Here's a lovely little project from Amsterdam's cc-studio. Named Thoreau's Cabin in honor of American author Henry David Thoreau, the off-grid shelter features a wood-burning stove, large sliding doors that open it up to the outside, and an understated elegance that enables it to complement, rather than dominate, its surroundings.
Located on a 5,900-acre (2,387-hectare) park in Utrecht, Netherlands, Thoreau's Cabin was built to replace an old cottage dating back to the 1960s. It serves as both a place to store supplies, and a warm and dry haven to the volunteers who tend the park.
The cabin is clad in aluminum and sports a painted aluminum roof. Inside, uncovered wood dresses a tasteful and sparse interior measuring a total floorspace of 42 sq m (452 sq ft). The lion's share of space goes to the living area, while the rest is split between a bedroom and laundry/storage room, and kitchenette (but no toilet).
Thoreau's Cabin operates totally off-the-grid. For water, there's a nearby well and the kitchen tap is operated by a small pump that draws from a container in the kitchen cabinet. Heat comes via a large wood-burning stove, but in warmer weather, the cabin's two large sliding doors open up an entire corner of the building to create a semi-outdoor space that's a little like 2by4 Architects' Summer House.
"The architecture of the cabin complements the pastoral elegance of the park," says cc-studio. "You can almost picture Thoreau writing Walden here."
Thoreau's Cabin was completed last year.
Source: cc-studio
