Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Friday, Aug 22, 2025

This Dreamy Tiny House in Bali Is Made of Recycled Tetra Pak Cartons

This Dreamy Tiny House in Bali Is Made of Recycled Tetra Pak Cartons

The 688-square-foot Tetra Pod is every bit as artful as it is efficient-and Stilt Studios is offering DIY plans for just $5,000.

Architectural designer Alexis Dornier of Stilt Studios prefers compact homes that tread lightly on the landscape. "I’m overwhelmed by how little one actually needs," he says. "The less you have, the less you have to worry about." Inspired by the idea of living only with what’s essential, Dornier devised Tetra Pod, a 688-square-foot prefabricated home made from recycled Tetra Pak cartons in Uluwatu, Bali.



The 688-square-foot home that Alexis Dornier of Stilt Studios created in Bali is clad with recycled Tetra Pak cartons, wood, steel, and glass.



Large sliding-glass doors open the tiny home to the wooded landscape.

According to Dornier, efficiency, affordability, and sustainability go hand in hand. "I love the idea of making houses more affordable to the greater audience," he says. "In addition to keeping costs low, a prefabricated structure is practical because it can be set up or dismantled in a short amount of time."



Dornier employed recycled Tetra Pak cartons as a siding material. "The reflective characteristics of the material help the architecture blend into the surroundings," he says.



Deep exterior overhangs help to prevent solar heat gain, keeping the tiny house cool and comfortable.

That practicality is imperative in Indonesia, where the terrain is difficult and many buildings are demolished not long after they’re constructed due to short-term property leases. "In order to bring sustainable development to remote areas and boost the local economy, we need knock-down structures that can be fabricated off-site and built quickly," says Dornier, who cofounded Bali-based Stilt Studios with Florian Holm, the firm’s CEO.



Ironwood flooring lends warmth and texture to the open-plan interior. The layout includes a small kitchen area and a living area with a built-in sofa and table crafted with teak veneer.



A wood deck wraps around the exterior of the home, offering a place to perch among the trees.

The Tetra Pod took just eight weeks to construct, and it can be swiftly taken down, allowing for maximum agility in Bali’s rapidly changing property market. Stilts lift the compact house 40 centimeters off the ground. "Many developments in Bali use large quantities of concrete, which destroys the natural environment," Dornier says. "I wanted to challenge the status quo and create architecture that leaves behind a minimal footprint."



The bedroom area, adjacent to the living space, offers cinematic views of the verdant landscape. "The diagonally oriented floor plan creates exciting spaces that exude outward toward the exterior," Dornier says.

By eliminating concrete and using recycled Tetra Pak cartons as a building material-along with wood, steel, and glass-Dornier’s sought to follow the principles of a circular economy. "Tetra Pak is reused, so it helps to reduce waste," he says.

The home also features large roof overhangs that help reduce solar heat gain, solar panels, a rainwater collection system, and a passive cooling system. "I also envisioned being able to grow food beneath the elevated structures," Dornier says.



Dornier outfitted the dining area with a built-in table and seating area made from teak veneer.

Inside, the Tetra Pod features an open plan that accommodates a bedroom, a living area, a dining space, a kitchen, and a bathroom. Dornier designed furniture pieces made with teak veneer-including a bed, a built-in dining table and bench, a living-room sofa, and a coffee table-to suit each of the rooms. Large sliding-glass doors and expanses of glazed cladding wrap the bedroom and living areas in lush greenery.



The bedroom area is situated behind a partial wall that separates it from the dining space.

The Tetra Pod is designed to be built for about $45K on almost any lot in any country, and Dornier is offering detailed plans (complete with five drawings) at a special price of $5,000 per set. "These drawings contain all required materials with sizes and finishes; structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing details; interior drawings; and a detailed step-by-step explanation of how to build Tetra Pod," he says.

The Tetra Pod Dornier built in Bali is a prototype that’s currently available to rent for short-term stays. "The prototype is part of a development that’s a place for experimentation and ongoing creative expression," says Dornier, who plans to eventually turn the development into a resort. "Our design studio is placed in one of our studios, submerged into the thick and lush surroundings."



Glazed surfaces reflect the surrounding greenery, helping the tiny home blend in with its site.

Stilt Studio’s long-term goal is to make each and every one of their sustainable designs available for purchase. "We want design lovers around the world to be able to build their favorite studio or home without paying a star architect’s design fee," Dornier says. "Especially in times like COVID-19, people are looking for alternative living spaces. Tetra Pod can be used as a workspace or yoga pavilion in a garden, as multiple units for a hotel or resort, or as a tiny home."

To inquire about booking a stay in Tetra Pod or another of the firm’s designs, visit Stilt Studios.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Miles Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
Cristiano Ronaldo Makes Surprise Stop at New Hong Kong Museum
Zelenskyy to Visit Washington after Trump–Putin Summit Yields No Agreement
High-Stakes Trump-Putin Summit on Ukraine Underway in Alaska
Iranian Protection Offers Chinese Vehicle Shipments a Cost Advantage over Japanese and Korean Makers
Saudi Arabia accelerates renewables to curb domestic oil use
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez announce engagement
Asia-Pacific dominates world’s busiest flight routes, with South Korea’s Jeju–Seoul corridor leading global rankings
Private Welsh island with 19th-century fort listed for sale at over £3 million
Sam Altman challenges Elon Musk with plans for Neuralink rival
Australia to Recognize the State of Palestine at UN Assembly
The Collapse of the Programmer Dream: AI Experts Now the Real High-Earners
Armenia and Azerbaijan to Sign US-Brokered Framework Agreement for Nakhchivan Corridor
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Scam Accounts Amid Rising Global Fraud
Nine people have been hospitalized and dozens of salmonella cases have been reported after an outbreak of infections linked to certain brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada
Texas Residents Face Water Restrictions While AI Data Centers Consume Millions of Gallons
Tariffs, AI, and the Shifting U.S. Macro Landscape: Navigating a New Economic Regime
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
OpenAI’s Bold Bet: Teaching AI to Think, Not Just Chat
BP’s Largest Oil and Gas Find in 25 Years Uncovered Offshore Brazil
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Germany’s Economic Breakdown and the Return of Militarization: From Industrial Collapse to a New Offensive Strategy
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
×