Steel Hut

“It’s an incredible opportunity to work with Steel Hut to address the many challenges people face during the design and construction process. And being able to support people’s desire to live in nature is too important to miss,” notes Susan Barnes, Principal at Skylab. “These home designs merge state-of-the-art methods of fabrication and performance while offering a contemporary nod to mid century modern architecture.”

Prefabricated design shortens construction duration and limits site disturbance, while the 100% recycled (and recyclable) steel building system ensures sustainable use of the material. “There are important sustainable and economic advantages to building faster and more efficiently than through the conventional home construction process,” Barnes adds. Tapping into the energy of the small home movement, these homes, though modest in size, live large—whether as an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), for remote living, or any context in between.

“The ability to work with an innovative and progressive design firm such as Skylab was important in helping us realize our vision,” notes Steel Hut founder Marie Saldivar “We’ve spent the last seven years designing, constructing, and living inside of these homes to ensure their performance,” she adds. “We tested them in climates as diverse as the Mojave Desert in California, with temps as high as 120 degrees, to the mountain towns of Central Oregon with lows of 20 degrees, to stress test their durability and performance.”

While the functionality of the building system is non-negotiable, it’s really the feeling of these living spaces and experiencing the simple arched elegance of the vaulted interiors that is captivating. Stepping into a Steel Hut feels like a cross between an ultra-modern cathedral and a giant Airstream—it achieves both warmth and an impressive visual scale. Volumetric interiors, indoor-outdoor connections through large windows, and rich materiality, are just a few of the attributes that define these iconic forms.

By working with simple materials, eliminating custom architectural fees and providing a direct line to ready-to-order building kits, Steel Hut’s streamlined process creates considerable savings. Each SteelMaster building kit includes high-level architectural, structural, and material plans and schedules for residential use. There are currently three models fully developed and available for purchase, with two more models in development. Construction drawing sets are available for purchase at www.steelhuts.com.