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Having both spent a decade working in the corporate world, Charlie Teale and Amber Pledge had come to appreciate any opportunity to disconnect from their day to day and take trips across Scotland. While the country had no shortage of scenic escapes, “we found there was a chronic undersupply of modern, minimalist properties that we wanted to stay in,” says Amber. “As a result, we created Kabn.”

Kabn built and now manages a network of off-grid, boutique retreats on the shores of Loch Fyne, Scotland. Inspired by homes they saw on a trip to Japan, the founders wanted the design of the stays to be minimal, refined, and connected to the landscape—a way of encouraging their guests to practice shinrin-yoku, which is the Japanese term for forest bathing, or being in a forest atmosphere. Here, Amber tells us how they created spaces designed for letting the woods wash over you.

What’s the most exciting project you’ve realized to date?

Nestled along the captivating shores of Loch Fyne in Scotland, our cabins are designed to immerse you in your surroundings with floor-to-ceiling windows and a pitched roof. Positioned just 10 meters from the loch shore, you can indulge in mesmerizing views of tides, weather spectacles, and playful resident seals.

What sets our prefabs apart is their individuality. Each is meant to harmonize with the environment. One features a portrait orientation with a glass-slatted gable, while the other showcases a landscape orientation with a dramatic glass corner. Imagine unwinding by the fire, the soothing sounds of water lapping against the shore—truly a therapeutic escape into nature.

What does your base model cost and what does that pricing include?

The build cost per cabin was £98,000 (U.S. $120,000), which includes the structure and internal fit out. Each cabin is 27 square meters, or roughly 290 square feet.

What qualities make your prefab stand apart from the rest?

Kabn wants to redefine sustainable luxury with off-grid cabins in stunning rural locations. Sustainability has been a core focus from construction through to operation. We specifically chose to construct our cabins using Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) which gives them a very luxurious and sturdy feel and ensures they are built to last 60-plus years. The CLT is made from sustainable timber sources and, unlike steel or concrete, sequesters carbon throughout its lifetime. It’s also very strong yet light which is important, as the units are delivered fully complete to site and craned into place.

These qualities also enable the Kabns to sit on very light touch foundations—either small concrete pads or screws—which further minimizes disturbance to the environment. CLT has exceptional thermal properties reducing the amount of heating required to keep the Kabns warm, and it has great fire, seismic and acoustic performance. As a consequence of all these qualities, CLT is priced at a premium to SIPs and other construction methods, however, in order to create a luxury product we believe it is important.

Are there plans to expand to different parts of the world?

Yes, we have plans to expand around the U.K. and internationally.

How long can a client expect the process to take after they put down a deposit?

The construction time is approximately two months for a completely fitted-out Kabn. They are built in a large warehouse, which enables the building of multiple units simultaneously, resulting in a much faster timeline than traditional construction.

What aspects of an install do you manage?

We manage the entire process from planning to site preparation, including utilities, installation, and operation.

More Prefab Profiles:

A Tiny Home, an Office, and a Sauna: MyCabin Sells Its Prefabs as a Pack or à la Carte

A Svelte $79K Prefab Cabin Promises to Work as Well in Your Backyard as It Does in the Woods

This European Tiny Home Builder Has Its Sights Set on America

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