WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Radek Úlehla

Architect Martin Hajný was tasked with transforming a dilapidated 1970s one-storey hut into a spacious “city escape” for a couple enchanted by its leafy location on the outskirts of Prague. Martin’s real challenge was designing an urban cabin that met the clients’ spatial needs while complying with strict zoning regulations, including a height restriction of 7.7 metres above the surrounding terrain.

His solution was to incorporate a truncated roof that minimised the height and volume of the structure, while ensuring the roofline did not obstruct neighbouring views of the landscape. The original hut was stripped down to its stone base, which now serves as the foundation for the new metal structure. The main construction consists of a two-by-four framing system with an open, lightweight design, built on a reinforced concrete slab supported by concrete pillars concealed behind the stone walls. The roof and façade are clad in trapezoidal metal sheeting – a low-maintenance material with a long lifespan that resembles wooden battens.

While the dark exterior helps the building blend into its surroundings, the bright interior – dominated by pine plywood – evokes the warmth and simplicity of a classic hut. The bathroom features a subtle grey plaster on the floor and walls.

The simple layout and use of façade windows on all sides offer unobstructed views of the surrounding landscape. The truncated roof remains uniform from the outside, as adding a window would have disrupted the house’s clean, minimalist silhouette. The bedroom is illuminated from above by a pair of skylights, which also provide ventilation. Meanwhile, the roof overhang on the southern side of the home helps maintain a pleasant indoor climate throughout the year.

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WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Supplied

Located in Tulum, Mexico, Azulik epitomises the concept of “barefoot luxury”. Surrounded by jungle and overlooking the ocean, the hotel fuses holistic wellness, ancestral traditions, experimental cuisine, art, and architecture into a singular hospitality experience.

Conceived by Eduardo Roth – a self-taught architect, ecologist, philanthropist, and entrepreneur – Azulik’s architectural language, composed of organic forms and natural materials, merges seamlessly with the Eden that surrounds it. Each of the 48 pod-like seafront villas offers a cocooned sanctuary for modern nomads, with palm-leaf roofs, reed-finished terraces, and tropical timber frames, immersing guests in the natural landscape.

At Azulik, nature, art, and ancestral wisdom exist in symbiosis. Inside the villas, hand-hewn wooden furniture and woven textiles pay homage to the rich craft heritage of the region. This focus on ancestral traditions and local craftsmanship is echoed in every aspect of the hotel – from holistic wellness programmes to Aníkena, its boutique showcasing ethically made, fair-trade garments and accessories from local artisans.

Twenty-five kilometres inland, in the village of Francisco Uh May, Azulik’s sister site emerges from the jungle – a biomorphic, ethereal structure that houses the SFER IK Uh May Museum. Also known as the “City of Arts” the space is dedicated to interactive art installations, artist residencies, and workshops, with a focus on sustainability, technology, and spirituality.

Azulik’s culinary offerings underscore its role as a transformative sanctuary at one with nature. With five restaurants serving everything from plant-based delicacies to seafood prepared with indigenous flavours, each dish deepens the connection between guests and the natural world around them. | azulik.com

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WORDS Steve Smith PHOTOS Leon van der Westhuizen

If you want a cabin with a view, and you want it now, the folks you should be speaking to are Anthrop Abbott Architects. This project on a private farm northeast of Graaff – Reinet came from a client brief to design and build on a favourite family lookout spot in as short a time as possible.

Fortunately, founding architect Leon van der Westhuizen and his team had recently completed a project with a similarly short lead time. Pretoria-based radio station Groot FM was looking for an attention-grabbing “treehouse” satellite studio to broadcast from in the vibey Old East Precinct of the city.

Called the Boomhuis, it needed a small patio where impromptu shows could be held, or where guests could be featured with a visual link to the village and onlookers. Anthrop Abbott Architects’ solution was to use a six-metre container, placed on stilts in an existing walnut tree. Excellent practice, then, for Karoo Uitkyk – a weekend retreat that would be a rather more complex design and build, and one that would require the full use of the skills embodied in the firm’s name. Derived from the Greek word ánthrōpos, meaning “human being”, Anthrop’s name describes a design philosophy of having an anthropological understanding of how people live, meet and relax in a space.

We spoke to Leon about how Karoo Uitkyk came about, and how he and his team conceptualised and built this functional – and beautiful – piece of architecture.

