Designed and developed for Glastonbury Festival 2005, the podpad will stand up to the most severe of weather conditions. They are comfortable, weatherproof, cool, soundproof, secure, and safe with optional extras available to increase comfort. They are also a possible solution to a group base camp, on-site storage, as well as live-in accommodation.

The podpad is designed to accommodate two adults comfortably on either a double or twin beds. In exceptional circumstances, they can accommodate a family of three. The podpad is 8 feet by 6 feet with a wooden floor and a fitted carpet. They have raised beds with mattresses, shelving, windows with curtains, a mirror, light and a 12V socket. Podpads are also solar powered by a panel outfitted as a sunflower on the roof. This can be used for low usage items such as charging cell phones, laptops and iPods.

Podpads are usually offered for camping and festivals in small groups called podcamps, and also come in scaled up versions called the Luxpad, the Bunkpad and the Octopad. The Luxpad is 10 feet by 8 feet and has a higher roof, more storage and 240v power. The Bunkpad is the same size as the Luxpad and offers bunkbeds for families. The Octopad is a 16-foot octagon with a low roof. It’s supported by a center pole and can accommodate a large family or group.

Photos courtesy of Podpads, Rockness and NME

By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]

Many of these camps had their own versions of tiny houses, and like last year’s post, I thought I would feature a few of my favorites.

This year, our neighborhood of 3:30 and Istanbul (see the Black Rock City map) was lucky to have the Neverwas Haul as a corner beacon. This “mutant vehicle” is styled as a steampunk Victorian house that you could actually live in. In Black Rock City, it’s helpful to camp near a larger structure so you can find your way back to your little home in the dark.

Next door to the Neverwas Haul was Michel Olson and Christy Horne with their handbuilt “turret” gypsy wagon named Sir James. This year, they created a shade shelter out of Sir James and their van with a tent on top for their teenage kids to sleep in. They spend most of their time as traveling storytellers, artists and metalworkers. They live for about 8 months out of the year in a “castle truck” they named Florence.

Last year, this gypsy wagon was unfinished. Now it has beautiful detailing and interior seating and sleeping areas.

Vintage trailers of all shapes, colors and sizes are very popular at Burning Man.

Elegant tents make wonderful shade shelters that stay nearly dust-free.

Domes are also successful shade structures, and many Burners love to pay homage to their mother country.

The group that sets up the raves every year, at the far end of the city, creates their own tipi village.

The Red Rooster Ranch might be a fun place to hang out during the heat.

How about staying for a week in a pink, metal tipi structure with a disco ball? (notice the “For Rent” sign?)

Or a tiny pink house on a big, blue truck?

Or a spaceship complete with a little, celestial visitor?

Black Rock City “houses” are created for maximum shade, comfort, humor and beauty. However, what impresses me most about these tiny shelters is the amount of work and ingenuity that goes into a design that really only lasts for a week. Each little home has to survive the city’s dust storms, brutal heat and 40 mph plus winds, but in addition to that they are also a welcoming sight in the otherwise inhospitable desert.

By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]

For only a week out of each year, Black Rock City, the home of Burning Man, is the fourth largest city in the state of Nevada. While the festival participants’ camps are only temporary, a lot of work goes into creating a comfortable, beautiful tiny shelter. These tiny “houses” have to be able to withstand up to 80 mile an hour winds, have to protect their inhabitants from the desert heat and cold, and the notorious dust storms of the Black Rock Desert. It also helps if they are colorful and attract attention. It makes them easier to find in the mass creativity that is Black Rock City.

Our neighborhood of 3:15 and Inherit in Black Rock City, NV

While at Burning Man, you “live” in the city. When someone asks you where you live, you say something like, “On the corner of 7:00 and Chaos, right next to the giant spaceship.” (referring to the horizontal “C” street and vertical number street of the Black Rock City map). This year’s city was 9,460 feet in diameter and included 44 miles of streets. It helps to know exactly where your tiny house is located.

To the un-Burned eye, Black Rock City looks a little beat up and run down, but when you are in one of the most inhospitable places on earth, any little bit of comfort is appreciated. The inhabitants of Black Rock City are an amazing group of people with extremely creative ideas and skills who create little laps of luxury in the desert.

These are some of my favorite tiny houses of Black Rock City:

Hexayurts were quite popular this year

So were tipis

I even found a half-finished gypsy wagon down the street

A very well insulated yurt

This structure has a central living area and a loft for sleeping

A beautiful, handmade truck trailer

This geodome uses solar panels for power

The Oliver trailer owned by Chris and Cherie from Technomadia

These tiny houses were built for storage and sleeping

The trailer of the Hollywood Death Squad

Our neighbor converted a toy hauler into a tiny shelter with French doors

This dome was used as a steam room

A lovely pink setup at the entrance to Kidsville

This mutant vehicle, also a shelter, was towed by a tractor

The inhabitants of the VW Bus Camp travel in groups

You can even have a white picket fence in Black Rock City

And my all-time favorite…

The Neverwas Haul, one of the best known mutant vehicles on the Playa