This Low-Impact Cabin is Accessed Through a Hidden Retractable Staircase!

Like a fortress located near the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hood_Canal" target="_blank">Hood Canal</a> waterfront off the Puget Sound in Washington, this cabin is only accessible via a retractable staircase found underneath the house. Designed by Seattle-based <a href="http://castanes.com/projects/treehouse" target="_blank">Castanes Architecture</a>, the Treehouse is a vacation home for a couple who often work in Japan, but spend their free time in the States racing bicycles. The low-impact cabin has a minimal footprint on the forest, and was designed with an efficient layout, plenty of daylighting, a composting toilet, and high-quality and environmentally friendly materials.

Perched on four concrete columns, the cabin is accessed by a motorized stair that can be lifted like a drawbridge for security when the owners are away.

The small footprint of the house on the ground minimizes disturbance on the surrounding forest and provides a convenient place to park their car.

Oriented to the south, the home draws in lots of natural daylight and takes advantage of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_solar_building_design" target="_blank">solar gain</a> when it is available.

The walls are heavily insulated and tight in order to minimize thermal losses.

Inside, an efficient layout and multi-functional design components minimize the square footage.

For example a kitchen counter on cranks lowers to dinner table height.

Eco-friendly and high quality materials were chosen for their durability and longevity as a way of maximizing the lifespan of the building.

The toilet is a waterless composting toilet, the flooring is cork and the exterior siding is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPE">Ipe</a>.

Alev Seyman of Castanes Architects tells us, "The most un-green thing to do, would be misusing a product and then having to replace it a few years down the road."

West and South elevations.

North and East elevations.