Somewhere between the olive groves and vine rows of Zakynthos, a deep-red timber cabin sits quietly in the Greek countryside. It’s called the Root Cabin, designed by the London-based studio Kasawoo. This 20-square-metre prefabricated retreat challenges the traditional notion of a holiday home in Greece.
For the project, co-founder Katie Kasabalis chose her family’s land in the village of Vanato. This site, holding the ruins of her grandmother’s stone house, has been in her family for decades. Together with co-founder Darius Woo, she aimed to build something that belonged to the locale rather than imposing upon it. The structure, measuring just 2.5 by 8 metres, fits snugly between the vineyard rows without disturbing the land’s agricultural and historical essence.
Red design rooted in history
The cabin was constructed off-site in Romania and transported to Zakynthos as a fully prefabricated unit. This design choice underscores its low-intervention philosophy, making it road-legal and relocatable. The architects stated to Dezeen, “Nothing is superfluous. The project’s generosity lies in what it refuses to add.” In an area where large concrete villas are increasingly common, this restraint makes a quiet yet bold statement.
With an exterior clad in deep-red timber planks inspired by Zakynthos’ historic villas, the cabin features a gently sloped roof echoing the island’s mountainous landscape. The design embraces its surroundings rather than competes with them. The interior offers a warm and immediate atmosphere, lined with plywood on the walls, ceilings, and built-in furniture. It seamlessly integrates a bed, compact kitchen, sofa, and bookshelves into the structure.
Thoughtful details and self-sufficiency
The layout situates the bedroom and bathroom at opposite ends, with a central living area defined by large sliding glass doors that open to the landscape. Red accents continue from the exterior into the interior, while the bathroom shifts to subtle blue tones, nodding to the nearby Ionian Sea. Locally sourced Greek ceramics and textiles add a further touch of authenticity and grounding.
The cabin is equipped with passive ventilation and operable openings, allowing it to function off-grid. Kasawoo emphasizes this as a “different kind of luxury,” measured not by space or extravagance but by the quality of absence and simplicity, offering a serene antidote to the concrete sprawl.
Source: yankodesign.com