The Location

“The client had one or two ‘uitkyk punte’ that they enjoyed on the farm. They’d pack a lunch and drive out to these spots, and spend time there. The initial brief was that they wanted to ‘formalise’ one of them and add some creature comforts.

“Our discussions quickly moved along, and we ended up designing a very cool ‘lookout’, in which you
could easily spend two or three nights. We eventually ended up choosing this specific location because it was near one of the farm roads, which made getting there easier. And, of course, the view is spectacular.”

The Design Brief

“The brief for the accommodation evolved into what can be described as a ‘cabin for four people’, with a central social or gathering space and all the modern conveniences we could think of. We spent a lot of time on the site, walking the contours and observing wildlife paths so as not to disturb anything. We were lucky to find a flattish rock bed, which we utilised for the structural footings.”

The Containers

“The client didn’t want to waste time, so a key part of the brief called for a solution that could be erected in a short timeframe. We had recently completed the unique satellite studio for Groot FM in Pretoria and, with this fresh in our minds, we suggested the use of containers to the client, who bought into the concept. With the site being so remote – and our office being in Pretoria – we could monitor work on the units, as they were being built in Joburg. “Some of the work obviously had to be completed on site, but about 80% of the fitout and manufacturing was done prior to taking the units to the site. We designed them in such a way that they basically folded open on site.”

The Challenges

“We had done several interesting container projects prior to this one, so we were adequately geared for the work, and had learnt some lessons. Interestingly, not all container brands are exactly the same in terms of internal dimensions. The differences are pretty marginal – but we needed them to be as close to identical as possible. “This prompted us to advise the client to use new containers from a single supplier (Big Box), which helped during the fitout. The tricky part was linking the two six-metre containers side to side – but the team we worked with had plenty of previous experience with container conversions.”

The Interiors

“We conceptualised the interiors in-house as well – everything from softs to appliances. It helped that the client has great taste and informed the direction. The brief called for a warm yet clean and calm interior, in colours that complemented the landscape. The floors, for instance, are a terracotta ‘rubberised’ surface that can cope with the extreme climatic changes. You can sometimes experience four seasons in one day on that ridge, so we wanted a floor that you could walk on without feeling you have to clean it constantly.

“We are huge fans of local design, so we sourced most of the furniture and fittings from brands such as Dokter and Misses (custom kitchen unit), Pedersen + Lennard (bathroom accessories, bedside pedestals, shelving and medicine cabinets), Hoi P’loy (lighting), Spazio (lighting), Douglas & Douglas (drinks cabinet), Mungo (linen and bedding) and James Mudge (dining furniture). Walls and ceilings were clad with birch plywood panels, which allowed us to incorporate comprehensive thermal insulation, and hide all the plumbing and electrical reticulation.” | anthrop.co.za

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About 260km south of Windhoek, on the edge of the Kalahari’s eastern border, is an otherwordly desert pod called Reverie – a place that invites solitude and a real connection with the earth.

WORDS & PRODUCTION Steve Smith PHOTOS Dook

Your first view of Reverie’s white domes emerging from the red Kalahari sands will almost certainly result in one of two impressions. You might get Sven Staby’s original vision. When the Namibian architect considered the Kalahari shapes, forms and elements that could inspire a structural design, on his list were termite hills, weavers’ nests, camelthorn trees… and ostrich eggs. Their hard protective shells inspired an organic structure with domed ceilings and interconnected interior spaces that honours the unique geography of this starkly beautiful environment.

That, or you’re going geek out on Star Wars. Because it really does look like Reverie could be the swankier property next door to Luke’s homestead on Tatooine. Suddenly, your Toyota Fortuner is a landspeeder hovering above the desert – and in front of you, a white wonder shimmers in the late-afternoon heat. You can practically hear the rumble of an approaching Jawa Sandcrawler and the thrum of Obi-Wan’s lightsabre.

Whichever option these images evoke for you, one thing is shared: the force is strong here. There’s a unique and powerful perception of being part of the desert when you’re at Reverie; an overwhelming sense of peace that’s as much about where you are as it is about the very special structure that Sven and the team at Gondwana Collection have designed and built.

