Tinyhouse designer and Associate Professor in the Department ofArchitecture and in the Environmental Studies Program at theUniversity of Oregon, Erin Moore has realized the construction of twodwellings amid a 300 year old solidified lava landscape in Hawaii.Dubbed Outside House, the pair of cabins were conceived as a place toconnect with the land, without impacting upon it.
OutsideHouse consists of two structures: "Mauka"the Hawaiian word for"inland toward the mountains" and "Makai"meaning "seaward." Inkeeping with the client's wish to preserve the land, the pair ofcabins are designed for modest living and can both be dismantledwithout leaving a footprint and re-installed on a different locationif desired.
"Thecenter of the Outside House is the uneven, ever-changing groundbetween the pavilions," says Erin Moore. "The unbuilt areasof the Outside House – lichen on the lava, a curved rock wall, agrowing endemic mamanetree – are the essence of daily living in this place and what theclient values most."
Maukais a fully enclosed cabin, designed as a comfortable place to sleep,relax and read a book during the day, while also enjoying the views out across the lush Hawaiian landscape. Accessible via a rear staircase, thehumble cabin features a cozy double bed, seating and desk area, largeglass sliding doors and stunning wooden finishing throughout.
TheMauka tiny house was built using a lightwood-frame construction which is elevated above the lava ground byfour concrete pillars. The north and south sides of the cabin are cladwith a reflective film, while the east and west sides are clad withwestern red cedar. The home is also fitted with screened vents foroptimum air flow and the roof features polycarbonate sheathing,protecting it from the island rains.
Several feet away from the Mauka tiny house is the Makai outdoor shelter.Designed as a place to enjoy the outdoors, Makai features a largesheltered open terrace with a basic outdoor kitchen and hidden open shower. The outdoor shelter is built with a galvanized steelframe and was fully prefabricated off-site. Makai was carried ontothe site by foot, before being assembled and anchoredsecurely to the ground via four threaded rods.
Boththe Mauka and Makai cabins were conceptualized as an easy to install"home kit" with each section being light enough to becarried to site by two people. The structures were assembled togetherin limited time and without the need for heavy equipment. Bothdwellings can be fitted with solar panels, rain water tanks andcomposting toilets, creating a self-sustaining off-the-grid home.
OutsideHouse isthis year's first place winner of the University of Hawaii's Building Voices Design Competition.