Architecture

Stunning cabin slides apart for semi-outdoor living

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Anna Stay, by Caspar Schols, is a stunning new take on the classic wooden cabin
Jorrit ‘t Hoen/Tonu Tunnel
Anna Stay, by Caspar Schols, is a stunning new take on the classic wooden cabin
Jorrit ‘t Hoen/Tonu Tunnel
Anna Stay can be delivered in flatpack form or as a built cabin and requires minimal foundations
Jorrit ‘t Hoen/Tonu Tunnel
Anna Stay can be opened up to the elements when the weather suits
Jorrit ‘t Hoen/Tonu Tunnel
Anna Stay, by Caspar Schols, includes a bed on the main floor and another on the upper mezzanine area, which is reached by removable ladder
Jorrit ‘t Hoen/Tonu Tunnel
Anna Stay's exterior is finished in Larch fir
Jorrit ‘t Hoen/Tonu Tunnel
Anna Stay's walls move using a system of wheels that run along a track
Jorrit ‘t Hoen/Tonu Tunnel
Anna Stay's bathroom includes a shower and opens to the outside
Jorrit ‘t Hoen/Tonu Tunnel
Anna Stay is warmed with a small wood-burning stove, though central heating can be optionally installed too
Jorrit ‘t Hoen/Tonu Tunnel
Anna Stay measures from 13.7 to 47.9 sq m (roughly 150 - 515 sq ft), depending on how it's configured
Jorrit ‘t Hoen/Tonu Tunnel
Anna Stay's operable walls are slid open manually and have a locking system in place
Jorrit ‘t Hoen/Tonu Tunnel
Anna Stay's interior is finished in birch plywood and it has a simple cabin-like decor
Jorrit ‘t Hoen/Tonu Tunnel
Anna Stay's interior features a kitchenette and a dining table
Jorrit ‘t Hoen/Tonu Tunnel
Anna Stay's structure is inspired by railway buildings, which designer Caspar Schols says rely on the side walls for structural integrity
Jorrit ‘t Hoen/Tonu Tunnel
Anna Stay lets its owners fall sleep under the open sky
Jorrit ‘t Hoen/Tonu Tunnel
Anna Meet offers the same basic cabin design as Anna Stay, but with a layout that's more suited toward a home office/meeting space
Jorrit ‘t Hoen/Tonu Tunnel
"The windows also give a panoramic view, but only when seated in a chair, or when waking up and experiencing the view from the bed," says Caspar Schols. "This way, when the wood shells are closed there is a strong, cosy, indoor atmosphere protected from the elements, for these moments in which the weather is more hostile"
Jorrit ‘t Hoen/Tonu Tunnel
View gallery - 16 images

Designer Caspar Schols puts a fresh spin on the classic wooden cabin with his recently-completed Anna Stay. Though it looks like a normal cabin at first glance, the unusual dwelling's walls can be slid apart to open it up to the outside, allowing its owners to embrace a semi-outdoor lifestyle.

The idea for Anna Stay was originally conceived when Schols designed a similar garden shed for his mother a few years ago. It proved a big hit and he received media attention worldwide, so in the time since, he has studied architecture formally and worked to create a version that could be sold.

The cabin has four configurations: the first functions as a simple closed cabin, the second is to manually slide its walls apart to open its center up to the elements completely, while the third is the same, but with a glass roof and walls offering protection from the elements. The fourth, meanwhile, is to have glazed enclosures bookending the cabin on either side – it all sounds pretty complicated written down but makes more sense if you check out the photos in the gallery. The exterior is clad in Larch fir, while the interior is finished in Douglas fir and Birch ply and, according to the designer, the overall structure is inspired by railway buildings and how their walls provide structural stability.

Anna Stay can be opened up to the elements when the weather suits
Jorrit ‘t Hoen/Tonu Tunnel

"The walls lock in position with a large latch that is pushed down by a spring system," a company representative explained to us when asked how the walls are secured. "That, in combination with 'brake pads' mounted on the rails will make sure the sliding elements are always secured. The walls also contain an 'anchor system' of steel hooks that grip under the platform in case of strong winds."

The interior of the cabin is mostly arranged on the ground floor, with a living area, bed, kitchenette and dining space, plus a bathroom with shower all downstairs. However, a removable ladder also provides access to a secondary mezzanine bedroom with a typical tiny house-style low ceiling. The dwelling is warmed by a wood-burning stove, though a central heating system can optionally be installed.

For those who like the basic idea of the cabin but would prefer to use it as a home office, Schols has also designed an Anna Meet version that functions as a workplace (with a slightly different structure that comprises four sliding wall sections instead of the Anna Stay's two) and Anna Me, for custom designs. Additionally, other options include full off-the-grid functionality.

Anna Stay, by Caspar Schols, includes a bed on the main floor and another on the upper mezzanine area, which is reached by removable ladder
Jorrit ‘t Hoen/Tonu Tunnel

Anna Stay is up for sale now. It'll set you back €87,000 (roughly US$100,000), including furniture but excluding any taxes and building costs, and is available worldwide. It's delivered in one piece or as a flat pack kit that takes roughly five days to assemble, according to the designer.

Source: Anna Stay

View gallery - 16 images
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4 comments
paul314
Sweet! I hope the flatpak version comes with good instructions. If the designer could make a hub module, you could connect in all manner of manner of interesting patterns.
Username
For those times when there aren't quite enough mosquitoes inside!
BlueOak
Cool concept. Using what appear to be standard materials, rollers, etc...

However, looking at the detailing, weather-tightness appears to ride low on the priority list. And that frame-less glass looks downright fragile, particularly at the joints.
David V
I find this stunning. I really love the structure of the arches. In fact I love everything about this project. It's the kind of garden shed / extra bedroom / summer / winter house I would put in my garden. Of course it's about the price of a house extension but fair enough. As a weekend retreat, the idea of being about to slide and lockup my little house safely is appealing too. My only doubt is on the real slidability after a while. Would it get stuck ? How well would it age ? Would I actually use / need this option ? It's very nice work from a very young architect and we will certainly hear more about him in the future.