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Hello Wood was founded in 2010 by András Huszár and Dávid Ráday as a summer camp for students interested in architecture and design. While its educational outreach would grow and evolve—it now sponsors an art festival that draws people from more than 30 countries—Hello Wood became a design studio in its own right in 2013. The firm spent the next six years making cabins and public installations before landing on the idea for a detached prefab workstation in early 2020, just before the pandemic lockdowns. “Although there had been a need for more separate meeting rooms before the pandemic,” says Ráday, “there is now a rapidly growing demand for isolated work possibilities.” Here, Hello Wood tells us about how the originally timber-clad workstation—now aptly dubbed the Pebble—has changed in the past few years and where they're headed next with the design.

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

With the latest Pebble pod, our client envisioned a set of three for his company in his front yard. His idea was to create a futuristic environment, making people feel as if they just landed on the Mars. We ran with the idea, giving the Pebble pod aluminum composite panels and more of the latest and greatest technologies to create a jaw-dropping moment. Our client is in the optical fiber cable business, with their clients being the biggest telecommunication companies in the region. So making the pods look very innovative and amusing to the partners was an important aspect of the project.

The three rooms can be utilized as creative spaces, office rooms, or meeting rooms. Their favorite aspect of the project is its futuristic feel and look, which inspires them throughout their workday.

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

The Pebble pods, which are around 86 square feet, have a starting price point of roughly $47,7000, which covers the cabin itself and the basic furnishing. This doesn’t include shipping and installation costs, as those can vary on a wide scale depending on the location and other aspects of the plot.

What qualities make your prefab stand apart from the rest?

We created a small house that looks like a design object but functions properly as a structure. There are no regular angles, joints, or pieces in it. Everything is uniquely cut and designed to cater towards the pod’s look. Despite its odd shape, the pod can be shipped in one piece throughout Europe on a truck bed.

Where do you ship/where is the prefab currently available?

We ship worldwide. Our retail stores/offices are in Hungary and the Netherlands.

Is your design currently pre-permitted in any U.S. municipalities?

As we haven’t had any signed contracts from U.S. owners, we haven’t done any permitting work for the Pebble pod.

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

It usually takes two to three months once we receive the deposit. However, this time frame can vary a bit based on the distance of delivery and the required site check.

What aspects of an install do you manage?

We handle everything from shipping through site preparation, installation, and paperwork needed for the project. We don’t usually manage the hookups, but it can be discussed.

What aspects of the design can a client customize?

The exterior cladding, color, and number of windows. The air conditioning, TV mount, digital foils for the windows, and interior furnishing are optional.

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