ODYL House: off-grid living made elegant

ODYL has transformed off-grid, remote living into an elegant experience, which can be explored at their show home in an idyllic location in Põlvamaa, in South Estonia.

The first thing that catches the eye upon seeing the ODYL House is its sleek design, which harmoniously combines glass panels with premium quality glulam and cross-laminated timber elements.

Light floods in from the front and sides of the living room, creating a sense of great space and comfort throughout the 60m2 one-bedroom house, which features an optional loft that provides another 13.4m2 of usable space. Every detail in the house has been meticulously considered: from hidden rain gutters to solid wooden drop-down doors and much more. As night falls, the house radiates magnificently through a system of interior and exterior LED lights, adding a special feel to the house.

The materialisation of an off-grid vision

ODYL was founded with a vision to make off-grid living accessible and enjoyable. Their journey began three years ago, following the completion of a residential house development project by Margus Kibal, a nationally recognized building engineer, and a binational entrepreneurial couple, Katrin Vares and Gabriel Ceballos. The collaboration was seamless, and the trio immediately connected, sparking ideas for future projects together. That’s when they came up with a unique concept:

“Some of the most naturally beautiful plots around the world are not connected to the electricity and water grids. Since there are no connections and it’s expensive to build connections, these incredibly beautiful plots are usually vacant. We saw an opportunity in this and started thinking of solutions that would be sustainable in the long term and would allow us to easily export the solutions as the investment required to start the development process would be high” – says Katrin, who is ODYL’s CEO. “Our show home is the materialisation of this vision.

Clients interested in buying an ODYL House can experience first-hand the quality of our products, whereas the house is also available for those who would like to spend a few days or weeks in an inspiring natural environment.

Outdoors breakfast and work at the ODYL show home with Gabriel and Katrin – two of ODYL’s co-founders
Outdoors breakfast and work at the ODYL show home with Gabriel and Katrin – two of ODYL’s co-founders.

Who are ODYL House’s clients?

They’re incredibly diverse. Some people want to purchase the ODYL House because they own plots in extraordinary, off-grid locations. Usually, these are couples who enjoy living and working remotely in beautiful, natural settings. Others don’t require the off-grid module and would like to install the house on a family plot for their grandparents, allowing them to live more independently while being cared for by the rest of the family. Small grandchildren love sleeping and playing in the loft when they visit their grandparents during weekends and holidays.

In summary, our clients have varied needs, but they all share a desire for a high-quality, elegant house that can be installed quickly, and they appreciate the solution we’ve created

 

The ODYL House is enjoyed by people from all generations
The ODYL House is enjoyed by people from all generations.
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The meanings of sustainability

The core principle driving ODYL is sustainability – a term gaining widespread usage across numerous industries. For the ODYL House, this concept is realized through concrete solutions, such as:

  • Materials: The core house elements, namely glulam and cross-laminated timber (CLT), are sourced from sustainably managed Finnish forests and treated with biocide-free oils. All materials and accessories are procured from high-quality, internationally certified suppliers. In terms of sustainability, this approach enables local supply organisations, to minimise material transportation distances.
  • Design and craftsmanship:  In the ODYL House, design excellence and craftsmanship quality are inseparable. With a structural tolerance of 2 mm, compared to the industry average of 5 mm, precise installation is essential to guarantee the building’s longevity.
High-quality glulam, CLT and craftsmanship are some of the ODYL House main features.
  • Minimal Material Usage and Waste: Unlike traditional on-site construction, which typically generates a minimum of 10% waste, the ODYL House is designed to minimize waste throughout its lifecycle – from production and installation to potential disassembly
  • Advanced Technology: Many components of the ODYL House have been custom-designed to reduce material usage and costs while enhancing quality and longevity. For instance, window frames are eliminated by fitting glass elements directly into CNC-cut glulam elements, and skirting boards are not used.
    The ODYL House includes special tailor-made parts, such as no threshold sliding doors and bottom-up heating.

