The concept of a small, light ecological footprint, modular-component dwelling has been incubating in my design-mind for nearly two decades, and has matured significantly through the influence of a design colleague, permaculture designer Barbara Hardy. The various ideations took on many forms, but even the best ideas need a catalyst to synergize with reality. Last year the missing ingredients appeared in the form of a like-minded client and several potential sites within the Great Lakes Watershed bioregion.Design Criteria:
- A small (200-300 square feet), off-the-grid dwelling w/o electrical service, water well or septic system
- A camp-style habitat accommodating 1-2 occupants
- Employ pre-fabricated modules able to be handled by two people
- Be assembled on-site without the typical construction damage to the natural environment – roads/equipment/semi-permanent foundations
- Be disassemble-able and reassemble-able in another location, allowing the original site to heal completely in a period of months
- Maximize use of material and energy resources and (at every stage) seek harmony and symbiosis with nature