This this quaint corrugated shed, called the “Chameleon Cabin” is built entirely from paper. Mattias Lind, a partner in the Scandinavian firm, White Arkitekter, developed the “house” as part of an exploration into the limits of the material.
In keeping with its name, the appearance of the structure changes according to a person’s point of view. Its exterior façade is either white, or black depending on where you view it from. Due to the versatility of the design (and the material), the cabin can be extended in length – up to several hundred meters according to DesignBoom.
The corrugated façade features printed imaged of white and black marble. The interior contrasts sharply with the exterior; it’s printed in a bright yellow to create a cheery, warm space. The overall proportions of the design are based a small Swedish shed called “Friggebod”, which like the Chameleon Cabin, can be built without planning permission.
The entire cabin weighs just 100 kilograms and is made up of 95 modules. The paper used in its construction (miniwell) is just 2mm thick. The roof and walls are connected by hangers, providing the modular space with the required degree of flexibility and strength.
To arrive at the finished product, the Chameleon Cabin had to undergo a series of full scale strength tests. The project was completed with the assistance of the printer company, Göteborgstryckeriet, and the brand agency, Happy F+B.
The Chameleon Cabin has a number of potential uses, not least of all as a shelter for those in a state of transition as a result of natural disasters or other crises.
For more small spaces check out the Nine Hours Hotel – a modern capsule hotel in Kyoto. Or Alex Schweder experimental “bubble home” that’s raised 22 feet into the air. See all small spaces.
Via DesignBoom
Photos: Rasmus Norlander
Hmmmm. not sure about this one. To me in some pics it looks like a big over sized radiator. I like the yellow on the inside of the first picture. I’m not sure about a house made out of ‘paper’. What about the weather? how sturdy would it be? …
I think it would be equivalent to a pop up tent. No heat, some water resistance, and portable… Assumming 2 people (and not the 4 showing) could erect it quickly… Otherwise a shelter not functional.
Jody – according to the architects they’ve tested it to withstand the force of the wind, although I can’t imagine it having much ability to resist vertical loads, so it probably has limited use in areas with heavy snowfall.
Peggy – I don’t think it was ever intended to act as a fully functional house, but rather an experiment into the use of the material as a temporary shelter. I think it has potential to act as a temporary shelter in areas that have suffered from natural disasters because of it’s ability to be flat-packed and that it should be very lightweight!