Luxurious Little Cabin Built to Weather Out Northern Winters

Updated October 11, 2018

We're big fans of sheds and cabins here on TreeHugger, and for good reason. They boil space down to only what is needed -- a roof, four walls and basic comforts, and when built under a certain square footage, they don't need a building permit to go up, meaning that DIYers can build all sorts of interesting little structures.

Fernie, British Columbia's The Little Cabin Company custom builds these luxurious little 12’ by 11’3” cabins that are well-insulated with blown recycled fiber, which can withstand Canada's northern temperatures.

© Little Cabin Company

Intended as glamper-type ("glamourous camping") digs that are apparently quite popular in Europe, or as a backyard office space or yoga studio, these small cabins come in at 104 square feet, just under the 107 square feet that's generally needed for a building permit in Canada, though interested buyers should double-check their local regulations.

© Little Cabin Company

Nicknamed "Cobby" (meaning "little house" in Newfoundland lingo), the cabin's materials are all sourced from Canada, and the siding is made from sustainably harvested cedar. It's built with low-voltage LEDs, and the company offers a solar package as well. It's fully wired, ready to be hooked up to electricity or to solar. Says company director Jude Smith:

[The Cobby] is highly insulated and requires minimal energy to heat. It can also be plugged directly into a standard power supply. It is delivered fully assembled and can be installed very quickly without the need for poured foundations. We estimate around two to four hours for installation.

© Little Cabin Company

Here's a peek at what's inside the walls, and the hookup point for electricity.

The roof is quite distinctive, the company tells us: "Roof shape is designed to give height for extra accommodation, but also for the snow load. We live in the mountains and a standard cabin or pod roof won't manage the snow load." The space inside is cozy, but thanks to that extra-high roof-line, feels a little more spacious.

The cost of the cabin seen in the photos is admittedly not cheap at approximately USD $19,200, but the company can spec up or down depending on a client's requirements, or can also build it larger, add a deck, or even a washroom.