Houses in the forest offer an escape from city living. Homes in the wilderness are ideal for those who prefer a quiet lifestyle. Living in the wilderness offers tranquility, but also comes with unique concerns.

American forests are primed to become the next popular living destination. According to the US Forest Service,

“forestland has been relatively stable, at an average of 755 million acres, and accounts for almost 8 percent of the world’s total forest area.”

A housing shortage combined with the growing tiny house industry could see more people living in forests in the near future.

Forests play an important role in the survival of our ecosystems. US forests contain 17 billion tons of biomass carbon. Meanwhile, almost 60 percent of the country’s forests are privately owned.

Private land ownership allows owners to build homes or rent pre-existing houses to those who wish to escape their city lifestyles. The forest might be the final frontier for above-ground living.

Lush Houses In The Wilderness For 2022

The following houses in the forest represent the latest designs in wilderness living.

Zilvar Cabin

House Zilvar is from studio ASGK Design. The quaint domicile is located in a small village in the Czech Republic.

A single-panel glass sliding door separates the indoors from the outdoors.

Most people think cabins are made of wood. However, many cabins are built with modern materials. It’s not big but it enjoys a beautiful relationship with its surroundings and it also has a rather unique shape.

Pleated House

Located close to Lake Michigan, this flat roof house project was designed by Johnsen Schmaling Architects.

The exterior walls feature charred and varnished clear cedar and dark-anodized aluminum and glass.

The home’s green roof reinforces its connection to nature.

Le Chasse-Galerie House

From Thellend Fortin Architects, the home is located near Montreal, Quebec. It occupies a plateau close to a lake, with lots of trees and vegetation all around it.

The geometry features a modern aesthetic with simple lines. Inspired by its environment, the choice of materials and finishes are emblematic of its natural surroundings.

KL House

Designed by Bourgeois / Lechasseur Architects and located in Montreal, Quebec, this home offers a different twist on cabin living.

The exterior is clad in natural cedar, giving it a simple look, with a slightly retro vibe reminiscent of traditional forest cabins.

The cabin features modern elements like large windows and glass doors, allowing for more natural light.

Fahouse

Designed by Jean Verville Architects, this renovated A-frame from the 60s makes for an imposing yet subtle forest cabin.

Situated on a small site surrounded by a dense forest and it pierces through the canopies with its pointy, A-frame design.

This modern forest house has a ton of character even though it looks simple from the outside.

Its black exterior and clean and simple geometry allow it to go almost unnoticed among all the trees and vegetation.

Floor-to-ceiling bathroom windows take full advantage of the natural light source.

Forest Cottage

Located in Val-des-Monts, Quebec, this cabin sits over the edge of a cliff. Designed by Christopher Simmonds Architects, the cabin features a solid stone base.

The modern cabin is an inviting home, offering a tranquil interior.

Floating Summer House

Built by Besonías Almeida Arquitectos in Argentina, this home in the forest is a delightful tribute to modernist design.

With tall trees growing all around it and a gentle slope beneath. It’s situated in a coastal area with pine and acacia trees which the architects had to take into consideration in order to preserve the land as best as possible.

They built the house out of concrete and with big flat roofs that form large overhangs. That allows the interior areas to be extended outside onto big patios and terraces that expose them to the beautiful surroundings and help to bring the outdoors closer to the indoor spaces.

Cube Treehouse

This is Chalet L, a small forest house hidden among the treetops and the lush vegetation of Brazil. It was designed by studio Silvia Acar Arquitetura and what immediately stands out is the fact that it’s not actually built on the ground.

The small bedroom takes advantage of the area’s natural lighting.

Instead, it was raised above the soil, among the trees and with a better view of the wonderful surroundings.

That also allows it to make the most of all the natural light and to be surrounded by greenery rather than tree trunks. In addition, this also creates a space underneath which can be used for various activities.

Le Littoral Chalet

There’s something very peaceful and charming about a rural setting with trees and vegetation growing all around it and houses that are far apart and tell their own unique stories. One of those houses is located in La Malbaie, Canada, and was designed by studio Architecture49.

Its design is inspired by the beautiful natural surroundings but maintains a contemporary and simplistic aesthetic. It features wood-clad exteriors. Large windows and sliding glass doors lead to open patios, offering views from every side of the house.

Impluvium Cabin

The cabin was designed by SAA Arquitectura + Territorio and features a minimalist aesthetic. It has an angled roof that continues downward and transitions into the walls giving the structure a uniform look.

The Impluvium Cabin is a small retreat found in the southern regions of Chile. It had to be small in order to fit among the tall trees that have grown on the site.

