Text description provided by the architects. Elsewhere, an Austin-area vacation rental company, commissioned Sean O’Neill to design their first cabin. The goal was to create a compact living space with everything one would need for a weekend of focus and fresh air.
The atmosphere the architect aimed to recreate was that of a Texas porch. It’s a serene feeling of sitting outside in the heat, the breeze, and the rain under the shade of a roof. A 10′ folding glass wall allows the entire living space to become a porch.
It was important the cabins be functional off-grid. This would give guests a greater sense of detachment and allow periodic relocation. To this end, the architect designed the cabin on a trailer base with on-board utilities. Solar panels provide power for lighting, hot water, and wifi. The bathroom has a waterless toilet and a shower and sink fed by an on-board water tank.
On the inside, the architect avoided filling the miniature space with normal-sized house furnishings. Instead, he outfitted it with integrated, compact, multi-purpose components. A singular surface transitions from desk to sofa to kitchen counter. The living space and kitchen counter surface continues into the bathroom. A frosted glass panel provides a faint view of the continued surface on the other side.
Project Credits:
Architects: Sean O’Neill @seanoneillarchitect
Construction by @elsewhere.retreats
Photos: Benjamin Rasmussen, Sean O’Neill, @elsewhere.retreats
Area: 160ft² / 14.8m²