# Solar Timber Residences The Forest Edge House by Marc Thorpe Uses Off-Grid Systems By Amy Duong | Published 2026-04-16 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/forest-edge References: [edificeupstate](https://edificeupstate.com/forest-edge-house)  The Forest Edge House by Marc Thorpe is a two-storey timber residence located in the Catskills of New York, designed as a fully solar-powered home. The 1,500-square-foot structure is clad in FSC-certified pine and positioned on a forested site, using a compact footprint to minimise environmental impact. A 25-foot cantilevered steel deck extends outward into the tree canopy, creating an elevated outdoor platform connected to the main living spaces. The ground floor follows an open-plan layout combining kitchen, dining, and living areas with radiant floor heating. The house is powered by a photovoltaic system with battery storage, generating enough energy for daily use and short-term off-grid living. Bedrooms are arranged on the upper level, separating private and shared functions within a simple vertical plan. Large openings frame views of the surrounding forest, while the restrained material palette balances dark exterior cladding with lighter interior finishes. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.4/10 - Popularity: 83% | Activity: 37% | Freshness: 72% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Off-grid Solar Integration:** Growing adoption of photovoltaic systems with battery storage in single-family homes enables decentralized energy models and resilient microgrids for remote living. - **Timber-forward Residential Design:** A renewed focus on FSC-certified and engineered wood in homes creates opportunities for low-carbon structural systems and mass-customized timber components. - **Compact Forest-edge Living:** Smaller footprints and elevated cantilevered platforms facilitate minimal-impact site strategies and new prefabricated solutions for sensitive landscapes. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Residential Architecture:** Design practices are shifting toward integrated systems that combine passive strategies, renewable energy, and engineered timber to deliver high-performance off-grid dwellings. - **Renewable Energy Storage:** Home-scale battery manufacturers and software providers stand to benefit from demand for reliable, rooftop-integrated storage tailored to intermittent solar generation. - **Sustainable Building Materials:** Producers of certified timber and cross-laminated products may see growth in lightweight, transportable components optimized for rapid assembly in remote sites. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Experiential Wellness Activations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/experiential-wellness-activation.md) - [Metal-Based Concrete Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mexico-city-concrete.md) - [Pomegranate-Glazed Salmon Filets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/glazed-salmon.md) - [AI Automation Offerings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/digital-workforce-introduced.md) - [Luxury Champagne Partnerships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/Perrier-Jout.md) - [MAI Voice and Vision Models](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mai-transcribe.md) - [Pint-Sized Chicken Sandwiches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bos-chicken-rippers.md) - [Trauma-Informed Healing Home Fundraisers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/furnishing-futures.md) - [Upside-Down Tiny House Layouts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/veronique.md)