In the quiet mountainside of Porvoo in Finland, Studio Puisto has completed their new cabin design, ‘Space of Mind’. The cabin is a modular space, which can be tailored to the different needs of those staying in it. Keeping in mind the restrictions on travel brought on by the pandemic, the cabin is designed to emulate the feeling of being away from the usual surroundings of one’s home without flouting any rules of movement.

Since the cabin is a modular design, it can be used as a space that is placed in someone’s nearby surroundings, giving them a sense of being in a different place without having left their immediate surroundings. The versatile and adaptable structure of the cabin is streamlined to perform as a space which is not only adjustable, but also leaves room for the various possibilities of the structure.

The minimalistic design of the Space of Mind cabin highlights the concept of ‘less is more’. The entire structure’s architectural foot print is just under 10m2. A structure like this shows the value of having a space comprising just the essentials and how it can help reject a sense of clutter and excess through simple modular design.

The modularity of the cabin allows it to be implemented at virtually any space. It’s light enough to be lifted by a crane or helicopter, and can be situated in most places without the hassle of obtaining a building permit. The outside of the cabin is made of ecologically sourced Finnish wood, without adding any insulation to it. The wood can cocoon the interiors through any temperature, be it a freezing cold night or a sunny afternoon.

Inside the cabin, the custom furniture attaches to the wooden structure on rungs, allowing the cabin to be changed howsoever the end user wishes to. Keeping with the overall theme of ‘less is more’ and using as much natural material as possible, the aesthetics of the cabin are warm-toned and in line with the coziness that the wood provides.

Talking about what they had in mind initially, while thinking about this design, the studio says, “We designed Space of Mind from the inside out. We wanted a compact, but comfortable and functional space focused on providing only the essentials. The areas where you need to stand give plenty of height, whereas the area for the bed is lower and cosy. We also wanted to add an element of surprise and give a contrast between the inside and outside”.

The Space of Mind is a prefabricated cabin but also works as a space which can run hospitality ventures like a bed and breakfast on a lower scale. The construction is done like it would be for a piece of furniture. All parts of the structure are CNC cut and use as few fasteners as possible to notch it up. It is made using huge timber LVL panels for all the surfaces, incorporating strength in performance while also creating a visual appeal.

Studio Puisto also plans to expand the structure further, as they inform, “The primary offering is the rest-space (hotel room). However, we are thinking of expanding the experience by offering a sauna, onsen, etc., and expand the services and diversify the experiences of Space of Mind to accommodate the whole trip”.

(Text by Shreeparna Chatterjee, editorial trainee at stirworld.com)