koto designs sustainable cabin retreat with floating sauna for fritton lake

koto designs luxury cabin retreats in the wild east of england

Known for their expertise in prefab modular housing, the team at Koto designed a series of luxury sustainable cabins for the Fritton Lake private holiday club in the East of England. The timber-clad structures take shape as a balanced blend of Scandinavian-inspired exteriors and Japanese minimalist interiors, offering comfort, warmth, and tranquility to those looking to unwind and indulge in nature. The project is composed of two residential units dubbed ‘Ki’ and ‘Miru’, as well as a floating off-grid sauna located at the end of the pier leading out to the lake of the site.

all images courtesy of Koto Design, unless stated otherwise

‘Ki’ and ‘Miru’ cabins

Designed by Koto (see more here), the cabin retreats at Fritton Lake are far from the typical countryside lodges. The ‘Ki’ (translates from Japanese for Tree) cabin presents an open-plan interior including a living and dining room, and a kitchen space. The model is available in both two and three bedroom variations, which feature king-sized beds to ensure optimal comfort for all guests. Perhaps the most notable characteristic of Ki is its vast open facade that frames stunning views overlooking the two-mile-long lake. The expansive opening draws natural light in while allowing nature’s scenery to take center stage in the cabin.

‘Miru’ (translates from Japanese as view) is specifically designed to adapt to the changes of seasons. In the summer, the windows and doors open outwards, with the daily life of the occupants seeping into the natural surroundings. In the winter, the eco-efficiency of the structure allows users to cozy up in its modern Scandinavian warmth. Miru is also available in two and three bedroom configurations and offers spacious living accommodation equipped with two bathrooms.

prioritizing biophilic living

Both cabin designs allow residents to form a close bond with the surrounding nature, maximizing natural light and scenic views whilst blending into the landscape. At the same time, each cabin ensures that the occupants preserve an optimized level of privacy.

During the design process of both cabins, the team at Koto focused on creating a building that can coexist with nature, protect the environment, and encourage biophilic living; a connectedness between people and nature. ‘Biophilic architecture and biophilic interior design are not just aesthetically pleasing, it has been proven it can provide a huge range of sustained benefits, both physical and psychological.’ the designers explain.

FLOATING SAUNA

Koto’s design also includes a floating wood-fired Koto sauna, situated at the end of a wooden pier leading out to the lake. Named ‘Loyly’ which translates from Finnish to a cloud of steam, the sauna is a sculptural interpretation of the small buildings that you see across Europe, from Bothys to Norwegian Hytte. The unit takes shape as a small timber-clad structure with a pitched roof, providing warmth, shelter, and an opportunity to fully immerse in nature.