Architect builds tiny, eco-friendly dream cottage for her dad

Bruce owned the land for decades before finally deciding to build. Considering the island's lack of roads, ferries or power lines, the cottage needed to be as self-reliant as possible. As the founder of Alex Scott Porter Design, his daughter helped him come up with something that was functional, but also blended into the environment.

The view from the nearly one-acre lot on Maine's Ragged Island is unparalleled. But its remote location—32 kilometres off the coast—meant that every step of the building process had to be meticulously planned ahead of time.

The simplicity of the design helped to reduce the amount of work required, which was an important factor given the fact that supplies were brought in by boat and sometimes put together without the use of power tools.

The simplicity of the design helped to reduce the amount of work required, which was an important factor given the fact that supplies were brought in by boat and sometimes put together without the use of power tools.

To save space, much of the furniture is built into the walls, which also feature hidden cupboards. The dining table and bench are tucked into one corner. In the others you'll find the kitchen, built-in couches, and a set of glass doors leading to the patio. There is also a wood stove right next to the breakfast nook that generates enough heat to warm the entire cottage.

The cottage's natural wood floors, ceilings, and walls can also be found in the bathroom, where the smell of pine is a welcome surprise. The composting toilet is perfect (and necessary) for an island without septic tanks. For running water, a rainwater catchment system collects water in a cistern. Drinking water is taken from the top and filtered to make sure no sediment from the tank is consumed.

Unfortunately, the cottage is not winterized, but the exterior's corrugated steel and the retractable sliding panels that cover the windows protect the building from Maine's harsh winters.