Beautiful Virgin Islands

Monday, Aug 04, 2025

These Luxe New Prefab Homes Are Designed for Off-Grid Living

These Luxe New Prefab Homes Are Designed for Off-Grid Living

Tiny living meets luxury in these Bauhaus-inspired shipping container homes.

In the wake of the 2018 Woolsey Fire that devastated Southern California, Malibu architect Doug Burdge and builder Nate Garnero sought to provide their clients with temporary housing by repurposing shipping containers into fire-resistant tiny homes.

Drawing upon Garnero’s six years of cargotecture experience and Burdge’s design expertise, the duo recently launched the Buhaus: a tiny pre-permitted container home designed for indoor/outdoor living. "People appreciate great design, and most shipping container designs seem to be more low-end," says Burdge. "We wanted to create a higher-end shipping container living unit."



Constructed from a repurposed shipping container, the Buhaus offers 160 square feet of luxury living with off-grid capabilities.



Every Buhaus unit comes with a custom Murphy bed with integrated storage on all sides to maximize space. "We look at our unit as if someone was staying in a very cool hotel room," says Burdge. "It has everything they could need: a bed, sitting area, closet, mini bar, bathroom, and an incredible outdoor shower experience."

Garnero adds that the Buhaus is particularly well-suited for boutique hoteliers and property owners looking for an extra guest suite. He also envisions institutional uses-such as university housing-due to the quick build time and small construction footprint. Since everything within the unit is inspected by California Deputy Inspectors, buyers only need to secure local site planning permits.



When the Murphy bed is stowed away, a small section of the wall can be lowered to create a small table. Note the fire-resistant metal panels that can be lifted up to serve as shade elements for an outdoor living area; when pulled down, the panels can be secured for privacy and during inclement weather.



Buhaus debuted an early version of their Studio Unit at the WestEdge Design Fair in Santa Monica last year.

Buhaus-a combination of the words Bauhaus and Malibu-takes cues from the 20th-century movement with its clean, geometric form and focus on functionality. At 160 square feet, the Buhaus Studio Unit is efficiently divided into three sections: a living/sleeping area with a kitchenette, a bathroom, and an outdoor deck.



Glass folding doors on two sides fill the interior with light.



Rift oak lends warmth to the ceiling, floor, and surfaces in the dual-purpose bedroom/living space.

Custom built-ins, space-saving appliances, and a constant connection with the outdoors help the minimalist dwelling feel much larger than its size suggests. The base unit will be available for an all-inclusive price of $96,000 (not including site-related expenses), and it can be further customized with a selection of finishes and hardware options.



The bathroom connects seamlessly to the deck, which features a Jee-O by Purificare outdoor shower.



A Fine Fixtures pedestal sink is placed near a space-saving Kohler Verdera medicine cabinet and a Toto Legato toilet.

Buhaus is engineered for luxury, comfort, utility-and fire resistance. "The Buhaus meets California Wildfire Resiliency Codes, and its metal siding and insulation helps keep the heat away so it won’t burn in higher temperatures," notes Burdge. "Additionally, the unit meets the California Green Code and Title 24 Energy Codes.

"This unit is unique because it is off-grid capable. It has all the hookups necessary for alternative energy."



The compact bathroom is outfitted in Designer White Corian surfaces and high-end fixtures.



Buhaus can be customized with a variety of finishes, and buyers can choose from a range of "editions"-from standard polished aluminum to black and even camouflage exteriors. The build time is approximately three months.

The Buhaus will available for orders after it appears at Palm Spring Modernism Week in late February. The Buhaus showroom is expected to debut in the summer of 2020 in Malibu.



Buhaus floor plan

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Pilots Call for Mental Health Support Without Stigma
All Five Trapped Miners Found Dead After El Teniente Mine Collapse
Ong Beng Seng Pleads Guilty in Corruption Case Linked to Former Singapore Transport Minister
BP’s Largest Oil and Gas Find in 25 Years Uncovered Offshore Brazil
Italy Fines Shein One Million Euros for Misleading Sustainability Claims
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
Declassified Annex Links Soros‑Affiliated Officials and Clinton Campaign to ‘Russiagate’ Narrative
UK's Online Safety Law: A Front for Censorship
Nationwide Protests Erupt in Brazil Demanding Presidential Resignation
Parents Abandon Child at Barcelona Airport Over Passport Issue
Mystery Surrounds Death of Brazilian Woman with iPhones Glued to Her Body
Bus Driver Discovers Toddler Hidden in Suitcase in New Zealand
Switzerland Celebrates 734 Years of Independence Amid Global Changes
U.S. Opens Official Investigation into Former Trump Prosecutor Jack Smith
Leaked audio of Canada's new PM Mark Carney admitting the truth about the Net Zero agenda: "We're gonna make a lot of money off of this."
China Enforces Comprehensive Ban on Cryptocurrency Activities
Absolutely 100% Realistic EVO Series Doll by EXDOLL (Chinese Company) used mainly for carnal purposes
World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab: "In this new world, we must accept... total transparency. You have to get used to it. You have to behave accordingly. But if you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't be afraid."
Meet Mufti Hamid Patel, head of Office for Standards in Education in Pakistan
George Soros tells the World Economic Forum: "President Trump is a con man and the ultimate narcissist, who wants the world to revolve around him."
Hamas are STARVING the hostages.
Decline in Tourism in Majorca Amidst Ongoing Anti-Tourism Protests
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
Poland Begins Excavation at Dziemiany After New Clue to World War II‑Era Nazi Treasure
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Threatens Canada with Tariffs Over Palestinian State Recognition
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Trump Sues Murdoch in “Heavyweight Bout”: Lawsuit Over Alleged Epstein Letter Sets Stage for Courtroom Showdown
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
Trump Administration Finalizes Broad Tariff Increases on Global Trade Partners
J.K. Rowling Limits Public Engagements Citing Safety Fears
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
×