One With Nature – The Cabin by Johnstone Callaghan Architects
Located in Abel Tasman National Park on the South Island of New Zealand is The Cabin by Johnstone Callaghan Architects. This tiny cabin retreat offers the owners an unparalleled opportunity to escape city life and connect to nature and, in return, they help to regenerate the land that the home sits upon.
Connected to the natural surrounds and wildlife, The Cabin is one of four privately held properties that is reachable only by boat or a walking track. Positioned among the trees, the property does not encroach upon nature but instead becomes a part of it. From the bottom of the staircase that leads up to the home, there is a deep sense that the owners and architect have done their best to limit how many trees were cut so that there would be enough space for nature to regenerate.
Due to the remoteness of The Cabin, the owners have total privacy, with only the wildlife to keep them company. After coming up the nature-lined staircase and entering the property, one is welcomed by an inviting living space that is bathed in natural light and warmed by light timber tones. The light timber is then contrasted by the darker timber tones found in the main bedroom. For the more private areas, the architect has positioned the shower outside, to the right. Flanked on three sides and perched over limestone in the middle of the bush, the shower allows the owners to completely embrace outdoor living among the treetops. Additionally, there is a concrete bunker past the deck area that houses a sunken outdoor toilet.
One of the more awe-inspiring spaces of The Cabin is the roof deck, which allows the owners to sit and relax as they gaze out onto the valley and bay beyond. Designed to be deceptively simple in structure, The Cabin is 37 square metres and features considered interior design and architectural moments. Furthermore, every curated element within the tiny eco home was designed to work in harmony with each other. This is evident in the bedroom, where a flat roof allows for the terrace to sit directly above. Through the incorporation of manual operating systems, the viewing window of The Cabin can also be opened up via a vintage crank that works like a pulley.
Working with the clients to create bespoke design choices, Johnstone Callaghan Architects has created a cabin that disappears into the bush and allows the owners to feel connected to nature. A perfect space to escape to, The Cabin features all the necessary amenities and gives back to the land.
