Crystal-shaped prefabricated mini houses for outdoor recreation have appeared in China
Chinese architecture firm Wiki World, together with Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) Advanced Architecture Laboratory (AAL), have created unique wooden structures for secluded living and outdoor recreation. The project is based on the desire to return to natural life through natural construction. What does the concept of such construction include? Why did architects choose the crystalline form of mini houses when designing? How do triangular windows affect the perception of the landscape surrounding the building? What rooms are inside The Sprite Cabin prefab, read below:
The first The Sprite Cabin mini-houses appeared at the beginning of 2023 on the shores of Fragrant Lake in Hubei Province, China. Architects proposed a geometry for the exterior of the houses that would be equally harmonious with both nature and the man-made world.
Each mini house consists of three interconnected hexagons. Each crystal with a triangular window has its own functional space: a bedroom, a living room with a wood stove and a bathroom. The bedrooms occupy the largest architectural volume, which are located on the first and second floors. According to the architects, families with children will especially like this arrangement. The triangular windows are placed in such a way that a view of the lake opens from each, and thanks to the window opening, this view is not only picturesque, but also unusual. In general, the surface of the mini house is 64 square meters.
Prefab Sprite Cabin structures are easily built on site, just like a large LEGO set. Each part is numbered for ease of assembly. The building is almost entirely made of laminated wood, from the outside only the window openings are decorated with aluminum sheets and the facade with wooden tiles. This choice of materials is dictated not only by the required ease of construction of mini houses, but also by the concept of natural construction. It implies not only the choice of environmentally friendly building materials, but also the preservation of all the trees on the site, as well as a more careful attitude towards the landscape. Therefore, each mini-house rises slightly above the ground thanks to a light wooden foundation, which is continued by an open terrace.
"Materials have a special meaning for us and help people to be closer to nature. Contact with natural materials clears the mind and increases sensitivity, so we encourage people to walk barefoot in The Sprite Cabin," the architects noted.
Building name - The Sprite Cabin
Authors - Advanced Architecture Laboratory [AАL], Wiki World
Year of construction - 2023
Location - China