Matthew O'Brien
mobrien@ltu.edu Website Design InstagramEarning his undergraduate degree from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, failed artist Mat O’Brien entered the building trades to pursue a lifelong love of Architecture and working with his hands. Ever the glutton for punishment, O’Brien went out on his own and has spent the last 16 years running a Design + Build firm in New England, first in Connecticut and presently in Maine. Originally working in historic restoration and adaptive reuse, he now focuses on energy efficient residential design and construction, endlessly searching for the secret entanglement of high efficiency and low-cost. Mat will graduate in Spring of 2024 with a Masters of Architecture from Lawrence Technological University.
TITLE 
Heffle-haus
MajorArchitecture [M.Arch]
DescriptionHeffle-haus is a month-long response to a design competition request for a small structure with many parameters. Heffle-haus is a panelized, rapid construction housing unit, that provides up to two individuals 300 square feet of modest living. The basic mobile kit consists of four exterior, double stud panels, two roof panels and a loft panel. Depending on desired location and mobility, a wood constructed floor panel can be included. This off grid living pod is designed to be fabricated off site in a factory controlled setting and brought to it’s erected location. The main panel system for single units can travel by 1 ton pickup trucks and a trailer while larger Heffle-haus communities can be supplied by trucking or shipping multiple panel packages. Sustainable material use, off grid capabilities and rapid assembly can make this an enlightened choice for a semi permanent habitat.