Off-Grid Living
Architecture and design work for dwellings and shelters that operate independently of public utility grids, from tiny houses to rural retreats.
Off-grid living refers to buildings that generate their own power, manage water and waste on site, and do not depend on municipal networks. For designers, this shifts the brief toward passive heating and cooling, material choice, orientation, and compact planning, since every system must be sized to the site.
Community work under this topic spans compact tiny houses, rural farmhouse conversions, rainforest and landscape retreats, and temporary or emergency shelters such as domes and capsule camps. Entries also test off-grid thinking in unexpected settings, including residential complexes, student accommodation, and protest spaces.
Popular projects
View all 25 projectsLatest journals
View all 18 journalsRed Cabin by Wiki World + Advanced Architecture Lab
Elevated red timber cabin in Wuhan forest, prefabricated, off-grid retreat blending digital craftsmanship, ecological preservation, and immersive wilderness living.
Atlantica TOW Tiny House: Compact Off-Grid Living in the Portuguese Landscape
Off-grid 18m² Portuguese tiny house combining solar power, smart mezzanine layout, and covered porch for sustainable forest living.
Sinfonia Verde Home by Studio Saxe: A Regenerative Off-Grid Retreat Immersed in the Costa Rican Rainforest
An off-grid circular home in Costa Rica’s rainforest, blending sustainable design, passive cooling, and immersive nature views with minimal environmental impact.
Mas Cadalt House by Fran Silvestre Arquitectos: A Contemporary Revival of a Girona Farmhouse
A restored Girona farmhouse blending tradition and modernity, Mas Cadalt House offers minimalist design, natural light, and sustainable off-grid living amid serene landscapes.