Tiny 'invisible' home disappears into its environment

A US architect has taken tiny homes to the next level, creating a home that disappears into its environment.

COULSON's Disappear Retreat, is a sustainable structure that completely blends in with its surroundings.

"The spark for the design came under the night sky viewing a psychedelic show of northern lights and imagining a small, self-sufficient retreat with a glass roof where the universe overhead and surrounding ecosystems press close, where one feels connected to the planet and can sleep under the dazzling stars and dream with eyes open," the website explains.

Designed for extreme cold weather conditions, the 83 square foot (8 square metre) building has been designed so it doesn’t require a heating or cooling system.

"A spotted pattern of thin-film PV in the south glass wall generates all the energy needs from the sun and camouflages the building amongst the trees like a quiet forest animal. Weathered wood softens the design and blends with the landscape. As evening approaches the clear glass roof emits a warm, welcoming glow."

dissolves our living footprint to zero energy, zero waste, zero water and provides seamless living with nature. * Imagine it is -25°F on a typical winter morning in northern Minnesota, yet no mechanical heating is required. Reducing the peak heating load by 95% to just 100 watts (1 light bulb) using passive methods is a critical strategy to achieve zero energy. * A minimalist palette and layout keeps the focus on the beautiful surroundings, offering a meditative experience and the feeling of living outdoors. The sustainable performance is nearly invisible. * This Bed+Bath model has a built-in sofa/bed with storage, toilet, sink, shower, refrigerator drawer, and induction cooktop. * The innovative design by the architecture firm COULSON strives for a paradigm shift where low-tech, low-cost, sustainable building is attainable now without sacrificing aesthetics, comfort, or transparency. @coulson_architect * The dwelling is designed to meet PASSIVE HOUSE and LIVING BUILDING CHALLENGE, the most rigorous targets in the world, for cold climates from Seattle to Buffalo and Chicago to Calgary. * DISAPPEAR RETREAT dissolves into the landscape where the building form is compact and mirrored glass takes on the identity of the site in its reflections (transparent ultraviolet color prevents animal collision). A mosaic pattern of thin-film PV integrated into the south glass wall generates all the energy needs from the sun and camouflages the building into the surroundings like a spotted forest animal. The universe, stars, and northern lights press close through a frameless glass roof. * Prototype construction is underway and models will be available to the public in 2019. * www.coulson.co/disappear-retreat/ for detailed information about the design and features, to follow the project progress, or pre-order a model.

For more information, visit the website.

This article first appeared on Better Homes and Gardens.