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Collection by Patrick Sisson

Glass Prefab Cabin is Ultimate Outdoor Getaway

Glass walls and a slide-away wall connect this rural escape with the outdoors.

A compact recreational home on a sliver of an island in the Dutch countryside, the one-room Island House leaves a small footprint at only 225 square feet. A slide-out side wall and parallel glass walls, which support a gabled roof and provide a lengthwise view of the island, open up the home to the countryside, while the clever interior arrangement makes sure nothing gets in the way of the view. Co-designer Remko Remijnse of 2by4 Architects said the demands of the cramped site—the prefabricated wall panels were brought in by boat—inspired him to look for efficient solutions. The resulting cabin inspired a series of modular prototypes that prospective clients can customize to create their own escape, no island necessary.

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Utilized year-round, the 225-square-foot cabin opens up to the surrounding countryside via parallel glass walls on either end and a folding wood door that leads to the terrace. Co-designer Remko Remijnse of 2by4 Architects says the concept was to make the “natural surroundings become part of the living room [so] you have endless living space.”
Utilized year-round, the 225-square-foot cabin opens up to the surrounding countryside via parallel glass walls on either end and a folding wood door that leads to the terrace. Co-designer Remko Remijnse of 2by4 Architects says the concept was to make the “natural surroundings become part of the living room [so] you have endless living space.”
The fold-out wall allows lake access from the living room. The indoor fireplace can be rotated to warm up the terrace during chilly evenings outdoors.
The fold-out wall allows lake access from the living room. The indoor fireplace can be rotated to warm up the terrace during chilly evenings outdoors.
The home’s east-west orientation picks up sunlight twice a day and makes the house blend seamlessly into the wooded background.
The home’s east-west orientation picks up sunlight twice a day and makes the house blend seamlessly into the wooded background.
According to Remijnse, since the only direction they could build on the small site was up, they decided to add height with a gabled roof.
According to Remijnse, since the only direction they could build on the small site was up, they decided to add height with a gabled roof.
The architects learned how to deal with the complex site while solving the challenge of incorporating everything a person needs for living within a 225-square-foot home. Fold-away storage units and a minimal interior helped maximize the square footage.
The architects learned how to deal with the complex site while solving the challenge of incorporating everything a person needs for living within a 225-square-foot home. Fold-away storage units and a minimal interior helped maximize the square footage.
Constructed with prefabricated wood panels placed onto a steel frame, the Island House inspired the architects to create a series of modular prefabs based on the design, including a do-it-yourself kit.
Constructed with prefabricated wood panels placed onto a steel frame, the Island House inspired the architects to create a series of modular prefabs based on the design, including a do-it-yourself kit.
Subtle features incorporated into the design, including an elevated terrace and jetty, help the home float above the island.
Subtle features incorporated into the design, including an elevated terrace and jetty, help the home float above the island.