This $12K Flat-Pack Cabin Makes the Perfect Weekend Retreat or Backyard Office
Hungarian design studio Hello Wood unveils Kabinka, an affordable, compact cabin that can fit a kitchenette, bed, desk, and couch.
Hungarian design studio Hello Wood unveils Kabinka, an affordable, compact cabin that can fit a kitchenette, bed, desk, and couch.
Four years ago, Hungarian design studio and educational platform Hello Wood began building prototypes of a tiny cabin that they dubbed Kabinka. Over the years, these prototypes were put to the test by architecture and design students taking part in the Hello Wood summer school. The studio then developed a flat-pack version of the cabin, and it’s now available for purchase as an affordable, self-build option for a weekend retreat, backyard guest room, or private office.
It takes one to three days to assemble Kabinka—which can be done by the client or the Hello Wood team. After installing the ground screws, the wooden frame is put in place. Once the frame is standing, the sandwich panels are positioned. After the shell of the cabin is ready, the interior is finished. The Hello Wood team is working on ways to make the design even more DIY-friendly.
Zsuzsa Darab
"We’ve received interest from people looking for an extra room in their backyard, a tiny home for vacations, and even people investing in resorts," says project architect Péter Oravecz. "We can make changes to the design based on each customer’s needs—we can put the cabin on wheels, change the location of the doors and windows, create different sizes, and use different materials."
"Creating a quality space was the focus during the design process," says the Hello Wood team. "Spatial quality isn’t necessarily characterized by big size, but rather deliberate complexity. Each and every millimeter counts—but we believe it’s a joy to spend time in a minimalist home."
Zsuzsa Darab
The timber cabin is built from one-meter-long modules and is available in four different sizes—from S (129 square feet) to XL (215 square feet)—which are constructed from five to eight modules. Additional modules, such as a terrace or roof shading, are also available as add-ons.
The timber used for Kabinka varies depending on what is locally available in the region the cabin is being built—currently, it is sourced locally in Hungary. "We used wood, as it is a sustainable material that we like to work with," says project architect Péter Oravecz.
Zsuzsa Darab
See the full story on Dwell.com: This $12K Flat-Pack Cabin Makes the Perfect Weekend Retreat or Backyard Office
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