Ark-shelter by Michiel De Backer, Martin Mikovčák; Slovakia

Nowadays we live in a world where we are extremely busy and from time to time we need to escape from it. Escape from the stress, duties and civilizations back to our roots where it all started. This takes us back to that.

The past 3 years we have been working on re-designing, building and testing different types of Ark-Shelter. We want to create a place that gives you comfort in the heart of the nature and gives you the perfect setting for a detox of your mind. From this perspective we created a new Shelter type: “into the wild cabin”. With its 5 openings all around we wanted to create a visual focus of the nature all around. Each opening brings in another atmosphere of the nature.

There is a big wall side that can be opened and the big front glazing makes you feel like you’re sitting outside. The milk glass window in the bathroom gives you the all-natural incoming light you need. We’ve made an extra module which is set on the roof and has a big window so you can sleep under a sky full of stars. The Shelter is created so it merges with the nature and it’s tricky how it covers the complex and intelligent system which automatically works with the space and light. Thanks to an automatic system, the heating, cooling, and shading can be pre-programmed. The double-bed goes up automatically in the ceiling and beneath the bed there is a hidden jacuzzi, which creates a new relaxing area. The Shelter can work completely off-grid through solar panels, batteries and rain water collector.

The 40 m² has a central black box in the middle that creates 5 different areas; every single side is part of a particular area in the Shelter. The sliding doors in the corners create more space and the different areas can be totally divided. Thanks to the extra module on top we have more incoming light from above for the entrance. The left part of the box works as a kitchen and a relaxing zone, the back of the box has a shower and a sink next to the window. Next to the bathroom we have the big bed and the jacuzzi. The extra module on top is another bedroom that you can also easily turn into a relaxing mediation zone.

This new Shelter has been a completely new challenge for us and it’s all about the details; we wanted to create a place that has it all in less possible space but with all the possible luxury. It’s a Shelter that will not become boring easily thanks to all the new features and design.

Text provided by the architects.