These were preserved and they now form a natural shield around the cabin, giving it privacy and creating a mystical atmosphere around it.

Half Tree/ Half House

This is a place in the middle of a beautiful forest with a steep slope and no road access, no water or electricity. It was up to studio Jacobschang Architecture

This forest is intriguing for a variety of reasons. One of them has to do with the location. to come up with a plan to create a house that turns these elements into advantages, all done on a small budget.

The result is this splendid house with huge pivot glass doors, a black exterior that helps it camouflage among the trees and a perfect view over the valley.

Open Valley House

From RAVSTUDIO, this home sits in the Tapalta region of Mexico. The floor plan is linear and organized on a single floor. It was important to include both large and open areas for social activities as well as a series of more private spaces and this design is perfect for that.

When seen from a distance, this house has a low profile in relation to the tall trees sprinkled all around it. What also stands out is its eclectic design which blends together modern and traditional elements.

The wood exteriors help the home blend with the landscape.

Monkey House

From Atelier Marko Brajovic, this three-story A-frame leaves a small footprint. Big windows connect the cozy interior to the surroundings. It’s almost as if the house has grown among the trees and went in search of sunlight until it was found.

The Monkey House occupies a piece of land of only 5m x 6m. It’s located in Brazil and the small footprint was dictated by the placement of the trees present on the site. No trees were removed as part of this project and the house was designed to match their height and proportions

Modern Treehouse

The Woodnest Cabin in Odda, Norway was designed by studio Helen & Hard. It’s designed like a treehouse and supported by a single tree with a narrow trunk.

The structure is without support columns, making this cabin stand out. The cabin is built around a steel pipe and attached to the tree with four bolts. A layer of wooden shingles covers the exterior so it blends in with the trees.

Waterfront Cabin

This contemporary retreat is on Bowen Island in Canada. Surrounded by dense forest and water, it’s the ultimate tranquil setting.

Designed by Office of Mcfarlane Biggar Architects + Designers Inc., they maximized the views, taking full advantage of the surrounding topography.

Steep Slope Home

Located in Vorarlberg, a mountainous region in Austria, this house was designed to resemble local farmhouses but to be unique and different.

Studio Bernardo Bader Architects gave it a solid concrete foundation and built a barn-inspired structure.

From different angles, this house looks suspended on stilts and floating. However, it’s embedded into the steep slope. The look is deceptive which makes it more interesting.

Cabin With Roof Extension

This forest house was built in the 50s and recently updated.

It was studio Bloot Architecture that revisited this summer retreat and built a rooftop extension for it. They managed to make the new section blend in with the original structure in a natural way.

The angled roof is partially made of glass and the large skylight brings lots of light inside and acts as a huge screen which frames the gorgeous views and the sky.

Lakeside Cottage

Located along the shores of Lake Nojiri in Japan, this wilderness getaway was designed by studio Sugawaradaisuke.

The home features multiple levels that interlock and interconnect, maximizing the relationship between the house and landscape.

Featuring five levels at different heights, this modern wilderness home has multifunctional floors that double as shelves, beds, or benches.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)FAQ

What Is The Forest Scarcity Hypothesis?

Losses in forest acreage will increase demand for forest products. The changes will increase the economic value of forests.

How Expensive Is It To Build A Fire Resistant Home?

Building a fire-resistant and sustainable costs 30 percent more than building a home with regular materials. Fire-resistant roofing material and underneath protection barriers made of metal or slate tiles cost upwards of $800 per r100 square feet. Fiberglass shingles, which offer optimum protection against wildfires, cost between $50 to $100 per 100 square feet.

What Are Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)?

Large wall panels are used in place of conventional stud frames. The panels feature laminated engineering and a solid foam core secured between structural sheathing or plywood. Some SIPs are sheathed with fiber cement, providing better protection in bad weather, and from water damage and mold build-up.

What Is Aluminized Structure Wrap?

Otherwise known as “cabin wrap,” the double-layered fire guard material protects cabins from radiant heat and burning embers. While the aluminum surface protects structures from fire, the second layer of inflammable heat-resistant fabric offers thermal insulation.

How Can You Protect Your Cabin From Bears?

Motion-activated water spray systems are effective at keeping bears away from your home. If the water supply is an issue, install an electric security fence around your property. Also, if you have fruit trees, make sure to pick the fruit as soon as it’s ripe.

Houses In The Forest Conclusion

The US Forest Service defines silviculture as “the art and science of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, health, and quality of forests and woodlands to meet the diverse needs and values of landowners and society such as wildlife habitat, timber, water resources, restoration, and recreation on a sustainable basis.”

As solutions are tested to preserve natural environments, the health benefits of living in a forest are immeasurable.