Permanent Camping 2 / Casey Brown Architecture

Architects: Casey Brown Architecture
Year: 2022
Photography: Andrew Loiterton
Lead Architects: Rob Brown
Project Architect: Antje Mahler
Structural Engineering: Adam Cameron – Cantilever Studio
Builder: Pip Smith – Smith and Primmer
Master Craftsman: Jeffery Broadfield
Materials: Recycled ironbark, copper
Manufacturers: Anibou, Dalian Hivolt, Futagami, Kaare Klint, Koskela, Mark Preston, Marset, Moroso, Ozblock, Red Ironbark
Location: Berry
Country: Australia

Permanent Camping 2 is a compact, off-grid retreat designed as a distilled expression of essential living. Located on a coastal hillside in Berry, Australia, the project comprises two small tower-like structures clad in copper, positioned to frame expansive views of the Pacific Ocean. The design prioritizes self-sufficiency and environmental responsiveness, incorporating rainwater collection, solar energy, and a composting system to minimize reliance on external infrastructure. The primary tower accommodates cooking, storage, and sleeping within a minimal footprint, while a secondary structure houses bathroom facilities. Operable copper panels protect the building when unoccupied and transform it when opened, creating shaded outdoor extensions. Constructed from reclaimed ironbark and prefabricated on site, the project emphasizes craftsmanship, durability, and a continued exploration of minimal habitation.

Permanent camping 2 / casey brown architecture

The project positions itself as an architectural inquiry into the idea of permanence, where durability is achieved not through mass but through adaptability and restraint. Conceived as a “permanent tent,” it challenges conventional notions of domesticity by reducing habitation to its most essential components while maintaining a strong formal presence within the landscape.

Situated on a gently rising hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the structure reads initially as a pair of small sculptural objects. The copper-clad towers sit lightly within the expansive green paddocks, their compact scale contrasting with the openness of the surrounding terrain. This deliberate ambiguity allows the architecture to operate simultaneously as shelter and as a distant visual marker.

The experience of the building is defined by transformation. When closed, the copper envelope forms a protective shell, shielding the interior from sun, wind, and weather. When opened, manually operated panels lift outward to create overhangs, extending the spatial footprint and mediating the interior environment through shade and ventilation.

Internally, the spatial organization is compact and highly efficient. A 3 by 3 meter plan accommodates living functions at ground level, including cooking, storage, and heating, while a mezzanine sleeping platform is accessed by ladder above. The separation of the bathroom into an adjacent tower reinforces both functional clarity and a sense of ritual movement between spaces.

Materiality plays a central role in the project’s character and longevity. The interior is constructed from recycled ironbark, a dense and resilient hardwood reclaimed from a disused wharf float, embedding the structure with a sense of continuity and endurance. This contrasts with the outer copper skin, which weathers over time while acting as a robust environmental barrier.

Environmental systems are integrated with precision and simplicity. Rainwater is collected from the roof and stored for use in the kitchen and bathroom, while solar panels provide power for lighting. A wood-fired stove introduces a tactile mode of heating, and elements such as the ladder assume multiple roles, reflecting an economy of design thinking.

The construction process underscores the collaborative nature of the project. Prefabricated on site within a barn by a close-knit team of builder and craftsman, the cabin reflects a shared commitment to making as an integral aspect of architecture. Permanent Camping 2 continues an evolving lineage of experimental dwellings, offering a refined meditation on simplicity, craft, and the relationship between shelter and landscape.