Editor’s note: The Log Pod company appears to no longer be in operation. This post is preserved as an example of innovative tiny cabin design.
Trevor Richardson created The Log Pod tiny cabins in the UK. Here’s the story of how these tiny cabins came to be.
Trevor was looking for ways to increase the number of visitors to his campsite, so he began looking into teepees and yurts. When those didn’t fit the bill, he began developing his own idea of a “wooden tent.”
The 80-Square-Foot Log Pod Tiny Cabins
Trevor wanted something that could be moved around the campsite or even towed to another property if needed. Since he couldn’t find exactly what he was looking for, he designed and built his own.
The first prototype was born shortly afterward. The design evolved to include a 4-foot covered porch in the front for enjoying the outdoors even during rain.
Imagine watching the Northern Lights from the comfort of your bed, surrounded by thermal glass that keeps you warm while offering unobstructed views of the Arctic sky.
That’s exactly what you can experience at Hotel Kakslauttanen in Saariselka, Finland, where 20 glass igloo tiny houses form a unique village designed specifically for aurora viewing.
Igloo Village: 20 Glass-Domed Tiny Houses
Each glass-domed igloo gives guests unobstructed views of the sky from their bed, as long as it doesn’t snow too heavily. The design serves the area’s main attraction: the spectacular Northern Lights.
TuboHotel is a unique hotel that has utilized inexpensive materials to provide affordable accommodations to its customers.
Tubo means tube in Spanish. In 2006 architect Andreas Strauss used recycled concrete pipes to create a tiny houses to be used as hotel rooms (DasparkHotel).
T3Arc designed and built TuboHotel with inspiration from the work of Andreas.
Derek “Deek” Diedricksen of RelaxShacks.com has spent his life building tiny structures—from childhood backyard forts to dozens of micro cabins, sleeping huts, and unconventional shelters. Self-described as a “bizzar-chitect,” Deek approaches tiny architecture with creativity, resourcefulness, and a healthy skepticism of conventional housing norms.
Origins of a Micro Builder
Deek’s passion for small structures started early. At 14, he discovered Lester Walker’s book Tiny Houses, which showed him that others shared his fascination with compact dwellings. That realization launched a lifelong pursuit of designing and building micro architecture.
His backyard has become a showcase of micro cabins, shelters, and shacks—each completely unique, most built from salvaged materials.
The “Woodie” teardrop camper from Silver Tears Campers in Roanoke, Virginia, represents a distinctive approach to teardrop design—combining the classic teardrop silhouette with mahogany plywood exterior paneling that evokes the wood-sided station wagons of the mid-20th century.
Size Options
The Woodie design is available in two sizes:
4′ x 8′: Full-size bed (47″ x 72″), approximately 1,000 lbs total weight, 65 lb tongue weight
5′ x 10′: Queen-size bed (58″ x 80″), heavier but still towable by most vehicles
Both sizes feature a 2,200 lb capacity axle, providing ample margin for cargo and accessories.
Twelve Cubed makes a 12′ by 12′ cube house. At such a small size you’d be surprised as to what fits inside. Small houses like this one create opportunities for people while helping the environment.
Small spaces can help you get out of debt or start a new career because they help you save money. Since the average one bedroom apartment is still somewhere around 800 square feet, we have to get creative to truly enjoy the benefits of living simply. That’s what James Stuart is doing with his Twelve3 prefab tiny house company. The company is based in Vancouver Island, British Columbia. These little dwellings have a variety of uses, just like other tiny houses.
SunRay Kelley is one of the most distinctive natural builders in the world. His homestead, often called “Natural Village,” features a collection of handcrafted organic structures that blur the line between architecture and sculpture.
What makes Kelley’s work special is his philosophy: each building emerges from the natural materials at hand and the landscape itself, creating structures that feel grown rather than built.
Structures at the SunRay Kelley Homestead
The property features several unique buildings, each with its own character:
Gypsy Wagon – A mobile dwelling with organic curves
Llama Tree House – An elevated structure integrated with living trees
Harbin Temple – A meditation space with flowing natural forms
Buddha House – A contemplative structure reflecting Eastern influences
Each building demonstrates Kelley’s signature style: curved lines, natural materials, and an almost living quality to the architecture.
The Natural Building Philosophy
SunRay Kelley’s approach to building differs fundamentally from conventional construction:
Site-specific design: Each structure responds to its specific location and surroundings
Natural materials: Heavy use of wood, stone, cob, and other organic materials
Intuitive process: Designs often evolve during construction rather than following rigid plans
Sculptural forms: Buildings feature curves and organic shapes rarely seen in traditional architecture
Integration with nature: Structures work with trees and landscape rather than against them
A Family Legacy
The homestead isn’t just a showcase of building techniques—it’s a lived-in family compound. Kelley’s daughter Kumara grew up among these structures, offering a unique perspective on what it’s like to be raised in such an unconventional environment.
The property gained wider attention when it was featured on MTV’s Extreme Cribs series, introducing Kelley’s organic architecture to a mainstream audience.
Why SunRay Kelley’s Work Matters
For anyone interested in natural building, tiny houses, or alternative architecture, Kelley’s work demonstrates several important possibilities:
Beauty without standardization: Handcrafted structures can achieve an aesthetic impossible with conventional methods
Small footprint living: Many of his structures are compact yet feel spacious due to thoughtful design
Owner-builder potential: His methods, while requiring skill, don’t depend on industrial materials or equipment
Connection to place: Buildings that respond to their environment create a different relationship with home
SunRay Kelley’s Natural Village stands as proof that homes can be both functional and artistic, simple and profound. What aspects of natural building appeal to you most? Share your thoughts in the comments!
