Having built custom studios for nearly two decades, the Modern Shed team was inspired to embark on a creative project in 2020: The Dwelling on Wheels, or DW. The team’s first-ever portable dwelling was created for this moment, and is the inevitable product of Modern Shed’s skill in marrying livability with striking design. Drawing on their design/build expertise, the team created a beautiful, self-contained space big enough to call home, yet small enough to take anywhere. A classic gable form creates a recognizable home, with wall-to-ceiling window placements maximizing landscape views and sunlight.
The DW can do a lot–it’s great for enjoying nature short-term, for off-grid living, or as a second, remote home. Adjusting the floor plan even a little makes it a great home office that can move with people as their priorities move–it can serve as an ADU for someone looking to move closer to home, providing a way to have family close by. The Modern Shed team wanted to explore the intersection of small, portable living with their experience creating spaces that offer something that is design-forward but very personal. The DW exemplifies the company’s values: creating beautiful dwellings efficiently, sustainably, and cleverly–levering the team’s years of experience tailoring spaces to meet the needs of over a thousand clients.
The resilient, low-maintenance envelope is contrasted by a bright and spacious wood interior and sustainable linoleum flooring. The DW offers room for three with a large bed–just a few inches short of a queen–tucked below a twin in the sleeping area. Thoughtfully designed, built-in storage accommodates small living while the glass wall orients the structure to capture the horizon in the living room. A first portable iteration for the team, their craftsmanship and experience creating spaces that work well shows up in each detail.
In a small structure, it’s important to avoid feeling trapped within–so the team aimed to diminish the feeling of the walls as much as possible. This prompted the window at the end of the hallway, for instance, that helps the line of sight continue outside, eroding the corner and opening up the structure front-to-back. Pulling the windows all the way up to the ceiling helps lift and enlighten the structure as well.
With a solar array on the roof equipped with batteries, and a wood stove to provide warmth, the DW is equipped to be used off-grid. The dwelling comes with two electric wall heaters as a backup, and is ready to accommodate water tanks or a composting unit. Built efficiently with high-intensity, slim insulation paneling in the walls, the DW likely won’t require heat when occupied in a Northwest climate. The DW was created with non-toxic materials, like linoleum flooring and natural finishes. The DW comes with a custom staircase to extend the deck to the ground when parked–a deck extension is also possible, to create more space to dwell on the porch. The DW is 221 total square feet, created through steel and wood construction. The striking black exterior is created with Nu-Ray standing seam metal, with the face finished by cedar. The interior is birch-faced plywood.
Material Used :
Trailer / Framing / Running gear
● Tiny home specific trailer by Tumbleweed.
● Double axle 14,000 lb GVWR.
● Space for holding tanks
● Space for external propane tanks
● LED Tail lights and side marker lights pre-wired
● Tires/wheels 10 PLY 235-80r16
Exterior
● Nu Ray metal standing seam metal roof and siding with custom flashing and slim eave design
● Western red cedar accents
● Ironwood deck and stairs
● Steel tube 2”x3” .095 wall welded rib frame construction
● Wood frame 2x4 with R 24 spray foam insulation in walls and ceiling
● Exterior Sheathing Zip wall R 3 for a total R value of 27
Systems
● Shore power electrical hookup
● Solar array with batteries
● Electric refrigerator and induction single-burner cooktop
● 2 1000w remote controlled forced air wall heaters with infrared elements
Interior
● Marmoleum click lock flooring throughout
● ½’ prefinished birch-faced plywood on walls and ceiling and cabinetry
● Custom made cabinetry with soft close operation
● Dwarf 3kw wood stove
● Built-in seating and removable dining table
● Built-in bunk bed with built in storage below
● Drawers and additional storage behind
● LED task and overhead lighting
● Crystalite aluminum and glass wall with integrated door and lock
● Ply Gem painted skywall windows with opening lower awning
● Ply Gem painted full-height window with lower opening awning
