12.29.08
images from Green Cabin Kits
I find it interesting that so many women have become leaders in the prefab movement. Pioneers were Jennifer Siegel, Rocio Romero and Michelle Kaufmann (this year's Residential Architect of the Year). Two years ago we were big on a Cusato; now we have Copeland Casati, who is offering Green Cabin Kits. And judging by the picture, you don't want to mess with her.
Green Cabin Kits
The designs are built from structural insulated panels, which are prefabricated in the shop and can be shipped flat-pack. Casati writes about the Urban Cabin:
Well suited for both urban and rural sites, the CornerHouse promotes passive solar heating and natural ventilation through a large veranda and glazed wall on the building’s corner....Cladding options include natural wood species, metal panels, cement fiberboard panels, and photovoltaic cells. Interiors can be upfit as desired with custom cabinetry or can utilize Ikea’s modular cabinet systems.
Green Cabin Kits
The cabins appear to be designed and produced by the Tektonics Design Group of Richmond, Virginia, which like Treehugger favourites Marmol Radziner, control both the design and fabrication in-house.
The basic shell, including SIPs, roof membrane and exterior house wrap is quoted at about $ 85 per square foot. Casati writes that the balance of the work would be about 15-20% more, bringing the total cost to about $100; I suspect it would be more like at least double. However that quibble notwithstanding, it is wonderful to see the expanding supply of more designs in more locations from more designers becoming available.
More information at Green Cabin Kits, via Jetson Green
More on Women and Prefab:
Katrina Cottage Wins People's Choice Design Award : TreeHugger
Swellhouse by Jennifer Siegel Built in Venice
takehome: affordable modernist prefab
Some Assembly Required: Contemporary Prefab Houses
Michelle Kaufmann Prefab On Exhibit In Chicago
Follow @TreeHugger on Twitter & get our headlines with @TH_rss!
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simple but beautiful architecture, and the girls pink hair is cool too
Wow, thank you so much for the mention!
I *LOVE* TreeHugger and was so excited to see this!
I would like to note that the architect of GreenCabinKits.com is the fabulous Damon Pearson of Tektonics.
My *passion* is passive solar, affordable house kits. So I raise my eyebrow at anything that does not make good design or efficiency sense that increases cost. Yes, I am keeping those GreenCabinKits.com boyz aware of the bottom line.
Y'all also might like our parent site, Green Modern Kits:
http://www.GreenModernKits.com
and our happy cottage kits at Green Cabin Kits:
http://www.GreenCottageKits.com
Unfortunately I got the credit just because the idea sprung out of my pink-haired, crafty brain. Plus I have a scythe and who can resist that? ; )
It is the architects and industrial designers who deserve the kudos- I encourage y'all to check 'em out on the "About Us" pages of each site... They're neat!
I'm also working on more volume pricing for other whole-house decisions people will need- cladding, rainwater collection and filtration, solar...
: )
Sincerely yours,
Copeland Casati
And P.s. : ) You're right, chile, I don't mess around! Stride ahead for homes that work!
"Cabin" kits? I don't think so...
...from the Merriam-Webster dictionary: Cabin, a small one-story dwelling usually of simple construction. Hmmm, let's see: not "small," not "one-story," not "simple construction," ergo not "cabin." It IS a very nice-looking "domicile." : -)