Favorites

Conceived as an escape from city living, this 2,580-square-foot prefab comprises two primary and 11 secondary modules, while the 290-square-foot guest cabins consist of single modules craned into place atop concrete piers.

One of the building challenges was transportation through the steep and windy roads to the isolated site, which is 0.5km away from Cornwall, one of Connecticut's smallest towns.

The west-facing outdoor patio is protected by deep roof overhangs lined with southern yellow pine.

The open-plan great room is bright and airy, with a modern feel that nods to the home's midcentury roots.

The oak trees, along with the topography of the site, inspired the design of the modern house.

The home is partly inspired by Pritzker Prize-winning Australian architect Glenn Murcutt's Arthur and Yvonne Boyd Education Centre. "It is a compound of rural retreat buildings with monastic-like sleeping quarters," says Yuan. "It was inspirational in thinking about the integration of structure with spatial organization."

A built-in fire pit and sunken lounge seating offer a comfortable area to sit fireside. The built-in furniture references the interior design, creating a harmony between indoor and outdoor spaces.

There is a large, low-maintenance Mangaris Diamond hardwood deck in the side yard.

The kitchen was updated with quartz countertops and stainless-steel appliances.

“The house is so well articulated—a piece of art in its own right—that I wanted the kitchen to flow and complement it as gracefully as possible,” Haley says. “I wanted a natural palette in the kitchen that would feel congruent with the natural elements flowing in and out of my home.”

The rear facade of the steel-clad tiny home has a large window that provides ventilation and an indoor/outdoor connection.

Storage cabinets are located above and to one side of the daybed in the living area; there's also storage built into the daybed itself.

The First Light tiny home is sided with black corrugated steel and features expansive windows and French doors that connect the plywood interior to the outdoors.

The reclaimed timber flooring was also used on the ceiling of the master bedroom, where it’s painted white to brighten the space. The single window in the bedroom provides natural light for the private spaces.

White oak joinery divides the space and provides ample storage. It also allows the original sprinkler system and structure to be revealed and celebrated. “We had to put up about 20 coats of special fire-retardant paint so that we could keep the steel structure visible,” says Béliveau.