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Much of the midcentury-inspired furniture for the office interiors had to be built from scratch.

The home’s bunk room offers flexible sleeping quarters for children and guests.

The four containers are also the same brand, which was an important consideration as each brand has slightly different dimensions, and the highly detailed design of the hide-out necessitated precision.

Floor plan for The Hide Out by Anthrop Abbott Architects

The simple bathroom features a the same palette as the rest of the interior. Opaque glass allows natural light into the space whilst maintaining privacy.

The interior of each shipping container is clad almost entirely in birch ply, which imbues the interiors with a light, natural feeling that complements the surrounding landscape.

Adequate insulation was key in maintaining comfort. Off-the-shelf products were used to fully insulate the shipping containers, and a high-quality, double glazing system was imported from Europe. These doors slide open to create a seamless connection between the interior and exterior spaces.

The designer furniture—much of which is by local South African makers and brands—elevates the cozy retreat, and offers an element of surprising contrast to the rugged landscape and remote site. It was also essential that anything transported to site was of high enough quality to stand the test of time, as transporting replacements would be logistically challenging.

The compact weekend retreat has been designed to withstand the elements and for longevity—an approach that resulted in an overall cost of more than $300K. “We had to overengineer some elements as it’s such a remote location that repairs and replacements would be difficult,” says architect Leon van der Westhuizen. “In the end, that all added up.”

The studio is wrapped in corrugated Cor-Ten steel, while the ends are composed of charred reclaimed cedar.

Frank Lloyd Wright lived and taught for decades at his home, studio, and architecture school, Taliesin, in Spring Green, Wisconsin.

Located off paved roads, across a river, and up a mountain, Pablo Pérez Palacios’s cabin in the Mexican wilderness has a rooftop terrace designed for entertaining.

To give her renters extra privacy, Kelli added a privacy fence around the backyard and installed soundproofing between both dwellings.

Massive windows look out onto the surrounding meadow and forest. A central staircase leads up to the mezzanine sleeping loft.

The cabin and back deck are cantilevered over a slope in the property.

“The bedroom faces the balcony, with a centennial oak in the foreground and a view of the opposite hillside in the distance,” says Acuña.