Overview - Urban Cabin

Founding director Jeremy Foster was approached to create a garden room for leisure and retreat for a designer located in her Islington garden. The architect sought to create a ‘sanctuary from urbanity and modernity’ and recreate the metaphorical cabin in the woods, but specific to its north-London garden setting. Interpreting the Norwegian ‘hytte’ cabin typology, (a remote and ascetic retreat with pared back functionality), the architect conceived of an intimate and flexible space sympathetic to its surroundings, beneath mature sycamore and ash trees. Clad externally in Siberian Larch, with openable brise-soleil screens to doors and windows, its orientation exploits north and south light and retains views over the garden. The interior is clad in douglas fir (lye and white soap finish) to create a light filled yet private interior. Structural wall and roof panels are made from plywood cassettes filled with Earthwool, and the structural floor deck sits on jackpads – I.e. no foundations.

Planning consent for the 5sqm cabin was received in spring 2017.