     

  • Processes:  From production to installation and maintenance, every process is designed to maximise efficiency for the client. Reflecting on her experiences, Katrin notes, “Having faced the complexities of building both conventional and off-grid houses, we understand the importance of smooth processes and clear communication with our clients. While challenges may arise, our commitment is to maintain transparency and realism. We believe in underpromising and overdelivering. Financially, ODYL’s vision is to channel savings from innovative engineering solutions and process efficiencies into higher-quality materials and technologies.”
  • Future proofed:  Whether it stands for 100 or 1000 years, every house eventually reaches the end of its lifespan. With this in mind, one of ODYL’s key design goals was future-proofing. The ODYL House is designed to be easily deconstructed, with 99% of its materials being recyclable.
  • Add-ons: ODYL offers an optional 100% energy and water independent module, engineered and designed in collaboration with energy and water technologists. This add-on is not necessary if existing power and water grid connections are available. However, additional solar panels, energy storage, and water purification systems for irrigation are still recommended. Other available add-ons include, such as a sauna house or car shelter and appliances such as a terrace, hot tub, kitchen, LED light and smart-house systems plus interior design options for the living room, toilet and bedroom are also available.
ODYL’s 100% independent energy and water management system at the ODYL Holiday House
ODYL’s 100% independent energy and water management system at the ODYL Holiday House.

The ODYL House client journey

The client journey of an ODYL House owner follows the following process:

  • Administration and planning: This includes getting a building permit/license and preparing the plot. These are processes organised locally with ODYL providing all the necessary information, drawings and instructions. Preparation times vary depending on local regulations. During the planning phase, clients also choose the interior and exterior design solutions and add-ons they would like to have at the house.
  • Production: The production of elements can take up to eight weeks (usually 4 weeks) once the order is placed. The structural elements have been designed to fit into one standard truck/ship container.
  • Installation: Provided that no bad weather conditions disrupt planned works, the installation of an ODYL House takes 20 working days. Add-ons, such as the terrace, off-grid elements etc, take extra time.
  • Post-building: This stage includes the act of passing over the keys, activating the craftsmanship and structural warranties as well as explaining and passing over all the necessary information regarding systems and appliances to the client. Finally, the client is responsible for organising the usage licence, with all necessary information supplied by ODYL.

Depending on a plot’s current situation, preparation times and the number of wished add-ons, the whole process from an order to “keys-to-the-house” takes a minimum 2 and a maximum 4 months. This is based on the assumption that the building permit exists.

Margus Kilbal (left) and Katrin Vares with part of the ODYL installation team
Margus Kilbal (left) and Katrin Vares with part of the ODYL installation team.

What do you need from clients who would like to buy an ODYL House?

Katrin mentioned the following:

  • Plot location: Road access and the “last mile” play a key role in cost calculations. Ground type, situation and geological base map: The ODYL House can be installed almost anywhere. The geological base map is important for choosing the best foundation type and photos of the current situation of the plot are important to estimate ground preparation costs.
  • Meteorological data: Calculating the optimal off-grid system size is based on meteorological data (hours of sunlight, monthly rainfall). Solar energy is used and stored during sunny months, whereas a backup generator would be necessary in colder climates. Water is stored and purified from rain/river/lake water (and recycled when water supply is scarce). Therefore, it is important to have meteorological data.
  • Desired add-ons: Add-ons and extra choices can influence the final price considerably. She adds – “Our standard ODYL House offer already has many special details included, but we would like to offer our clients options. We all have different wish lists and priorities and it’s nice when options are already tested technically as well as visually and can easily be added. Living room: kitchen furniture, fireplace, ceiling LEDs.
Bedroom: sliding door for the wardrobe
Bedroom: sliding door for the wardrobe

 

Bathroom: mirror, LEDs, glass doors, wall integrated shower and sink mixer, electric floor heating, blinds, etc.
Bathroom: mirror, LEDs, glass doors, wall integrated shower and sink mixer, electric floor heating, blinds, etc.
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Clients can see, use and experience all these appliances when they visit our show home
Clients can see, use and experience all these appliances when they visit our show home so that they can make a better-informed decision when they build their own

Ideal owners of an ODYL House

When asked about who are the ideal owners of an ODYL House, Katrin replies – “we have managed to change the perception of two concepts among our clients – prefabricated and off-grid, which are usually misunderstood as lower in quality and not able to offer any comfort, respectively.

The ODYL House is a high-end product for someone who appreciates living in a modern space that has been designed under sustainability principles and that, if necessary, can be off-grid. Everyone is welcome to experience for themselves, how owning an ODYL House feels by visiting or even booking a stay at our show home. For serious potential clients, we are always happy to host you for a few days!

The ODYL House interior design at night
The ODYL House interior design at night

ODYL House features:

  • Price: €124,600 ODYL standard house or €130,000 with optional Loft (inc. house and installation, exc. foundation, logistics, add-ons and VAT).
  • House height 4.4m and Loft height from the highest point: 1.77m
  • Total area: 60m2 (7.6m x 7.9m)
  • Living area 54.5m2 living area plus Loft 13.4m2

Contact ODYL and organise a viewing of their show home.

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