Where you are is on a 10 000-hectare former karakul farm that’s also home to Gondwana Collection’s Kalahari Anib Lodge and campsite. Not that you ever see these when staying at Reverie – the pod is remote, tucked away on a private part of the farm about 8km from any signs of civilisation. It sleeps two people and comes fully stocked with food and drink, replenished each day by a concierge. While you can choose to have meals prepared for you by your own chef, guests generally don’t want that. “It’s a special place,” says Alain Noirfalise, Gondwana Collection’s operations director. “What you get here is solitude. Our guests are looking for that. Even though we offer a full concierge service, guests often ask us to leave the food at the entrance each day. They prefer to be left alone.”

Sven and Gondwana Collection have enjoyed a long and successful working relationship – he’s designed a number of projects for this Namibian lodge and camp business. “Sven is an old-school architect; he draws everything by hand,” says Alain. “Often, we sit together and doodle on paper napkins – then he does an architectural drawing and builds from that.” Old-school as the process may be, there’s a particular magic in designing this way. You get a strong sense of that original hand-drawn line in the physical structure. It’s the building’s soul.

Bringing that soul to life here was not without its challenges. The main one was finding the perfect spot for Sven’s design. “This involved lots of beers, lots of driving around, and lots of lying down on dunes. And more beers!” says Alain. Clearly, work and play can mix, because Reverie ended up in the perfect spot. It sits atop a large, flat dune, with two more dunes on opposing sides, and is flanked by open vistas that afford great views of the sunrise and sunset to the left and right.

The pod is supported by bent wood structural trusses fashioned by Christian Hess, a carpenter trained in Germany. “He’s one of the only people in the world who’s able to bend large pieces of wood into these shapes,” says Alain. The trusses are clad in wooden planks, which were measured and precisely cut to size on site. Sandwiched between the exterior and interior cladding is a layer of insulation made from recycled plastic bottles.

Another person whose touch is everywhere is self-described Namibian “interior artist”, Melanie Redecker van der Merwe of Women Unleashed design agency. She has worked on many of Gondwana Collection’s interiors, and they have an usual but successful client-designer relationship. “I never get a brief from Alain,” she says. “Once the architect and builders leave, he simply says, ‘There’s your space. Go for it; make it happen.’ He basically hands over a shell, and I figure out what to do to it. We’ve come a long way together; there’s a lot of trust.”

Melanie’s point of departure is to feel a space – her approach is to see, lie down in and just experience a place before she designs anything. “This felt like a soft, very feminine space to me. It had that feeling of a womb, the mother, the egg – organic and nurturing.” The result is a light, golden colour palette, organic shapes and tactile fabrics, from the curtains to the macramé-strung loungers. “I want Reverie’s guests to feel the unfiltered realness of the Kalahari – the sound of the birds, the wind, the silence,” says Melanie. “I want people to be in the moment.”

And that moment is the real magic of the place. There’s an overwhelming sense of seclusion here, but not in a scary, solitary way. It’s a deep sense of quiet, of being connected to your surroundings, of being at peace. Getting back to that Star Wars vibe, it really feels as though you have arrived on another planet – a starkly beautiful landscape where there are no other inhabitants. Not even Jawas. And you don’t get more solitude than that. | gondwana-collection.com

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This sleek yet laid-back modular-design cabin is the perfect place for a Cape Town couple and their young daughter to create a lifetime of holiday memories.

WORDS Robyn Alexander/Bureaux PRODUCTION Sven Alberding PHOTOS Warren Heath/Bureaux

Having spent a large portion of their teenage years surfing along the overberg coastline, Nathalie Ammann and her husband John Blignaut know Pringle Bay very well. Just over an hour’s drive from Cape Town, in a pristine, protected natural area, this tiny coastal hamlet is where they chose to build their recently completed holiday cottage, dubbed the TinTin Cabin.

The couple have always enjoyed exploring the area on holidays away from their daily routine, where John is a fractional business developer and Nathalie manages her family’s farm, Rozendal, and makes an award-winning range of botanical vinegars. In 2018, after a weekend of hiking the nearby Kogelberg mountains, they decided to look at properties in Pringle Bay “on a bit of a whim”, says Nathalie. “It started with a list of must-haves and nice-to-haves – and a small budget.”

A property came on the market that met most of their criteria – budget, walking distance from the beach, a large plot filled with indigenous fynbos – and, says Nathalie, “The plan was always to build within five years of buying the land, while our daughter Amelia was still young enough to spend her childhood there making beautiful memories.” During the lockdowns in 2020, after deciding that a modular, prefabricated cabin was best suited to their budget and aesthetic preference, Nathalie and John decided to go with Cape Town-based company Mobile Maisonette, helmed by architect Jed Kritzinger. “We liked the simplicity of the Mobile Maisonette design, and the fact that their Farmhouse Cabin was bigger than many of the other modular cabins available,” says Nathalie. “It was within our budget, and we could make modifications to the interiors too.”

