Simple green living

At a grand total of 806 square feet, the cabin is smaller than most of Simplex’s projects; the average Simplex home uses approximately 3.5 modules, but here, everything is contained in one.

Viewers shouldn’t let the small footprint fool them, however—the residence will live large and open, thanks to creative uses of space and natural lighting. A central core divides the home into public and private spaces. The “public” side of the core houses the fireplace, while the bathroom inhabits the “private” side, naturally lit from above by a skylight.

Res:4 wanted the interior to have a strong connection to the exterior, embracing the serenity of its ideal wooded location. This was achieved by wrapping the communal space in low-e, argonne-filled, double-pane glass, allowing an abundance of natural light into the space.

While both groups have been doing modular homes for some time, that doesn’t mean the cabin hasn’t been without its challenges. For example, in the fully-functional kitchen, they had to accommodate a full-sized refrigerator, range, and other cooking appliances, while still leaving room for the rest of the living area.

Actually getting the cabin to Philadelphia is also another matter: Fricchione acknowledged that Simplex is building a special carrier in order to meet federal width and height restrictions for highway travel.