Great design and manageable costs – this house was inspired by the Ikea principle. The hut can be assembled by do-it-yourselfers without large machines. Even in the greatest wilderness – then a helicopter delivers the kit.
Small huts that you can buy ready-made in Germany have a design that is perfect for allotments. So pretty boring. The models from The Backcountry Hut Company are completely different – the company was founded by the architects who themselves wanted to have a shelter that didn’t look piefig. Her motto today: “Build your own hut.”
Their models are state-of-the-art and can be built in the deepest wilderness. Because they are built as a kit. There are many prefabricated houses, but the designs by The Backcountry Hut Company are still something special. Even during the planning phase, attention was paid to the extremely compact packing size of the kit. In principle, a delivery consists of several boxes – just as you are used to from Ikea. Of course you can’t transport the box in the trunk, but it fits on a boat or a large pick-up. If required, the kit can also be supplied with a helicopter. Because the company is based in Vancouver, company founder Wilson Edgar says: “In many cases, our customers want to build on a remote dream property in order to escape from everyday office life.”
Build time of one week
Laypersons should be able to set up the kit. You would be overwhelmed all alone. But the house can be erected without any problems in a neighborhood community effort. The designer: “The prefabricated wall and roof panels can be lifted up with the hands and then brought into position with a simple cable winch.” Edgar estimates that a group of four people can erect the building’s structure in less than a week, without the need for excavators and other heavy machinery.
“Our customers come from a wide variety of backgrounds, but they all have an eye for design and share a desire to be creative in the building experience. Early buyers ranged from almost retired professors to younger engineers.”
Not only the idea of the house from the box is inspired by Ikea. Founders Wilson Edgar and Michael Leckie aim to bring affordable, well-designed products to the masses. “But our customers don’t want run-of-the-mill items, they don’t want ready-made structures with plastic windows. Our buyers are looking for a well-designed and eco-friendly leisure home. We wanted to create something that captures a reflection on the essential, on what is really necessary.”
Modular design
The Surf Shack model is brand new. Here, too, a skeleton made of posts is erected first. Then prefabricated elements are inserted into the segments. The windows only have to be screwed into the framework. The new model now offers various options for cladding the facade. The surfer house with cedar wood looks particularly beautiful. In addition, it is possible to install a fully glazed wall and an outdoor terrace
The base model costs $45,000 – that includes the installation and insulation. The buildings can be expanded in a modular way. From 18 to about 90 square meters.
