Tiny Houses

Tiny off-grid cabin is filled with dappled sunlight

Tiny off-grid cabin is filled with dappled sunlight
The Olive Tree House's owners dine outside, on the north-east side of the home which is the most protected from the sun and receives the prevailing breeze from the sea
The Olive Tree House's owners dine outside, on the north-east side of the home which is the most protected from the sun and receives the prevailing breeze from the sea
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The Olive Tree House is located on a hill overlooking the sea in Halkidiki, Greece
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The Olive Tree House is located on a hill overlooking the sea in Halkidiki, Greece
The inspiration behind the Olive Tree House's unusual metal cladding derives from its location next to an olive grove
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The inspiration behind the Olive Tree House's unusual metal cladding derives from its location next to an olive grove
The Olive Tree House's metal cladding fills the interior with dappled sunlight
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The Olive Tree House's metal cladding fills the interior with dappled sunlight
The Olive Tree House overlooks the sea in Halkidiki, Greece
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The Olive Tree House overlooks the sea in Halkidiki, Greece
The Olive Tree House is located next to an olive grove
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The Olive Tree House is located next to an olive grove
The Olive Tree House's bedroom opens up to the outside
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The Olive Tree House's bedroom opens up to the outside 
The Olive Tree House's walls open up
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The Olive Tree House's walls open up
The Olive Tree House's bedroom offers a great view when the walls are open
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The Olive Tree House's bedroom offers a great view when the walls are open
Even when the wall panels are closed, the Olive Tree House provides some ventilation
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Even when the wall panels are closed, the Olive Tree House provides some ventilation
The Olive Tree House was completed in 2016
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The Olive Tree House was completed in 2016 
The Olive Tree House's perforations were machined by a CNC router
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The Olive Tree House's perforations were machined by a CNC router
The Olive Tree House's decorative walls, seen close up
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The Olive Tree House's decorative walls, seen close up
The Olive Tree House at night
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The Olive Tree House at night
The Olive Tree House at night
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The Olive Tree House at night
The Olive Tree House's kitchen area
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The Olive Tree House's kitchen area
The Olive Tree House is surrounded by beautiful landscape
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The Olive Tree House is surrounded by beautiful landscape
The Olive Tree House's outdoor dining area
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The Olive Tree House's outdoor dining area
The Olive Tree House's owners dine outside, on the north-east side of the home which is the most protected from the sun and receives the prevailing breeze from the sea
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The Olive Tree House's owners dine outside, on the north-east side of the home which is the most protected from the sun and receives the prevailing breeze from the sea
The Olive Tree House has just 21 sq m (226 sq ft) of floorspace
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The Olive Tree House has just 21 sq m (226 sq ft) of floorspace
The Olive Tree House's front door
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The Olive Tree House's front door
The Olive Tree House opens up to the outside
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The Olive Tree House opens up to the outside 
The Olive Tree House's dappled light effect
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The Olive Tree House's dappled light effect
The Olive Tree House measures just 21 sq m (226 sq ft) of floorspace
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The Olive Tree House measures just 21 sq m (226 sq ft) of floorspace
The inspiration behind the Olive Tree House's unusual metal cladding derives from its location next to an olive grove
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The inspiration behind the Olive Tree House's unusual metal cladding derives from its location next to an olive grove
The Olive Tree House's perforations were machined by a CNC router
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The Olive Tree House's perforations were machined by a CNC router
"All building components were pre-fabricated, nevertheless, the design itself carefully considered the sun’s position to provide shading and to complement the views," explains Sopéoglou
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"All building components were pre-fabricated, nevertheless, the design itself carefully considered the sun’s position to provide shading and to complement the views," explains Sopéoglou
Being in an isolated spot, the Olive Tree House gets its power from a solar power array and it also features composting toilet
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Being in an isolated spot, the Olive Tree House gets its power from a solar power array and it also features composting toilet
View gallery - 27 images

Commissioned to create a low maintenance summer house in Halkidiki, Greece, architect Eva Sopéoglou designed and built this tiny off-grid cabin. Named the Olive Tree House, it can be opened up to the outside and is clad in perforated decorative metal sheeting that fills the interior with dappled sunlight.

The Olive Tree House is very much a weekend retreat rather than full-time home and is located next to an olive grove overlooking the sea, hence its name. With a floorspace of just 21 sq m (226 sq ft), it was designed to be easy to dismantle if required.

Structurally, it consists of a chestnut wood frame and concrete foundations, and is topped by a sloping corrugated iron roof. With all that metal, it's obviously going to get hot in the sun and we wondered if it would get too hot inside. However, its walls open to provide both great views and ventilation, plus the ventilation gained from all those holes in the walls should help. Sopéoglou also told us that the interior layout produces a natural draft.

Creating the perforations and small jutting-out leaf pieces on the walls was quite an involved process and required both a CNC punching machine and work by hand, with lots of time spent prototyping and fabricating. The effect is impressive though and really sets this one aside from other similar projects.

The Olive Tree House's dappled light effect
The Olive Tree House's dappled light effect

"All building components were pre-fabricated, nevertheless, the design itself carefully considered the sun's position to provide shading and to complement the views," explains the architect in a press release. "The envelope's perforated textile-like pattern is inspired by the shade of the olive trees. As the sun moves during the course of the day the interior spaces are filled with ever-changing shadows."

Like the Koleliba, the Olive Tree House maximizes what space there is by embracing semi-outdoor living. The interior proper includes a bedroom with large storage lockers that serve as room dividers. This area joins onto a small kitchenette and there is also a WC that includes a toilet and sink.

The occupants dine outside on the north-east side of the home. This is the most shaded outdoor area and receives the prevailing breeze from the sea. The shower is outside too, on the south side.

The Olive Tree House runs totally off-the-grid. Electricity comes from a solar panel array, while the toilet is a composting model. Water is stored in a tank and a rainwater capture system is also planned for the future.

The Olive Tree House was completed in 2016.

Source: Eva Sopéoglou

View gallery - 27 images
2 comments
2 comments
MQ
Weather proof?
Tom Lee Mullins
I think that is really nice.