These $31K Micro Cabins Are Light Enough to Be Dropped Into Place by a Helicopter

Welcome to Prefab Profiles, an ongoing series of interviews with people transforming how we build houses. From prefab tiny houses and modular cabin kits to entire homes ready to ship, their projects represent some of the best ideas in the industry. Do you know a prefab brand that should be on our radar? Get in touch!

When the pandemic struck and created isolating conditions, Finnish architecture firm Studio Puisto began thinking about how to make the best of them. The team developed an angular, 100-square-foot prefab shed that aimed to provide a silver lining in a dire moment.

"The cabin was designed to emphasize how a minimal space with only the essentials can allow us to enjoy what matters most," says company cofounder Willem van Bolderen. "It’s a modern, mass timber cabin constructed from Finnish wood that acts as a dedicated space to unwind, think, and recharge."

In the years since the first Space of Mind cabin was built, the firm has seen it used as an office by people who aren’t too far from the grid, and a cabin by some who are well off of it. Meant primarily for hoteliers looking to establish retreats, the cabin’s small size makes it easy to place anywhere. "Its modular system allows for flexibility," van Bolderen says. "We wanted people to have a home away from home."

Here, van Bolderen shares one of the company’s favorite builds to date, and what makes their cabin stand apart from the rest.

What’s the most exciting project you’ve realized to date?

Since wellness is an important aspect of Space of Mind, we recently created sauna versions of the cabin. In the summer of 2022, we had one  featured in the Fiskars Village Biennale (an art and design event in Finland). We have also been excited to see clients from other parts of the world take interest. We had a Space of Mind shipped to North America for the first time not too long ago, where it has been assembled in a mountainous area of California, and will be available to book through Airbnb.

What does your base model cost and what does that pricing include?

The flat-pack version, which is for customers outside of the Nordics, starts at £25,000 (about $30,475 in U.S. dollars), and installation is extra. The fully assembled Space of Mind starts at £45,000 (about $54,848).