You Can Stay at These Prefab Cabins in Scotland for $300 a Night—Or Build Your Own for $120K

John Trujillo
·2 min read

Kabn created a pair of Japandi-inspired units out of cross-laminated timber and yakisugi cladding that put the forest at your fingertips.

Welcome to Prefab Profiles, an ongoing series of interviews with people transforming how we build houses. From prefab tiny houses and modular cabin kits to entire homes ready to ship, their projects represent some of the best ideas in the industry. Do you know a prefab brand that should be on our radar? Get in touch!

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.

Kabn now has two prefabs along Loche Fyne. Designed to best suit their sites, both are slightly different. Pictured here, Kabn 1 was oriented so that the floor-to-ceiling glazing on the short side frames the shore.
Kabn now has two prefabs along Loche Fyne. Designed to best suit their sites, both are slightly different. Pictured here, Kabn 1 was oriented so that the floor-to-ceiling glazing on the short side frames the shore.

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.

Kabn 2 was designed so that its long side faces the loch. Apart from providing entry into the home, the glazed corner of cabin frames the water just past a gravel path.
Kabn 2 was designed so that its long side faces the loch. Apart from providing entry into the home, the glazed corner of cabin frames the water just past a gravel path.

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.

While prefabs cabins have the same amenities and footprint, orienting the long side of Kabn 2 towards the loch shortened the inbuilt bench. Its fabric woven from PET yarn, a lounge chair by Ferm Living was added by the window to compensate.
While prefabs cabins have the same amenities and footprint, orienting the long side of Kabn 2 towards the loch shortened the inbuilt bench. Its fabric woven from PET yarn, a lounge chair by Ferm Living was added by the window to compensate.

See the full story on Dwell.com: You Can Stay at These Prefab Cabins in Scotland for $300 a Night—Or Build Your Own for $120K