Despite being Mobile Maisonette’s very first commissioning client, everything went relatively smoothly. Working with Jed “was a pleasure – he brought a lot of experience” to the process, says Nathalie, adding that the construction team, from JNA Group, were also professional and efficient. The build commenced in August 2022 and was completed by mid-December.

“Doing the interiors ourselves gave us an opportunity to have a bit of fun and create something very
different from our home,” says Nathalie. The idea was to “drench the cabin in colour”, although making decisions about which shades to select and just how bold to go with them led to lengthy discussions. “I tend to be conservative, and John pushes us to have more fun,” she says. In the end, “Our concept was how the ocean and fynbos worlds reflect each other in colour and form – hence the misty greens and peachy corals,” Nathalie explains. The result, which combines a contemporary look with a restful feel, speaks for itself.

The plot on which the cabin is set is large – 913m2 – and one of the couple’s ongoing pleasures is working on their striking, fully indigenous garden. “We still feel that we would like even more privacy, so we aim to create a real sanctuary of fynbos,” says Nathalie. “We’ve planted keurbooms, camphor bushes, leucadendrons and wild olives to make a berm that mimics what grows here naturally.”

There are just two footpaths through the garden: one winds towards the cabin past a Searsia glauca – a shrub-like, indigenous tree that John and Nathalie have been carefully shaping to provide the ideal climbing zone for Amelia; the other leads down to the beach. There’s so much to explore, both close by in the garden and at the shoreline, and in the area surrounding Pringle Bay – so it’s no wonder that Amelia, Nathalie and John now spend a large portion of their downtime at the cabin. “We like to come here during school holidays, and at least once a month for a weekend as well, as it’s just a beautiful one-hour drive along the coast from our home,” says Nathalie.

Foraging for wild mussels on the rocks at the nearby beach is a regular pastime too. “We also spend Christmas here in December, as John’s family – with a multitude of Amelia’s cousins – are in Pringle Bay at this time.” With the cabin’s laid-back style, effortlessly relaxed appeal and unique natural setting, it’s easy to imagine the many wonderful times this young family will share here together in the years to come. tintincabin | mobilemaisonette.com

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Nestled in South Africa’s historic Cradle of Humankind, Cabin Collective combines luxury, nature, and heritage in a way few destinations can.

Located on the Bristle Cone Nursery estate, the Cabin Collective is more than a secluded luxury retreat — it’s a homage to a land cherished by the Scholtz family for over three decades.

Leon Scholtz, a horticultural expert, started Bristle Cone Nursery in 1977, and his legacy of cultivating plants is mirrored in every corner of the property. Leon’s son, Dewald, and his wife, Michelle, have expanded this family tradition, creating a place where guests experience nature’s beauty at every turn. 

The idea for Cabin Collective took root through the vision of Dewald and Pieter Venter, who saw the potential for a remote, eco-conscious retreat on their favourite part of the farm. A group of friends came together, contributing monthly funds to support this unique project, while design partnerships with Anthrop Architects and PM Architects brought the vision to life. Construction group JC Van Der Linde & Venter Projects carefully supervised the construction, ensuring the cabins seamlessly blended into the landscape and minimized ecological impact.

The site for the luxury two-sleeper cabins was carefully chosen by Dewald, who, along with Michelle, envisioned every detail. Building on the remote farm came with several logistical challenges, however. “We had to make some challenging decisions on how to get the physical containers on site where they are today established. Some nail-biting hours were spent watching trucks loading the containers off-site and placing them meticulously onto the foundations,” says Pieter Venter.

Local slate banks inspired the team to clad the cabins with slate from the area, grounding the structures in the land’s natural palette. Michelle, who oversaw the interior design, aimed to create spaces that were both simple and luxurious, reflecting the natural surroundings. “The focus from the start was, less is more. But without compromising on luxury and convenience,” she says. Michelle handpicked every interior detail to ensure guests felt pampered.

