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MyCabin delivers each structure with interior finishes completed, but owners have to furnish the space on their own.

The living area feels spacious and full of light despite its modest square footage thanks to its being double-height. A collection of old ship paintings and vintage ship netting help add to the nautical feel.

The modular cabin can be placed in the natural landscape or in a backyard, where consumers can use it as an office space or relaxation escape.

"My goal was to carry on the client’s family legacy by creating a very special place that took inspiration from the landscape,” explains architect Tom Kundig.

The living room sofa is from Article and the coffee table is from Burke Decor. The rug is vintage, and the fur chair was found at Urban Outfitters.

The two new buildings create a courtyard-like feel in the small urban backyard.

Technically, this small building is not a tree house, since it’s braced at the ground by supports, but Grey didn’t want to compromise the tree, which “doesn’t have a very long lifespan,” the designer says. “So, I didn’t want to jeopardize however long that tree had with any excess baggage.”

For 2015, Vipp, the Danish industrial design company known for its iconic trash cans and all-black kitchens, introduces a 592-square-foot prefab unit called Shelter.

"Radical sustainability

After a wildfire ripped through Jeff Waldman and Molly Fiffer’s 10-acre retreat in the Santa Cruz Mountains in August of 2020, the couple was determined to build a new home. They were hesitant about investing too much money, though, as they knew that California was only getting drier and more prone to fires.

After the home was assembled, a local contractor built the outdoor concrete patio and barbecue on site.

The couple chose polished concrete throughout the home to contrast alongside more textural timber. The concrete has thermal heating below it to stay warm in the winter.

All paints and oils used throughout the home have low VOCs, and there are rainwater storage tanks and a solar system outside. Double-glazed windows were used throughout the home.

The Ramseys finished the pool after they moved in. Although Alterstudio had also designed a cabana, the couple decided not to build it in favor of keeping more outdoor space. Chairs and lounges by Loll join an umbrella by California Umbrella.

Completely enveloped by the rugged surroundings, this modern home by architect Andrew Patterson sits at the edge of Scrubby Bay on New Zealand’s South Island. The intentionally remote retreat was crafted largely from local materials, with the home’s earthy palette allowing the unspoiled beauty of the natural surroundings to remain in striking focus.

On the boathouse's lakeside, the family can just open a garage door and lead one of their two small boats down the rails and into the water. Beside is a small deck.

Floor Plan of Boathouse on Stony Lake by Gregory Neudorf

Windows frames the architect’s built-in desk, which overlooks the water. In the corner, a cast iron wood stove provides heat on dreary days. And opposite the workstation, there’s a single bunk that folds down from the wall. It also doubles as a couch when the family wants to use the space for backyard hang outs.