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One of the main sustainable features of the home is its small size. “It’s a very small house with good insulation and natural ventilation,” says architect Line Solgaard. “Keeping the building small is one of the most important considerations for sustainability.”

The home is located in Todds Valley, a 10-minute drive from Nelson, where architect William Samuels grew up—and one of the least affordable areas in New Zealand. “The obsession with the price of housing is pervasive and can cloud our thinking when we consider the true value of a home,” he says. “In New Zealand, there is a tendency to think of housing purely as an asset, an investment, rather than a home, a place for life to happen.”

The lodge is composed of a rectangular base, a spruce exterior, and a butterfly roof—all of which rests on a floating element.

The spa-like bathroom's shower walls and flooring feature more concrete with glass beads that lends a serene, elemental quality to the space.

A Joe Brubaker sculpter perches in the guest bathroom, where the design team arranged a caged sconce that references old ships. The tile is by the historic Heath Ceramics, which is located in Sausalito.

The Ecocapsule® is designed for anywhere. All you need to do is bring it to site, extend the wind turbine, and it does the rest. Built-in filtration system cleans water brought from a nearby source (like a lake or a stream) or harvested from rain by the unit itself.

Although Minarc's tiny homes are only available around L.A., they offer to manage everything from permitting to utility hookups as part of a turn-key service for those who can build in the area.

Whether or not different add-ons and features are included, all LOVT models have the same layout and 275 square feet of living space.

Les Rochers floor plan

The firm modeled the home’s interior after typical seaside houses, with a light palette meant to provide a canvas for dramatic plays of sunlight.

With the nearby coastal cliffs reflected in their sharp rooflines, a vacation home and guesthouse play on the gabled structures of Canada’s Magdalen Islands. Residents Vincent Morel and Jan-Nicolas Vanderveken adapted a local custom by installing recessed entrances to keep strong winds at bay.

Vincent (left) and Jan-Nicolas hang out on the main house’s terrace, where they can watch fishing boats catch lobster, halibut, and other sea creatures depending on the season. “We know where our food comes from,” says Jan-Nicolas with a smile.

The living room holds a Mags Soft Low sofa from Hay, a Mara coffee table from Article, and a Jotul woodstove.

The couple chose partially open shelving in the kitchen. “We’re not minimalists, and we wanted to display different objects we’ve collected,” Vincent says. The cabinetry, conceived as freestanding pieces of furniture, turned out even better than they had imagined. The dining chairs are from Ikea and the appliances are by KitchenAid.

The powder room just off the entry hall.

Stafford Residence floor plan