While the Cradle of Humankind and Hartbeespoort Dam offer activities, the quiet solace of Cabin Collective encourages guests to unwind and connect with nature. For the Scholtz family, Cabin Collective is a true labour of love, crafted with the hope that each guest will leave with a piece of the peace and beauty they find in this secluded local. | cabincollective.co.za

Special Offer for VISI Readers

All VISI readers get a 10% discount for stays at Cabin Collective between 1 December 2024 until the end of March 2025. To unlock the discount, book your stay via this link.

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Smart design by architect Pedro Henrique puts a contemporary spin on the historical “Palheiro”, a traditional Portuguese fisherman home.

Set in the northern coastal town of Esmoriz, the dwellings were first developed in the early 19th century to provide seaside housing for inhabitants working at sea.

Pedro pays homage to the vernacular architecture of the original designs in his reinterpretation of these houses that have scattered the shoreline for centuries. Using concrete as the core of the home, the traditional use of wood is brought into the design by using timber slats that cover the building facades. Marrying form and function, the slats also create a lightweight screening, creating shade and enhancing privacy for residents. At night, the slats create a glowing effect emitting from inside the house, radiating light outwards through the vertical gaps.

A raised ramp is reminiscent of the coastal boardwalks that snake around the perimeter of the beaches, paying both homage to the local architecture and repeats in the design of terraces around the home. This also gives an indoor/outdoor flow, separated by sliding glass doors and wooden slatted shutters.

The key feature of the interiors would be the sculptural staircase, a statement build which functions both as a means to get upstairs while creating more space and unity with the downstairs of the home, dividing the open plan bottom floor with a visually striking piece that serves a functional purpose.

Downstairs houses the communal and social areas – designed specifically for interaction and entertaining, with expansive views of the surrounding environment as a backdrop. The master bedroom, a compact kitchen and washroom also reside downstairs, with the lounge and another bedroom built upstairs.

The garden features indigenous plants, reeds and grasses, which can withstand the sandy soil and work in conjunction with the overall aesthetic of the seaside home.

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A seaside cabin in the remote town of Romansbaai by Neo Architects draws inspiration from the surrounding indigenous flora and coastal landscape.

With the instructions from clients to minimise the carbon footprint on the surrounding landscape, the team at Neo managed to keep the size of the space down to 90m2. While this may seem small to some, the firm designed the home in a way that incorporates indoor/outdoor flow, breaking boundaries. The seamless transition allows for the views and scents of nature to meld with the home, enhanced by the presence of natural light. At the same time, the architects designed the cabin with the Swedish notion of Hygge in mind – a concept of cosiness and contentment, which translates to the rainier and contemplative days.

Made from concrete, natural stone and diamondback sheeting, the home blends well with the raw materials of the climate. Large windows allow the guest the choice of whether to be immersed in nature or to enjoy the landscape through a barrier, protecting them from the elements.

A large bedroom opens up onto the pool area, with a second deck offering vast vistas of the protected fynbos fields. The highlight of the bathroom is a shower and bath with the same breathtaking views. Designed around a centralised fireplace, the entertainment area is comfortable and accommodating in both winter and summer.

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Last year we chatted to partner team Tobin Davenport and Kate Brink about their Yurt endeavour (that you can read, here), which turned into a creative and restful retreat. Their latest addition to their self-catering yurts in the Overberg includes two rustic riverside cabins. We catch up with them about what went behind the planning and execution of the new space.

What was the plan for the new cabins?

We deliberated for almost a year about whether it would be appropriate to add cabins to our Yurt portfolio. When we decided to add the cabins, which are reclaimed chalets that had previously had a different design, we wanted them to also offer a very similar experience to our Yurt sites – to encourage guests to be outdoors comfortably – whilst providing a bit more familiarity for those guests are not necessarily into glamping. 

How old are the bones of the cabin and what were they like before?

There are two cabins in our portfolio, and both have been reshaped from what were previously more rustic chalets, built about 20 years ago. The River Cabin combines to A-frame structures to create a perfect getaway for two, with two private courtyard spaces. A small courtyard with a small rock pond and outdoor seating is the perfect space for lounging in the sun. The second space offers a braai/boma-styled area with a private wood-fired hot tub and a comfy nest for lounging, as well as outdoor seating. Botanica Cabin has been adapted from a previous cottage-styled building, that has a fully equipped kitchen, including an indoor pizza oven, a large braai area with covered outdoor seating, a private courtyard with wood-fired hot tub, another barrel braai, outdoor seating and access to a private viewpoint that looks into the conservancy.                               

What amenities do they offer and how does the experience differ from staying in a yurt?

