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Cabins 2019-03-04T16:15:33+11:00

6 PREFAB CABIN IDEAS THAT INSPIRE

Every now and then we all crave a bit of peace and quiet – a chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of city or suburban life and escape to somewhere relaxing and secluded.

Remote cabins by their very nature are, well, remote. Yet that idyllic and isolated location which draws us to a place, often poses a number of complexities to building there.

Factors pertaining to a site’s location and exposure increase the difficulty. In response, a growing number of architects and designers are turning to off-site built prefab and modular as a low-impact alternative for remote and ecologically-sensitive areas.

Prefab building technology has come a long way since the low-quality, mass-produced, repetitive-designs of bygone eras. Today, prefab is all about quality, predictable costs and the experimentation of new materials and construction methods.

Here, we look at five prefab cabins from around the world that serve as a good source of inspiration (plus one Aussie prefabricated house design we love).

 

Koto’s Scandinavian-style cabins

Scandinavian-style cabins by Koto are an off-the-shelf housing concept that can be reconfigured to meet the needs of each individual client and the constraints of any site.

The flexible prefab cabins come as one, two, three or four-bedroom units and can also be customised with add-ons such as a sauna and an outdoor shower.

Concealed storage walls maximise floor space internally and help achieve a clean Scandi aesthetic.

 

MAPA guest cabins

Dotted around a vast vineyard in Maldonado, Uruguay are simple, yet chic, prefabricated guest cabins design by MAPA.

The cabins incorporate a mirrored-glass front façade and a rear façade crafted from stacked logs. The stone base foundations that support the cabins are shaped to suit each cabin’s specific plot.

Green roofs cover the pre built cabins while internally the main space is left fuss-free to allow the focus to be on the stunning surrounding landscape.

 

Vipp Shelter

The Vipp Shelter was conceived with every detail and piece of furniture meticulously planned. All of the appliances, fixtures, lighting, tableware and even bed linen have been selected by the home’s designer. All you have to do is turn up, sit back and enjoy being face-to-face with nature through the home’s full height glass sliding doors.

 

A45 Klein

Hidden modular cabin in the woods at daytime

This sleek black cabin, designed by Bjark Ingels (from BIG) and fellow Danish designer Soren Rose, is a house concept for people who want to live close to and comfortably in nature.

Dubbed the A45 for tiny home company Klein, the cabin is inspired by traditional pitched-roof A-frame structures. By twisting the roof 45 degrees however, the designers were able to create a soaring volume that is 3.9 meters high. The result is a building that changes depending on your viewpoint. From one angle the cabin looks like a cube, and when viewed from the other it appears to be a spire.

Unique triangle shaped modular caine in forest

 

Atelier’s floating prefabricated cabins

Designed by Parisian-based Atelier LAVIT, this eco-hotel on a fishing reserve in Avignon, France is made up of a series of prefabricated cabins that float peacefully on the lake.

Offering solitude and relaxation, each prefab cabin is clad in vertical wooden screens which not only provide a sense of privacy but mimic the surrounding water reeds.

In order to simplify the construction process in this remote area, the cabins were largely prefabricated in a workshop, therefore reducing impact to the natural ecosystems.

 

Modscape’s Tintaldra

We’re clearly biased, but design critics agree that Modscape’s Tintaldra project situated on a vast property on the banks of the Murray River – showcases the benefits of being small, smart and self-sufficient in a stunningly secluded landscape.

When viewed from the road the modular cabin recedes into the landscape, appearing as a small silhouette against the snowy mountains on the horizon.

A bank of solar panels generates the home’s energy, creating more than enough for the efficient home to run comfortably. Water is drawn from the Murray River via a solar pump to supply the home’s water, while a septic tank deals with wastewater onsite.

Realestate.com.au shot a video on the project featuring our client and our managing director discussing the thought process behind the modular design. If you missed it, sit back and enjoy 2.27 minutes of stunning scenery and beautiful sustainable house design.