Isolated and alone on a snow-swept lava field, Studio Heima’s Aska Cabin has the look of a safe house likely to be patronized by a Jason Bourne type figure on the run from the world. And what a place it would be to escape to. Located in northern Iceland, where hot springs and volcanoes provide elements of its surroundings, the cabin is the first of a series of sustainable dwellings set to be built in the region. Cutting a striking figure against the white snow, the burnt pine cladding (a Japanese technique known as shou sugi ban) provides an attractive and robust façade to withstand the harsh conditions.
Inside, the light pine ply that covers the walls provides a contrast to the darkness outside, the material adding light and warmth to the epic, endless views of the wild landscape that open up through sliding glazed doors. The cabin is constructed on a small footprint, with the modest interior space maximized by its simple studio layout that uses simple ply stud dividers to split the area into living and sleeping quarters. The aim is for the Aska Cabin to become the first in a wave of sustainable cabins that people can ‘camp’ in.
Photography © Auðunn Nielsson / Trym Sannes for Studio Heima