Cliff House Model Using Plants

Hello, everyone!

A few days ago, I was browsing through all the Instructables competitions and came across the Make It Home competition. As I read through the guidelines, I realized I wanted to combine three things I think will go really nicely together: nature, architecture, and uninhabited spaces. So I brought them all together—and now, I'm excited to show you how I did it!

I wanted to make this project accessible to everyone, so I did my best to use materials that most people already have at home.

Materials & Supplies:

1. Cardboard
2. Craft knife and/or scissors
3. 3Doodler or wire (for structure and vine)
4. clear plastic
5. Double-sided tape
6. glue
7. color marker

Plant Version:

Use any climbing plant you prefer, such as:

1. Ivy
2. Clematis
3. Honeysuckle

First, I had to figure out how to incorporate all the elements I wanted: nature, architecture, and uninhabited places.

Architecture

It's my dream to live in a self-sufficient cabin—something compact, cozy, and no larger than a shipping container. So I designed my house around those dimensions, keeping it close to the size of a standard cargo box. This gave it that minimalist, homey feel I love. I also added large windows, because really—what’s the point of living in a beautiful place if all you see are walls?

Nature

I've always been fascinated by climbing plants like ivy, and I started wondering—what if they could actually support a structure? That idea grew (: into this project. I decided to have plants grow over the support frame that holds the house against the cliff. It’s a more natural alternative that doesn’t damage or chip the rock like traditional anchoring systems might.

🌍 Uninhabited Places

Part of my tiny cabin dream has always included isolation. After reading books like My Side of the Mountain and Sign of the Beaver, I became inspired by the idea of living somewhere completely remote. So, I chose to build my (imaginary)house on the Cliffs of Moher—a breathtaking, yet extremely secluded location.

Overall, the idea is to have a cliff-hanging home, supported in part by climbing plants, with access to the land above via a small elevator system. It's sustainable, quiet, and deeply connected to the natural world around it

First, I started with a rough draft—both in Fusion 360 and on paper—to get a sense of how everything would come together. This early planning stage helped me spot and fix several design challenges, like how someone would enter and exit the structure, and how to secure it properly. All the measurements are shown on the picture above. When I liked how it looked and worked, I assembled it, using clear plastic as the windows. (I used the glue for this.)

During this stage, I also worked out the dimensions, height, and overall look of the design. Since this is a very miniature version, I decided to use fake ivy instead of real plants—I'll show you how to make that part later on.

Next, I constructed the support frame I had designed using the 3Doodler—

1. because it's fun to use, and
2. because cardboard just isn't as fun!

I designed the support frame so that the house is removable and mobile, making it a more eco-friendly solution. That way, it can be disassembled or relocated without leaving a permanent impact on the environment.

I also made sure the ivy connects to the cliffside at two points, which adds extra durability and stability to the structure, both visually and functionally. The plan is with the others on step 2.

Since I’m building a miniature version that’s way too small for real ivy, I decided to use fake ivy instead. To create it, I used double-sided tape, glue, cardboard, colored markers, and either wire or the 3Doodler.

First, I colored the cardboard green to mimic the look of real ivy, then cut out small leaf shapes. After that, I glued the leaves along a wavy line made from either 3Doodler plastic or wire, which I had pre-measured to follow the structure’s shape.

Finally, I attached both ends of the wire to the structure using double-sided tape, securing the faux ivy in place.

Real Plant Version

If you want to recreate this model using real climbing plants, you’ll first need to scale up my measurements to suit the size and growth pattern of the plant you're using.

1. Choose your climbing plant – ivy, clematis, or honeysuckle are all great options.
2. Strap or guide the plant to your surface or support frame as it grows. You can use soft plant ties or biodegradable string to gently secure the plant in place.
3. Water and care for the plant regularly. Over time, it will naturally adhere to the structure and grow large enough to help support the model.

Be patient—this process takes time, but it's an eco-friendly and beautiful way to blend living architecture with your design!

Final Assembly

To put the entire setup together, follow these steps:

1. Find the perfect location that mimics a cliff—this could be the edge of a table, the side of a box, a shelf, or even a vertical wall.
2. Take the double-sided tape from your fake ivy and fold it over itself to create a stronger bond.
3. Place the tape on the parts of the support frame that touch your “cliff” surface—make sure to do this on both contact points.
4. Carefully place the house onto the support frame, making sure it's secure and balanced.
5. (Optional) Create an additional fake plant vine to connect the house directly to the support frame for an extra touch of realism and design.

Thank You!

Thank you so much for taking the time to go through my Instructable—I hope you enjoyed it and feel inspired by the idea! If you think I should make mini solar panels, let me know! I’d love to hear your thoughts!