Permanent Camping - Awesome Cabin! -Photos fixed

[Solar Burrito]

(Fixed the pics by transferring to my site.)

Wow, I was really exited when I came across these photos. Such a cool cabin idea how it's protected from wind/rain/fire then the walls turn into roofs with a crank of a boat winch. It's located in Australia where fire danger is high so it's made of metal. Hope you think this is as cool as I do.

[Solar Burrito]

Casey gave me a great idea for to take advantage of a view on our hill side. A small 8x12' and very secure summer cabin with a deck. The foldable roof is really fun thinking about. I'm thinking a cable winch that is on boat trailers would be perfect to open the roof since it's ratcheting and readily available.

I'd have a hatch in the back that could lock and then it could open to get a hand on the winch to open the structure.

Here's my 3d model of my of this cabin, what do you think?

http://solarburrito.wordpress.com/2010/03/27/secure-cabin-design-folding-roof/

[MountainDon]

Hope you don't have any snow.    That would be a definite problem in some areas when it comes to wanting to open up those wall covers. Other than that it should work as long as the overhead beams, cables and hinges are stout enough.

The one in AU has too much grass close to the structure. It seems to me with the covers down fire can still get underneath.

We don't have anything combustible on the ground around our cabin because of fire danger. Many more wildfires attack buildings from ground level than from overhead or embers blowing through the air. At least that's what the information says about the subject here in the SW USA.

[JRR]

In my breezy area, there would have to be something in place to resist uplift.  Perhaps some cables tied to earth.

[Solar Burrito]

None of those are really problems for me since it's going to be a weekend guest cabin. During the winter I may have to shovel some snow off the deck to open it but I'd probably wouldn't use it in the winter. Just summer. If the wind picks up I suppose I could close it or lower it.

I'm thinking this is going to be on a steep hill side above the main cabin so the deck would be about 6 feet off the ground at the edge.

[John Raabe]

Neat looking cabin. Feels medieval when closed.

[Onkeludo2]

Yep, closed up it looks a lot like a siege tower.  Cool idea!

[Solar Burrito]

Here's my really simple version:

[MaineRhino]

There would have to be some sort of safety mechanism, otherwise it would be a good candidate for the cable TV show, "1,000 Ways To Die"! 

[MikeOnBike]

There would have to be some sort of safety mechanism, otherwise it would be a good candidate for the cable TV show, "1,000 Ways To Die"! 

Put some fold down legs/posts on the swing out roof.  Put a notch in the deck for them to sit in.

[Solar Burrito]

Put some fold down legs/posts on the swing out roof.  Put a notch in the deck for them to sit in.

WHACK!!! Ya legs are a good idea... haha

I couldn't resist some more photoshop work. Wish I had a good photo of the site I'd put the model in the site. Also I'm thinking a row of windows above the door would be nice to use the cabin if the door was shut. Also there would be a half loft for sleeping or storage.

[MountainDon]

There would have to be some sort of safety mechanism, otherwise it would be a good candidate for the cable TV show, "1,000 Ways To Die"! 

There's a TV show by that name?    I read a book once, well flipped through it, with that name or a similar one.

Seriously though that is a very good point. So is the concern about uplift. I believe if one wants to seriously pursue something like this the hinged wall should be securely anchored to something to keep it in place. My wild imagination sees a strong wind lifting and then dropping the hinged wall and at causing the cables or whatever to give way and have the hinged wall smash me against the cabin wall.

The other concern with that idea is designing/building the whole package to withstand the forces that come into play on the anchor points, pulleys and supports and cables. The forces on the cable, cable anchors on the door itself and the pulley are going to be higher than one might think especially when beginning the opening process with the wall hanging down. Ideally the longer that upper beam that the cable pulleys attach to, the better, within reason. If that hinged door has a 10 foot height, and the cables attach 7 feet our from the hinge the beam would be best extending out about the same amount, making the cable more vertically connected when the hinged door is raised. I hope that makes sense.  (my opinion anyway)

On another design topic. I do like French doors. We have some here in the house. Have you priced an exterior grade French door set? They tend to cost more than a single door and good sized window together. Just thought I'd mention that in case the was a concern about budget costs.

[MountainDon]

Larger diameter pulleys are also preferable to small diameter pulleys.

[Solar Burrito]

Larger diameter pulleys are also preferable to small diameter pulleys.

Ah yes, good points made in your drawing. Thanks for taking the time to draw it.

The cabin in Australia is 10'x10' so I'm estimating those steel beams that hold the cables stick out about 2 1/2 feet.

I'd probably put a steel bar running the width of the door/roof with the 2 cables attached to it and frame the rest of the door/roof with 2x4s and light metal sheeting. That way it would be light and strong since it's not really a wall more of a protection device and roof.

Propablly would have to pour footings to hold the structure to the ground. It might tip over if it was just sitting on pier blocks! 

Anyway, it's fun to play in SketchUp and design far out things from the comfort of my arm chair. 

[Osprey]

I would just put a steel roll up door over the doors and be done with it. Or even shutters of some sort to secure the cabin.

[Solar Burrito]

I would just put a steel roll up door over the doors and be done with it. Or even shutters of some sort to secure the cabin.

No way the cool factor on moving part of a cabin is the reason I like it! Anyone can build a shed, it more interesting IMHO to build a memorable structure, that guest will talk about and want to see work. Especially since I'm building small structure for occasional use. A commercial metal roll up door would cost upwards of a thousand dollars I bet...

There is a video of Casey  Brown's Australia tower opening and closing. All be it only short clips in a longer video.
Go here to his portfolio then after it loads. I thought it would be harder to open? He dosen't look like he's cranking very hard. Good pulley system I guess.

Video:
Click Publications > Video and it will start to play:
http://www.caseybrown.com.au/casey_brown_architecture.htm

[Onkeludo2]

Triangulation is your friend!  Why not have a diagonal going out from the mud sill with a horizontal return to the top plate.  Then you put your pulleys at the point of the triangle and use a mechanical lock so that when the panel passes horizontal, the lock pops out and has to be mechanically released to "retract" the awning.

[BassLakeBuda]

Looks great! It is cool to see cabins that are out of the ordinary.

One suggestion I have learned from our 15 X 18 cabin, I would try to put a window on each side that you can open to get cross ventilation. Our cabin has two walls without windows that open but I will be fixing that this summer. Our's gets hot in the summer and any cross breeze will be appreciated. You can secure the windows with working shutters when the cabin is not in use.

I would also be concerned about good tiedowns on the wall/roof. It is amazing how little air movement is needed to wreak havoc on an airfoil that size. That is why we don't leave our canopy up on our camper when we are not there, even with its poles and tiedowns.

Another thought is a rolltop type door to close off the front. I have seen nice aluminum ones but I bet they are not cheap.