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Collection by Andrea Smith

Temporary Retreats

Take a look at these seven trailers and houseboats, each a modern testament to small space living and active lifestyles.

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In the living room, there is an iron fireplace by Danish manufacturer Aduro. A futon can be converted into a double bed for additional guests. Two sliding glass doors open onto the terrace. “It is a really peaceful and quite interesting atmosphere,” Laugsch says. “We have a fireplace in the boat to curl up on the couch with a glass wine after a day of sightseeing.”
In the living room, there is an iron fireplace by Danish manufacturer Aduro. A futon can be converted into a double bed for additional guests. Two sliding glass doors open onto the terrace. “It is a really peaceful and quite interesting atmosphere,” Laugsch says. “We have a fireplace in the boat to curl up on the couch with a glass wine after a day of sightseeing.”
Katrina Manzo explains the pair’s 44-square-foot mobile prototype as “both reductive and luxurious.” Its automotive structure is assembled in-house from the studio’s own kit of parts, with help from CNC milling which Manzo says “marries precision and consistency with the capacity to manufacture in small volumes.”
Katrina Manzo explains the pair’s 44-square-foot mobile prototype as “both reductive and luxurious.” Its automotive structure is assembled in-house from the studio’s own kit of parts, with help from CNC milling which Manzo says “marries precision and consistency with the capacity to manufacture in small volumes.”
Capdevila notes that after living in it for five years, the house has required zero maintenence updates.
Capdevila notes that after living in it for five years, the house has required zero maintenence updates.
The Leaf House is a lightweight, mobile trailer that was carefully engineered to weigh less than 5,000 pounds. The designer, Laird Herbert, used a metal-mesh, open-joint rainscreen as the cladding on the front end, and spruce pine at the back.
The Leaf House is a lightweight, mobile trailer that was carefully engineered to weigh less than 5,000 pounds. The designer, Laird Herbert, used a metal-mesh, open-joint rainscreen as the cladding on the front end, and spruce pine at the back.
The curved roof, a play off the hull of a ship, was inspired by a previous Atelier SAD home project in the Czech town of Liberec. Jerry Koza, along with engineer Tomas Kalhous and architect Adam Jirkal, spent years finding the right location and obtaining permissions. After the rigid approval process, they’re finally able to showcase the flexibility of the concept, which can range from a one-person dwelling to a family-sized float with a 1,076-square-foot floor plan and a 538-square-foot terrace.
The curved roof, a play off the hull of a ship, was inspired by a previous Atelier SAD home project in the Czech town of Liberec. Jerry Koza, along with engineer Tomas Kalhous and architect Adam Jirkal, spent years finding the right location and obtaining permissions. After the rigid approval process, they’re finally able to showcase the flexibility of the concept, which can range from a one-person dwelling to a family-sized float with a 1,076-square-foot floor plan and a 538-square-foot terrace.
By reducing the bedroom to its essentials and filling it with windows, the El Cosmico staff has made this small space as expansive as the desert beyond.
By reducing the bedroom to its essentials and filling it with windows, the El Cosmico staff has made this small space as expansive as the desert beyond.