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Foldable Prefab A-frame Cabin by MADI in Italy… The MADI House


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This is the MADI model by Renato Vidal. It’s a design for a folding prefab A-frame cabin. You can watch the video below to see how it works. You can even add multiple units together to create your own customized A-frame home! Pretty cool, right?

If you like this concept, be sure to read Lloyd Alter’s article about it on Tree Hugger. Over at MADI you can even download a printable paper kit to build your own miniature model of the folding M.A.DI. A-frame Cabin.

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Affordable Prefab Cabins – MADI

© MADI

© MADI

Video: MADI Home Flatpack Tiny House

Resources

  1. Tree Hugger
  2. MADI

Our big thanks to Wiz Zard for the tip and Lloyd Alter of Tree Hugger for originally sharing!

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Alex

Alex is a contributor and editor for TinyHouseTalk.com and the always free Tiny House Newsletter. He has a passion for exploring and sharing tiny homes (from yurts and RVs to tiny cabins and cottages) and inspiring simple living stories. We invite you to send in your story and tiny home photos too so we can re-share and inspire others towards a simple life too. Thank you!
{ 8 comments… add one }
  • Eric
    December 9, 2017, 12:49 pm

    No bathroom, no kitchen? Not really a “house”, is it.

    • James D.
      December 11, 2017, 10:48 am

      Anything can be installed or added but a “house” isn’t defined by having a built in kitchen and bathroom… Houses really only started to have those inside the same structure since the 1920’s but you’ll still find places where they are detached in separate structures or had been modified to have them at a later date.

      While a house kit, even with a standard overall shape, doesn’t mean it’s limited to one layout. Especially, when you can combine multiple units and then decide where you want everything rather than being stuck to a pre-determined layout that may or may not work for you…

  • jerry
    December 9, 2017, 1:05 pm

    Nice interiors, especially the stairs but the house shape, etc just isn’t appealing or useful for the materials used.
    One would be far better, cheaper using SIPs which can be done in about the same time in a more useful shapes, especially 10′ wide which this one looks about before the roof screws everything up for a TH.
    I’m doing a new scratch build concrete slab 12’x24′ TH is only costing me $3k in materials/Lowes mostly, and some help and every sq” if it
    is useful.
    And doing it as 2 sheds under 150sq’ each so no permits, etc are needed here east of Tampa legally. When I sell it anything becomes legal no matter what building wise.
    So it already is modular and can be added on the end or to the side if more room is needed later.
    Back before I got handicapped I could with the slab in place, build one with a helper in 2 days from scratch.
    So this one’s time isn’t that good.
    I do lust after the laminated lumber they used, a great building material we don’t get much of in the US at affordable prices.
    A 1.5″ thick lamination could be your whole floor, strong enough without framing, etc work. 1″ could be walls, roof again just cut to size, screw/glue together.
    You’ll still need insulation but the wood is all the strength you’ll need.

  • December 10, 2017, 1:11 pm

    The Modular Architecture is the Architecture of the Future almost
    ” Pocket-Size”, certainly pratical, fast and economic. Conceived with the panels of containers from the fast assembly and interchangeable then a reality already explored, here the variant is catchy with sloping roof hinged joints etc. etc…..evrything else and add optional. .. ” Nothing is Created, Nothing is Destroyed, Everything is Transformed”….
    By Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier

  • BJ
    December 10, 2017, 11:43 pm

    I see they come in different sizes. You can add a bathroom most anywhere . If it is a tiny home,then do as tiny does. A small refrig and a cooktop is all you need. You can put 2 together also. For a single person, I would try it. Perhaps one will come this way. Or, I can go on a short vacation to try one out.

  • Patricia De Vries
    March 6, 2021, 7:04 am

    Hoi
    Beutiful
    But you need a crane? ( heavy machine to put it up.? And strong road to ride on?
    And what is the price?

    • James D.
      March 7, 2021, 2:44 am

      Yes, a crane would be needed to set it up, it’s basically a flat packed home kit with pre-made parts you assemble on site, with most of it quickly going up as a shape you just unfold.

      It’s all modular, which means it doesn’t have to be delivered all at once, and it’s mainly the frame. So still some on site construction to finish it out.

      This was a design concept by an architect firm in Italy. So no actual pricing, but it’s something a factory manufacturer could do and prices would depend on how you want them done, as the design is flexible and customizable, and the location you want to place one as that will also effect the price.

  • Kim Billhimer
    March 24, 2021, 12:05 pm

    I find building your own and even having a foldable one is great at least you can make it your own.

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