Experience the tranquility of life away from the hustle and bustle of urban living in our feature, “A Small Hut Outside the Blessings of Civilization”. Get inspired by the simple design and comforting aesthetic of a small hut nestled in the heart of a forest. This humble dwelling provides a perfect escape from the complexities of modern life, offering a cozy interior filled with quiet charm.
We will also share some great small hut house design ideas, perfect for those considering a more serene lifestyle. Join us as we explore the rustic beauty of a hut in the woods.
A small hut outside the blessings of civilization designed by Alex Wyndham
If you just look down from the top of the hill, you may not see this tiny house at first. The building is only 8 sq. meters comfortably located on a small ledge above the Pacific Ocean. The walls of the hut are sheathed with sequoia bark, which, along with the presence of a green roof, allowed it to fit perfectly into the picturesque coastal landscape and literally merge with the slope surface.
The clients’ main residence is up the hill, and they turned to designer Alex Wyndham to design a special space outside the parental home for their teenage children.
Folding front doors and hinged side walls open fully to let in cool breezes and ocean views. “Lying in bed, you can watch whales,” says Wyndham.
The designer explains his fondness for compact structures without foundations as follows: “When you are going to build a house on a site, you first of all clear and level the site. This ultimately leads to disturbances in the structure of the landscape.”
Wyndham planted California poppies, lupins, fuchsias, and various herbs on the roof of the house.
The vegetation cover will become part of the natural habitat of pollinating insects. Subsequently, the ocean breeze will blow the seeds off the roof surface and spread them all over the slope.
The main client house is located high enough that the small hut is almost invisible from its site. This is facilitated by the serious steepness of the slope and, of course, the presence of a green roof, which looks like a flower lawn from above.
At a nearby sawmill, they planned to simply burn the remnants of redwood bark, so Wyndham got the material for wall cladding for free.
The designer cut the bark into strips up to half a meter wide, and then laid them close to each other on all the plywood walls of the house, providing them with protection from the rain.
He then cut out an asymmetrical piece of wall and hung it on hinges to allow for ventilation. When the section is lowered, you can still watch those who come down the slope through the round eye.
This shot captured the house at one of the intermediate stages of construction.
Wyndham calculated the frame in such a way that the relative position of the vertical and horizontal elements was optimal.
The hut is oriented to the southwest to make it easier to enjoy the sunset.
A roof overhang and a nearby large tree protect the structure from overheating on hot days. In winter, the hut is heated by the rays of the sun, which is quite enough for the mild climate of these places. Double windows and a 12cm layer of earth on the roof help keep the temperature in check.
The hut is not supplied with electricity, and in the dark, the guys are forced to use candles. But Wyndham plans to install solar panels on the roof soon.