Tiny Cabins in Australia
A cabin in the woods – or, for that matter, on a farm, mountainside, or beachfront – is a quintessential way to get away from it all. Cabins have always had a link to simple living and a history of being small spaces. After all, with the great outdoors at your doorstep, how much indoors do you really need? More and more architects and designers are tapping into this tradition and making it their own, crafting unique small-footprint abodes with clever and considered designs immersed in their environment.
This is certainly true in Australia, where architects and designers have met the diverse landscapes and unique climate challenges with exciting solutions that revolve around simplicity, functionality, and a deeper connection with the environment. Our compilation of Australian tiny cabins puts a spotlight on the rustic aesthetics and modern comforts of these small, simple, and serene getaways.
Bruny Island Hideaway
Set on the beautiful island off the coast of Tasmania, Bruny Island Hideaway is an escape from it all. The 28sqm/301sqft house is entirely off-grid, leveraging the surrounding environment as design inspiration and a tool for more sustainable living. “The design of the cabin was largely borne out of a response to the site”, Hugh Maguire of Magurie Devine told Never Too Small. “The views to the south are quite picturesque, whereas we needed to catch sun to the north, so the roof is sloped to angle the solar panels directly toward the winter sun”. The decks to the east and west side of the home east and west deck not only capture morning and afternoon sun but extend the footprint of the minimalist interior, where nearly all of the furniture has been built in using the same pine throughout. Watch Bruny Island Hideaway.
The Brook
Designed to feel like a New York–style apartment appropriate for a regional setting, The Brook is a fully off-grid, transportable small house design that redefines sustainable luxury. The off grid, largely passive house home uses recycled and restored materials to minimise its impact on the environment. The team from Small created a telescopic roof system that can be raised upon arrival in order to create a more spacious interior while still being able to meet the requirements to travel on the road. The wall panels fold in on themselves to raise the roof 1.2 metres by a cog system before folding back down to fill in the walls. Watch The Brook.
Little Black Cabin
“For this project, I was the client, the architect, and the builder”, Stewart Smith of Smith Architects told NTS of the 28sqm/301sqft cabin he converted in Blue Mountains of New South Wales. The so-called Little Black Cabin reflects a harmonious balance between preservation and innovation, marking the transformation of a dilapidated late 1800s worker’s cottage into a charming tiny house, using as much of the original structure as possible – including the bricks. “Some of the things that were important to us were to design in a sustainable way, to respond directly to the specific site, said Smith. “What we focused on was trying to make this space as comfortable as possible, while feeling luxurious, feeling warm; getting access to light and the beautiful view”. From the neutral tones to the large bay window inviting panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, the design integrates the cabin seamlessly with its natural environment. Watch Little Black Cabin.
Jacky Winter Waters
Inspired by the simple beach shack – or what they call a “bach” in New Zealand – Jacky Winter Waters is a 30sqm mental health retreat for artists in Walkerville, Victoria, just over two hours outside of Melbourne. This beachside shack, designed by Imogen Pullar, is focused on offering only the essentials for living: “somewhere to eat, somewhere to cook, and somewhere to rest”, she explained. The design adheres to passive house principles with high insulation and non-combustible materials and the use of corten steel cladding and strategic window placement ensures the home is both durable and aesthetically striking, contrasting beautifully with its coastal setting. Watch Jacky Winter Waters.
Gawthorne’s Hut
Surrounded by 480 acres of beautiful farmland in Mudgee, New South Wales, Gawthorne’s Hut is a 40-square-metre off-grid haven. The cabin was designed as a short-term rental space to diversify the income of a working family farm, where they raise grass-fed beef and perform sustainable hay-making. Created by Cameron Anderson Architects, the tiny house is designed with comfort, functionality, and sustainability in mind, featuring solar power, battery storage, and rainwater collection. The open-plan layout and expansive windows maximise the stunning rural views and ventilation, while the reclaimed bricks used for the bed-head add a touch of history to this modern retreat. Watch Gawthorne’s Hut.
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