An A Frame Cabin Design Project
Creating a new rural retreat offering for North Yorkshire.
Designed by Life Space Cabins and handcrafted on site by the clients own construction team in Yorkshire, this A-Frame cabin design was a design brief that required a simple pared back aesthetic that would allow expansive glass to frame the uninterrupted views of the North Yorkshire countryside.
The result was two unique spaces perfectly situated in their own wildflower meadow.
Outside they have included a built-in deck, complete with sunken bath and fire pit giving guests an unrivalled feeling of being in nature.
Cabin Design Brief
- Create one design suitable for 4 units for ‘glamping’ accommodation.
- Maximise on the far reaching views.
- Comfortable space for two people to share.
- Include space for one king size bed.
- Consider the relationship between the cabin and the existing buildings and future wedding/ event hire.
- The cabins should be based on the A frame design, with ideally a bed on a mezzanine, a small kitchen with breakfast bar, open plan living area with log burner and a shower room.
- Black exterior cladding – ref timber cladding.
Stay at West Cawthorne https://www.northyorkshirehideaways.com/
Photos by Yorkshire Property Photography David Critchley
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A Distinctive Contemporary Cabin: Designed for Living Lightly
At Life Space Cabins, we’ve always known one thing — we don’t do boring.
From the beginning, our ambition has been to collaborate with clients who are imaginative, strong appreciation for architecture and detail, and eager to push the boundaries of what a cabin can be.
A One-of-a-Kind Architectural Vision
Our clients approached us with a dream: to create a contemporary cabin that would serve as a summer house. Perched above a Cornish creek with sweeping countryside and river views. More than just a retreat, it needed to be a space of calm, beauty, and year-round usability, one that would integrate with the primary home yet feel completely its own.
From the outset, they shared our passion for thoughtful design and high-quality architecture. That spirit of collaboration led to a refined and original outcome: a low-profile, pavilion-style cabin with a cantilevered sedum green roof, steel structure, glass walls, and a wide veranda, all nestled naturally into the landscape.
The Brief: Light, Connection, Simplicity
The cabin had to be:
- Architecturally designed, with natural materials and contemporary character.
- Off-grid, except for an electrical supply from the adjacent outbuilding.
- Visually open, with large openings to frame the landscape and blur the boundary between indoors and out.
- Secure and low-maintenance, with manually operated shutters to protect the building when not in use.
- Bright and minimal, with a whitewashed timber interior to maximize light and create an inviting, restful space.
Structure & Orientation
A key innovation was the cantilevered steel frame, which allowed us to eliminate columns at the front of the cabin. This meant we could install fully folding doors on one corner and a dramatic glass-to-glass corner window seat on the other, creating a seamless visual connection to the surrounding nature.
The cabin sits on the footprint of the old summer house, perfectly orientated to capture long views over the creek and rolling countryside beyond.
Materiality with Meaning
Every material was carefully selected for both performance and visual harmony with the environment:
- Exterior: Pre-weathered vertical Douglas fir battens wrap around the steel frame, while top-hung timber shutters match the structure’s rhythm and durability. Two end elevations are clad in Decarock natural slate, paying homage to Cornwall’s slate heritage.
- Roof: A deep, cantilevered sedum roof, installed by green roof specialists, visually ties the cabin into its landscape and conceals all rainwater detailing.
- Interior: Inside, wide white ash flooring (laid in random lengths) adds warmth and elegance. The same timber features in the window seat and custom cabinetry. A Contura 810L wood-burning stove, framed by matching Decarock slate chimney breast, anchors the living space.
Planning with Purpose
The site lies within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), which calls for sensitive planning, timing, and design. The existing structure was a small, single-skin summer house that was no longer fit for purpose. The new cabin, while dramatically different in form and execution, was designed to sit lightly within its setting and respond to its unique context.
The Result
This project stands out as a celebration of balance, between lightness and strength, modernity and tradition, shelter and openness. It’s an elegant and distinctive cabin that lives lightly on the land, while offering its owners a joyful and deeply considered space to enjoy for many years to come.
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What is Slow Architecture?
Slow Architecture can be defined as spaces that are created and used at the right pace as opposed to completing something quickly in order to reach short term goals. The movement can also describes architecture and design that places people first and encourages thoughtfully designed buildings that have a social, economical and environmental impact on their locality.
Here at Life Space Cabins, our values and ethos have always been about making good design available for everyone. We want to work with clients who share our passion and want to enjoy the process from start to completion.
We have always taken a considered approach. We never cut corners, we properly resolve any challenges that arise along the way and we’re 100% committed to creating a space that exceeds your every expectation.
This results in us working with you to design and build beautiful, considered spaces that make life better.
Life Space Cabins are the cabin designer makers for you, if you love:
- Buildings that are designed to an exceptionally high standard for year-round use.
- Clever, playful details – quirky, creative touches that bring joy and slower pace of life to a living or working space.
- Sustainable construction values.
- A commitment to going the extra mile to get it right… every time.
- Beautiful, sympathetic materials that blend into the natural environment.
