London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Sep 15, 2025

The Ursa Off-Grid Tiny Cabin Is as Sustainable as It Is Stylish

The Ursa Off-Grid Tiny Cabin Is as Sustainable as It Is Stylish

Inspired by the idea of a living organism, Madeiguincho designed a 188-square-foot cabin that collects, stores, and reuses rainwater and produces food and energy.

When Gonçalo Marrote, João Filipe, and Pedro Paredes of Portugal-based architecture and woodworking studio Madeiguincho designed and built this 195-square-foot cabin in Lisbon, they had utopian ideals in mind. "We wanted to reimagine the typical way people live in contemporary society, so we envisioned a new type of dwelling that’s mobile, efficient, clean, and beautiful," Marrote says.



Located in Lisbon, Portugal, the Ursa tiny cabin is wrapped in vertical Thermowood boards.



A large, oval window extends from the facade to the ceiling, flooding the cabin with sunlight and providing views of the land and the sky.

Inspired by the concept of a living organism, Marrote and his team designed the Ursa tiny house on wheels to be as sustainable as it is artful. Clad in caramel-colored wood siding with a massive oval window, the off-grid structure collects, stores, and reuses rainwater, produces food and energy, and is powered by photovoltaic panels and wind turbines.



The oval window lends an artful aesthetic to the tiny cabin on wheels.

The cabin channels rainwater from its roof to a particle filter and then two large water tanks that can store a total of 650 liters. A pressurized system pumps water to the kitchen sink, the bathroom sinks, and the shower. A three-stage, reverse-osmosis filter beneath the kitchen sink provides drinking water. "Following use, all water is stored in a tank and later reused for watering plants," Marrote says.



The interior of the cabin is outfitted with an open kitchen and a living space that converts to a sleeping area. Birch plywood wraps the interior, lending warmth and texture.

The tiny cabin can accommodate up to four people, and it features two sleeping areas, a workstation, a kitchen, a full bathroom, and a terrace. The kitchen water pump, refrigerator, and glass-ceramic cooktop are powered by five solar panels installed on the south-facing roof. The photovoltaics can be adjusted to a 30% incline that maximizes energy production throughout the year. "To close the off-grid cycle, we installed an electric dry toilet that produces compost," Marrote says. "It’s a mobile shelter that collects water and produces both energy and food."



The daybed in the living area converts to a bed that sleeps two at night.

At 188 square feet, Ursa is the largest of Madeiguincho’s tiny cabins, which also include the 107-square foot Guincho and the 134-square-foot Abano. All three cabins are wrapped in Thermowood cladding and feature plywood interiors. "The birch plywood is simple, minimalistic, and no-frills," Marrote says.



Vertical Thermowood shutters can be opened or closed, offering connection to the landscape or privacy when needed.

The design team was inspired by portholes when they created the massive oval-shape window. "This was the starting point," Marrote says. "Then we decided the window should continue from the facade to the roof, allowing residents to be constantly connected to the ocean, the stars, and the sky."



When the shutters are open, the interior of the tiny cabin feels connected to the landscape via the large glass doors in the kitchen area.

The aperture-like window brightens up the interior, but shutters can darken and close off the tiny home when residents desire privacy. "We designed this cabin with the possibility of being completely closed or open, and connected with the natural surroundings through the big oval window," Marrote says.



The bathroom is finished with a birch plywood ceiling, and Thermowood makes up the walls and the flooring in the wet areas. Brass fixtures contrast with the wood and add a touch of glam.

According to Marrote, compact residences like Ursa are here to stay. "The tiny home movement is going to last," the architect says. "The idea that we don’t need many things to live a quality life-and that we can do it with a smaller footprint-is changing the paradigm of construction, and making us rethink the way we live. Structures like Ursa help people disconnect from daily life and connect with nature. And in today’s housing market, they make it possible for people to buy a house without a mortgage or a loan that takes a lifetime to pay."



Rooftop solar panels produce energy for the tiny cabin, which features a large wood deck at its front facade.



In the evening, warm light shines through the oval window and the large glass doors, creating a lantern-like effect.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
London Daily Podcast: London Massive Pro Democracy Rally, Musk Support, UK Economic Data and Premier League Results Mark Eventful Weekend
This Week in AI: Meta’s Superintelligence Push, xAI’s Ten Billion-Dollar Raise, Genesis AI’s Robotics Ambitions, Microsoft Restructuring, Amazon’s Million-Robot Milestone, and Google’s AlphaGenome Update
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Musk calls for new UK government at huge pro-democracy rally in London, but Britons have been brainwashed to obey instead of fighting for their human rights
Elon Musk responds to post calling for the murder of Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk: 'Either we fight back or they will kill us'
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
USA: Office Depot Employees Refused to Print Poster in Memory of Charlie Kirk – and Were Fired
Proposed U.S. Bill Would Allow Civil Suits Against Judges Who Release Repeat Violent Offenders
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
French Debt Downgrade Piles Pressure on Macron’s New Prime Minister
US and UK Near Tech, Nuclear and Whisky Deals Ahead of Trump Trip
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
Anesthesiologist Left Operation Mid-Surgery to Have Sex with Nurse
Tens of Thousands of Young Chinese Get Up Every Morning and Go to Work Where They Do Nothing
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
The German Owner of Politico Mathias Döpfner Eyes Further U.S. Media Expansion After Axel Springer Restructuring
Suspect Arrested: Utah Man in Custody for Charlie Kirk’s Fatal Shooting
In a politically motivated trial: Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Plotting Coup After 2022 Defeat
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
ChatGPT CEO signals policy to alert authorities over suicidal youth after teen’s death
The British legal mafia hit back: Banksy mural of judge beating protester is scrubbed from London court
Surpassing Musk: Larry Ellison becomes the richest man in the world
Embarrassment for Starmer: He fired the ambassador photographed on Epstein’s 'pedophile island'
Manhunt after 'skilled sniper' shot Charlie Kirk. Footage: Suspect running on rooftop during panic
Effective Protest Results: Nepal’s Prime Minister Resigns as Youth-Led Unrest Shakes the Nation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
King Charles and Prince Harry Share First In-Person Moment in 19 Months
Starmer Establishes Economic ‘Budget Board’ to Centralise Policy and Rebuild Business Trust
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Brazilian police say ex-President Bolsonaro had planned to flee to Argentina seeking asylum
Trinidad Leader Applauds U.S. Naval Strike and Advocates Forceful Action Against Traffickers
Kim Jong Un Oversees Final Test of New High-Thrust Solid-Fuel Rocket Engine
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Supreme Court temporarily allows Trump to pause billions in foreign aid
Charlie Sheen says his father, Martin Sheen, turned him in to the police: 'The greatest betrayal possible'
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
Pig Heads Left Outside Multiple Paris Mosques in Outrage-Inducing Acts
Nvidia’s ‘Wow’ Factor Is Fading. The AI chip giant used to beat Wall Street expectations for earnings by a substantial margin. That trajectory is coming down to earth.
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
On the Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s Death: Prince Harry Returns to Britain
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Murdoch Family Finalises $3.3 Billion Succession Pact, Ensuring Eldest Son’s Leadership
×