Tiny Houses

Shipping container-based tiny house raised high above the forest floor

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The River Forest Lookout, by Mark Derenthal, is raised 60 ft (18 m) above the forest floor
Nolan Mathews
The River Forest Lookout, by Mark Derenthal, is raised 60 ft (18 m) above the forest floor
Nolan Mathews
The River Forest Lookout is accessed by staircase
Nolan Mathews
The River Forest Lookout is situated on 14 acres (5.6 hectares) of secluded land in Georgia
Nolan Mathews
The River Forest Lookout is topped by a rooftop terrace area
Nolan Mathews
The River Forest Lookout features generous glazing, framing views of the surrounding forest
Nolan Mathews
The River Forest Lookout includes a balcony area with seating and a BBQ
Nolan Mathews
The River Forest Lookout features a relatively large bathroom with a flushing toilet and a shower
Nolan Mathews
The River Forest Lookout's bathroom takes up an entire shipping container
Nolan Mathews
The River Forest Lookout's main living area features an open layout
Nolan Mathews
The River Forest Lookout has a small and simple kitchen area with a mini-fridge, microwave, sink, and a two-burner propane-powered stove
Nolan Mathews
The River Forest Lookout's rooftop deck is reached by a spiral staircase
Nolan Mathews
The River Forest Lookout's rooftop terrace includes some seating and a fire pit
Nolan Mathews
View gallery - 12 images

The River Forest Lookout is an interesting project that puts shipping container-based architecture on a pedestal – literally. The tiny retreat takes the form of a fire lookout tower-style design that consists of two containers raised 60 ft (18 m) above the forest floor in Whitfield County, Georgia.

The River Forest Lookout is situated on 14 acres (5.6 hectares) of rural land and was constructed by owner Mark Derenthal and his family. It was a painstaking job that involved transporting everything to the rural site and assembling the base and stairs, then craning the heavily modified shipping containers into position.

Visitors access the dwelling by staircase. One of the shipping containers serves as an open plan living area. This hosts a some chairs and a dining table, plus a basic kitchen with a mini-fridge, a two-burner propane-powered stove and a microwave. The bedroom area is adjacent and has a double bed. There's plenty of shelving and some storage nooks, and the container has floor-to-ceiling windows and a skylight to maximize natural light inside. The second container, meanwhile, is totally taken up by a spacious bathroom which features a walk-in shower, a flushing toilet, and a sink.

The River Forest Lookout's main living area features an open layout
Nolan Mathews

Elsewhere lies a small balcony area with a table and seating for two, plus a BBQ. There's also a rooftop terrace, which is reached by a spiral staircase and contains a fire pit and some more seating.

Naturally there isn't a power grid in such a remote location so the River Forest Lookout runs fully off-the-grid with a rooftop solar panel array. Water comes from a nearby well and it has propane-powered heating, plus a small wood-burning stove, to keep the chill at bay.

If you'd like to stay there yourself, the dwelling is currently up for rent on Airbnb.

Source: River Forest Lookout

View gallery - 12 images
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8 comments
Larry W
Seems they should get rid of the propane heating which is flammable and do with solar array stored power for heating and heat pumps.
Nelson
It should have a dumbwaiter to bring-up croceries and such.
javadog
I'd like to see a simplified one, more like a backpacking shelter with minimal amenities. The height could be reduced to about 20 feet, with a single 20 foot long container, delivered to your prepared site on a crane equipped semi truck. It would be cool to stay in one at the beach. It would have to be over engineered such that the first strong hurricane did not knock it down.
SteveMc
Brilliant design! A massively over-engineered and EXPENSIVE oven to die in when the forrest fire you're looking out for happens :) I don't think I've seen such an eyesore industrial type construction in a forest environment. Well done once again America - propane gas too, genius!
pmshah
What ??? No swimming pool ? I am really disappointed.
dcris
So its doesn't appear to be above the treetops for a "LOOKOUT" tower!!????
windykites
I would be knackered climbing up and down the stairs! All that steelwork. A lift would have been easier and cheaper to install.
The view is obscured by the tree tops. Good luck with letting!
Towerman
What wait...No Zipline ! ?
Is there a food by drone dwlivery nearby ?

Adress these 2 neccesaties and i'm in.