Part prototype, part experiment, but entirely excellent, this mobile shelter was a design/build labor of love from its scrappy start to its rustic finish.

Aaron Maret made this 200-square-foot structure mainly from reclaimed and salvaged materials and local upcycled hardwoods.

After spending time downsizing and living in it himself, he has put the building up for sale … and unfortunately been criticized by some for his $64,000 asking price. Sure it is a lot per square foot, but unique and custom come at a cost – critics are of course welcome to construct their own.

From its creator: “This tiny house on wheels is a synthesis of thoughtful design, detail-oriented craftsmanship, and a healthy dose of patience. Five years in the making (longer if you count the design time), this has been a labor of love and a playful experiment in alternative construction… and living.”

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A two-story courtyard featuring an oculus for six willow trees, surrounded by a peaceful reflecting pool on the upper level, provides a sense of separation between the homes of a retired couple and one of their adult children. Located in Singapore, the Wall House by FARM is technically one residence with two separate, self-contained ‘blocks’ of living space linked at the living and dining areas by a granite patio.

The upper levels of both volumes are planted with grass, flowers and small trees, providing a sunny spot to relax, while the lower level of the courtyard stays cool and shady. While the balconies and terraces off the bedrooms of the top floors face each other, they remain separated.

The lower courtyard is a communal dining space leading to a shared library, and the separate living and dining spaces, kitchens and guest rooms of each home. One unit features an additional study with its own private living room, and the other has a gym.

The green roofs, a number of water features and lots of wood and stone give the homes a feeling of connection with nature despite the city setting. Throughout the private spaces on the bottom floor, narrow courtyards open to the sky above placed beside expanses of glass let natural light flood in.

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How amazing would it be to find the perfect vacation spot and simply plop a pre-fabricated home down on it? That’s the aim of the folks behind PODhouse, a small prefab cabin that can be delivered, electrical wiring and all, to a destination of your choosing.

Available in three sizes, PODhouses are able to accommodate a variety of living situations and preferences. The Menhir is the smallest model, offering a sleeping area that runs from front to back – and not much more room than required for sleeping.

The next step up is the Cauma, a charming tiny cottage that features a door in the middle of the cabin’s length. As seen in the above photo, additions such as small porches are simple enough to make.

The largest model, the Plaun, is large enough to hold a family – though probably not large enough for an indoor trampoline or a friendly game of tag. All of the models can come equipped with an optional entryway called Portal, a small extension of the archway to protect the entrance from the elements.

Each PODhouse has to sit on a simple foundation. The tiny cabins are moved, completely assembled, by trucks and lifted by machinery onto the foundation. Although it can be dropped into place, permits are still required to construct one and an electrician is needed to connect each cabin to the electrical grid if desired.

The German company behind the prefab cottages suggests that they can be used as extension of hotels or as small, nature-based communes. But the best use we can think of is finding a remote spot, plunking down a PODhouse, and simply getting away from it all for a couple of weeks.

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Curves can be challenging, but inside and out, this dwelling follows through, wrapping up and around to form two stories of semi-continuous space that feels both domestic and dynamic.

In Finnish tradition, wood can be found throughout the home, adding an organic touch that reinforces the curved shape, with concrete and steel playing secondary roles.

Designed by Olavi Koponen and built in Espoo, Finland, the layout proceeds from public to private spaces and balances static rooms with a sense of ongoing movement.

In each space, furniture either floats in the space or is custom-fit to the exterior. This is not an inexpensive proposition, particularly when it comes to built-ins … but it does make everything feel homey and fit-to-purpose.

In plan and elevation, you can see the single major break in the continuous curve, creating a separation for the master suite area, starting with the open-style bathroom and leading into the bedroom.

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Slightly-squiggly lines divide the multi-hued organic building blocks of this crisp-edged mountain home, tying it into the surrounding landscape of rolling hills and rough cacti.

A set of boxes lifts and falls, following the slope of the site and together forming an unobtrusive but distinctively man-made one-floor residence by DUST Architects (images by Jeff Goldberg/ESTO).

Thick solid structural walls frame large floor-to-ceiling expanses of glass, a binary approach that leaves little by way of architectural detail to obscure views of nature (and maximizes solar heat gain in the winter, while minimizing it in the summer). Patios of matching simplicity jut out in the form of simple slabs from the main structure, while flat rooftop decks hover above.

Harvested rainwater (30,000 gallons of capacity) provides for the needs of the residents from drinking to washing and bathing. From the architects, the site is situated in an “extremely lush, exposed, arid expanse of land that emits a sense of stillness and permanency, and holds mysteries of magical proportions.”

The building itself “is carefully sited in response to the adjacent arroyos, rock out-croppings, ancient cacti, animal migration paths, air movement, sun exposure and views. Great effort was invested to minimise the physical impact of the home in such a fragile environment, while at the same time attempting to create a place that would serve as a backdrop to life and strengthen the sacred connections to the awe-inspiring mystical landscape.”

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