These Tiny Prefab Cabins Are Designed to Feel Like Luxe Hotel Rooms

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!

Before Nathan Aylott and James Van Tromp started their prefab company, Nokken, last year, they noticed that more people than ever were trying to get away from it all. Sure, part of that was due to the pandemic—everyone wanted to get away from everything—but people also seemed more eager to feel a deeper connection with nature. Aylott and Van Tromp saw luxury cabin stays gaining in popularity, but felt there was a hole in the market.

"While numerous companies were producing cabins—these modular and prefab units for domestic use—they often fell short in delivering the understated luxury and sophistication demanded by the hospitality industry," Van Tromp says. "With Nokken, we wanted to go beyond merely designing and manufacturing cabin products. Our ambition is to establish a comprehensive ecosystem encompassing lifestyle products, operational solutions, technology integration, and more, centered around our unique prefab units."

Armed with experience in hospitality design and strategy for major hotel groups, Aylott and Van Tromp designed the cabins with cosmopolitan touches to resemble upscale hotel rooms. Below, Van Tromp shares what Nokken offers people who want to "check in" to their brand of luxury.

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

A standout project in our portfolio is a branded residence we developed in the Catskills. This 2,500-square-foot property is a perfect embodiment of our aesthetic married with high-end living comforts. The residence, primarily spread over a single level with an integrated basement and garage, also features a distinctive "sanctuary room" on a higher floor, surrounded by lush rooftop vegetation and enveloped in panoramic glass. Our clients are transitioning from Hong Kong to New York for their retirement, and they were drawn to the blend of hospitality-influenced design and the practical benefits of a prefab build.

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

Our introductory model in the U.S. is priced at $85,000 for a compact, 200-square-foot micro-suite. This model boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, an en suite bathroom, and integrated storage solutions. Delivered as a complete unit with all permanent fixtures, it requires minimal additions—like a mattress and basic furnishings. It’s important to note that this price does not include installation and delivery fees.