The ZeroCabin is a small off-grid cabin made by a team in Chile with no formal architecture training. It can be delivered as a finished turnkey home to locals but is also being sold as a kit for handy types to build their own.
Each ZeroCabin is tailored to suit the clients' needs and local conditions but the model pictured is located on a Puma reserve in southern Chile. It measures 26 sq m (280 sq ft) and is primarily made from wood with metal sheet cladding. It also features biodegradable insulation and was built without using nails so should be relatively recyclable.
The home is raised above the ground on wooden stilts and accessed using steps and a trapdoor. The first floor sports a deck area and a combined living/dining area, with a sofa bed, a small drop-down table, and a basic kitchenette. A small bathroom with composting toilet is nearby and a set of steps lead up to the bedroom, which contains a double bed.
The decor is rustic and simple, which is fine for this kind of cabin, and generous glazing frames the views of the surrounding landscape. Though we've certainly reported on people who live in smaller and simpler homes, it seems best suited as a weekend or vacation retreat.
The cabin runs off-the-grid with a roof-based solar panel array and also features a rainwater collection system that's purified for use as drinking water. A wood-burning stove is installed as the sole heat source and is also used for heating food and boiling water.
A company representative told us that customers can order a "DIY container kit" that can either include most of the materials needed to build their own (with just the timber sourced locally), or only the off-grid tech and plans if preferred. The firm also said that price depends on the local terrain, the size and options of the cabin and so on.
As of writing we're awaiting confirmation on shipping rates and availability from the firm but Dwell reports that it's available for shipping worldwide (which appears to be confirmed by the company on Instagram).
Source: ZeroCabin
