Perched on a slope of what is arguably the tallest mountain in the world (Mauna Kea), and accessible only by 4 wheel drive, Musubi House doesn’t rely on city grids, but instead is powered by the sun and captures all of its water from a huge trapezoid sloped roof with a giant rubber membrane.

Deep in the heart of paniolo (cowboy) country and surrounded by cattle ranches, this glass, steel and concrete home was built to protect against strong winds, but opens up completely to an interior courtyard for sheltered outdoor living.

“You are like being on a ship here right because you’re dependent on yourself, the electricity, the water”, explains contractor and off-grid designer Scott Dale. It’s the same as a sailboat in the middle of the ocean”.

The base of the home is a giant triangle with one angle a sunken living room and rest of the home blurs the line between indoor and outdoor with floor to ceiling glass doors that open onto an open-sky courtyard. Even the bedroom and bathroom are translucent and the shower is completely outdoors with lava-rock tile. Since normally the owners, Stacy and Guy Brand, are here alone there’s no need for privacy, though the guest bathroom does have an opaque door (though only a macrame barrier wall).

The kitchen is off-grid, but doesn’t make sacrifices. There’s an induction cooktop and full-sized electric stove and dishwasher. They used high-efficient drawers for the refrigerator and freezer.

The entire home is crafted, from the barrel-shaped skylights to a whitewashed pine ceiling that extends outdoors. “It’s all skinned in this beautiful pine that we’ve whitewashed. This is a boat-builder’s dream because all the lines line up from the outside to the inside. The same craftsmanship that goes into building a ship is the same craftsmanship that went into building the ceiling.”

[*Thanks to Craig Steely architect]