Both of our Cabins are perfect for a romantic getaway for two – they are separated from each other but share access to a dip pool, which is a great addition for warm summer days. Each cabin is equipped with comfortable bedding and towels, a self-catering kitchen, a daybed, private wood-fired hot tubs, outdoor nests for lounging, outdoor seating and wonderful views. The accommodation is also located in the reserve, so it has access to all the hiking trails and a small farm dam where guests can fish (catch and release), kayak and swim. Similarly to our Yurt accommodations, we stock the cabins with firewood, firelighters, soaps and shampoo, dishwashing necessities, coffee, tea, sugar, salt and peppers, spices and home-grown olive oil to taste during your stay.                           

What feeling does the cabin give visitors?

We hope that the cabins give guests the feeling of comfort in nature, without losing the knowledge that they are truly out of the city and in an environment that is quite extraordinary (particularly for its location). We have designed them to be interesting and personal, but have also focussed on how we can make the outside spaces attractive for people to spend time in. 

How did you decide on a decor scheme for the cabins, when the yurts are so rustic?

The decor of the cabins needed to have its own feel – because the exteriors are four walls and something that is very much a home/cabin norm, we wanted to interiors to reflect the character of the accommodation, as well as the natural surroundings. We have included the home luxuries, but we’ve also added quirks to remind you that this is definitely a personalised experience and not the more common copy-paste getaway.                  

Have you kept with the eco stance in the cabins?

Yes, absolutely! We use biodegradable soaps, shampoos and cleaning products, and the gardens are completely organic. Guests can enjoy the herbs and veggies available knowing they’re safe and full of all the good things!   

What plans do you have for the farm going forward?

Southern Yurts and our partners Porcupine Hills have created the Diepklowe Conservation Trust, which is a non-profit fund devoted to ensuring the management and maintenance of the Diepklowe Nature Reserve – in which Southern Yurts is located. A conservation fee of R75 per person per stay is added to each booking and goes directly into the trust. We are incredibly excited about this effort as we hope it will allow for a well-cared-for reserve, with the vision that it is the guests and guest accommodation business that become the custodians, responsible for ensuring that the flora and fauna wildlife is a priority. Maintenance programs in the reserve are primarily centred around alien clearing in the riverine areas, erosion management, hiking trail access and rewilding of the unique Renosterveld Biome. Programs are generally executed in autumn and winter months when conditions are safer and more conducive to bush work.  

How would you describe the overall aesthetic?

The overall aesthetic of the cabins and the Yurt accommodation is one that shows care, intention, and something a little bit different. We hope the little design details in each area add to your experience and give you something to write home about.    

Anything exciting you’d like to add? 

Definitely! We have a few new plans for 2023, launching towards the end of the year – without giving too much away, we think it will be an exciting new addition to the area.

For more information or to book a stay, southernyurts.co.za.

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At the foot of the jagged arches of Wellington’s dramatic purple-brown mountain peaks stands Olive View by untether. The three luxury eco-pods, with their environmentally soft architecture and luxe interior design, centre sustainability to reflect the tranquillity of the surrounding nature’s unspoilt solitude.

Inspired by the confines of COVID-19, James Coetzee and Brandon Muller dreamt up untether to be a collection of nature-steeped stays where people can escape the urban noise of the city without trekking too far or forgoing the work requirements of WIFI.

Located on a 24 hectare farm just outside of Wellington, amongst a bouquet of slowly-returning fynbos where a rumoured resident Cape Leopard and curious caracals roam, an hour’s drive from Cape Town, Olive View is just that: a space to reconnect, disconnect or be a digital nomad.

Interior design by Jackie Hunter of Imagenius Interiors reflects the rolling landscape’s pause-worthy views with reds, greens, woods and simplistic elegance – the ideal space to come back to after a long day of hiking, trail-running, birdwatching and/or skydiving (for the adrenaline-inclined).

The three structures built by Future Build Construction – all beyond shouting distance of one another, as per untether’s No Neighbour Promise – feature light steel frames for a fast build that disturbs as little of the surrounding ecosystem as possible. Despite offering every creature comfort a city kid could want – fireplace, SMEG appliances, strong internet, a work station and sunken wood-fired hot tub, to name a few – the farm is entirely off grid. Everything is powered by solar, even the borehole pump.

For more information, visit untether’s website here and learn more about the construction in Olive View’s build documentary here.

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