Alternative Housing

Modern Treehouses, Oh Yeah

I never had a treehouse as a kid, and maybe that explains why I never grew out of my fascination for them. But judging by the number of companies run by adults that build treehouses (okay, it's not like they're as frequent as 7-11s, but I've come across three or four treehouse companies), I can't be the only "grown up" who still dreams about a treehouse.

So if you're looking for a fun vacation home (or you want to build a not-quite-standard guest house in the backyard), you may enjoy browsing the pictures from Baumraum.

The German company specializes in modern treehouses, and they've got quite a few snazzy dwellings, most small enough to serve as a guest house or little vacation cabin. Some are in the trees, some are tree-independent, but they're all off the ground and different from the ordinary.

Dream Cabin by the Lake

If you're hoping to build a cabin by the lake, you may want to browse through the pictures of the  Snee-oosh Cabin, which was constructed by Zero Plus Architects.  The windows are to die for, and if you're on a lake or looking out at a pretty landscape, then the views outside are just as important as the way the cabin is built inside.  It'd be a crime not to take advantage of the lot formation and views when designing your vacation (or permanent) home.

“Like an insect warming itself in the sun, the Snee-oosh Cabin sits in the underbrush at the water’s edge near Deception Pass on the Swinomish Indian reservation. Eight 1-1/2” bolts support steel legs — strategically placed to preserve the old trees that reach in to the earth to support a panelized roof and a suspended “belly” that floats within the coniferous canopy.” -- Zero Plus Architects

So, You Want to Live In a Teepee

Ok, maybe you've never seriously thought about living in a teepee (not since you grew up anyway).  After all, it's hard to make do without indoor plumbing on a daily basis (though perhaps it'd be doable for an inexpensive vacation getaway, er, make that a vacation teepee).  If you want to read a story about a couple who actually built a vacation house, check out the Colorado Teepee House, which was featured on an episode of HGTV's Extreme Homes. 

Aside from the no-indoor-plumbing part and the dealing-with-mice-and-bears part, it sounds like paradise.  The couple built their teepee home for $15,000 and they pay $8 a year in taxes (thanks to some cattle that graze on the property).  So, hey, just because someone tells you you're crazy for wanting to live in a teepee, don't think it can't be done!

Vacationing in Converted Barns

I've talked about living in converted barns before (I'm a big fan of the show Rezoned on HGTV, which always shows folks who have turned old libraries, schools, barns, etc. into homes for their families), but this weekend I got my first chance to stay in one.  It's not someone's home but someone's vacation home, and they rent it out in Langley on Whidbey Island in Washington (a bit northwest of Seattle).  I wrote a review about it, if you're curious how staying in a former barn was (it was pretty much like staying in any home, but the high ceilings and architecture were neat).  There are link's to the barn rental site on the review if you want to see a bunch of pictures of the inside and outside.

Langley, WA Vacation Rental Review on Vacation Rental Reviews

Build a "Mini Cabin"

Want a vacation get-away that won't break the bank?  These mini cabins are built using panelized construction for less than $2,000.  Our neighbor spent more on that for the backyard play house for his kids!

At 12' x 10' (for 120 square feet of space), this isn't your luxury-sized model (though there is a separate sleeping loft), but if all you want is a place to crash after you spend a day skiing/biking/hiking/etc., then something like this might work. 

More information is available at: http://www.minicabinplans.com/

Finding Your Dream Vacation Home

I don't know if you've ever seen Amazing Vacation Homes or Vacation Home Search on the Travel Channel (does it speak of my geekiness that I love shows like this?), but over at their web site, they have a little assessment form you can fill out, which is designed to help you find your perfect vacation home.  It asks some personality questions (i.e. are you looking to be "where the people are" or somewhere that has "plenty of culture and green space" and the true lifestyle decider: if you were a drink, you would be a...), but it's not so in depth that it takes forever to fill out.

The link is: http://travel.discovery.com/fansites/fantasyliving/vhs/quiz/quiz.html

Rooftop Living--the Loft Cube

Mm, I want one of these.  I'm not sure where I'd put it (I wonder if my parents would mind an extra little home on the roof of their house), but it looks fun.  Designed to be installed on the flat roofs of existing structures (i.e. on top of a commerical building in a dense urban area), the loft cube is a small mobile living space that can be dropped off via construction crane or freight helicopter.

The concept drawings on the web site make it look like the home is pretty modern and customizable.  No prices are listed, so I guess you'll have to e-mail them to find out.  I'm sure it's a bit out of my price range (not to mention I'm lacking that flat roof where I could park it), but let us know if you find anything out.

http://www.loftcube.net

Living in a Yurt

Yurts have been around a long time (The Mongolians used them on the steppes more than 2,500 years ago), and they're still around today.  People put the fabric-covered dwellings up for guest houses, vacation homes, and even primary residences.  Today's yurts are made from vinyl laminate or a coated cotton/polyester blend.  They're insulated with astro-foil (which is two layers of bubble wrap with an aluminum foil backing), a material that reflects 85% of the heat back into the yurt.  Astro-foil is also a pretty good insulater against summer heat, and it acts as a vapor barrier.

You can set a yurt up directly on the ground, but for more permenant living, they are usually built on a wooden deck.  Yurts can be assembled and broken down quickly, and most break down compact enough to transport in the back of a regular pickup truck.

You're probably wondering how much you can expect to pay for a yurt.  Though costs will vary, depending on the company, you can expect to pay about $2,800 to $5,000 for a 16-foot yurt and $5,600 to $10,000 for a 30-foot yurt.  These prices don't include the cost of a deck.

When buying a yurt or yurt kit, the Portable Houses books recommends you get a yurt with plenty of windows (a larger yurt can support up to ten), which will provide a lot of daylight.  Also make sure there's enough insulation for the climate you're setting it up in.  If you're assembling a yurt as a secondary dwelling, make sure you check local zoning laws or neighborhood covenants before purchasing one.

Source: Portable Houses