Kabinka Spa

The Kabinka Spa was built in a hidden village in the Orseg region of Hungary. This 27-square-meter XL-size cabin is uniquely designed with a shaded glass wall and a spacious terrace. It was created as a private garden wellness area with a glass-walled sauna and a relaxation space, exactly as the owner imagined. During design, Hello Wood sought ways to apply the traditional architectural characteristics of Orseg in a contemporary manner. Because the site already held a nineteenth-century house and a traditional barn-style building, it was crucial that the new cabin fit harmoniously into its surroundings. Taking local architecture into account, the studio designed an elongated form with a gabled roof, similar to regional barns. Wood has been the traditional building material of Orseg since the nineteenth century, so wood panels were the obvious cladding choice. The all-black facade became a striking feature; the unique shade of glazed wood panelling evokes the traditional oil-treated wood of the region's houses, and the larch panel walls transition to a corrugated metal roof in the same tone. The cool black exterior contrasts with the warm light-wood interior. Like traditional farmhouses, the cabin is oriented longitudinally: on the long side, a glazed entrance and a spacious terrace look onto the garden, while the end walls are also glass to match the adjacent modern barn, so that from the sauna one enjoys a great view of the small valley. The bedroom on the other side is shaded by the forest. The lightweight cabin has a four-season insulation system and cooling-heating air conditioning, making it inhabitable year-round. Construction took only one week because all elements arrived prefabricated and ready to assemble; built at the end of May, it was available to its owners throughout the summer.