Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Monday, Jun 02, 2025

This Modern Matte Black Cabin Is a Dreamy Weekend Retreat

This Modern Matte Black Cabin Is a Dreamy Weekend Retreat

Tucked away in Basque Country, Heva is a tiny prefab cabin that opens up to the landscape.

Developed by Michel Hardoin, founder of Atelier 6 Architects, this self-sufficient cabin melds modern comforts with organic materials. The name Heva is short for "habiter un espace de vie autonome," which translates to "living in a self-sufficient space."



A glimpse of Heva's interior and deck.

Heva is made predominately of wood, which Hardoin sourced either locally or from controlled origins. The cabin has a pine plywood structure, with wood fiber insulation. The cladding boards are charred to protect them from insects and weather, while also creating an inky hue reminiscent of regional lumberjacks’ cabins. Although it's prefabricated, the structure maintains a sense of artisanal quality-and it's stunningly designed.



The inspiration for Heva was a wooden home in Bordeaux, France.

Heva was inspired by one of Atelier 6's first projects-a timber frame house surrounded by pine forests in Bordeaux. The project lit a spark in Hardoin, who was compelled to continue creating wooden structures that sit lightly upon the land.



This cabin is designed to open up to the outdoors with large glass doors, although each unit can be individually configured.

Hardoin researched cabins around the world, and after six months of drawing and reflecting, came up with a design that fits the maximum weight restrictions to be transported by truck. He designed the cabin with an emphasis on balance-of proportions, masses, energies, light and dark, inside and outside.



The lower level serves as a dining area or workspace, while a loft provides a cozy sleeping nook.

"It draws from nature its elements-the sun, the water, and the wood of which it is entirely constituted," explains Hardoin.

Hardoin began the project informally with friends, and they soon began looking for builders to create the cabin-although most fell short. Finally, at a construction show in Bordeaux, Hardoin met Nicolas Laveau, manager of My Little Loft. The manufacturing company had built a tiny house on a trailer similar in size and finishes to what Hardoin wanted to build. They began brainstorming, and they adapted the original design to a more innovative wood frame.



A spacious deck and large glass doors allow for seamless indoor/outdoor living.



Light pine finishes make the interiors feel airy and spacious.

Next, Hardoin needed to figure out how to finance the first prototype. "I could either go see investors, or consult around me who was interested in participating in the project. It was my direct family that was seduced by the idea-my sister and my parents were the first to build one and create a company that could market them."



A view into the sleeping nook.

In 2017 Atelier 6 and My Little Loft built a prototype that would allow them to test and improve upon the design. They located the cabin at Darwin Eco-System, an alternative cultural space with a green economy hub, an urban farm, an organic grocery store, a skatepark, co-working spaces, and a wellness center (Le Bivouac).



The idea of balance is expressed in all facets of the project-from light to dark, indoor to outdoor.

"They warmly welcomed us, and we were able to test the autonomy of the equipment as well as the feelings of the visitors," says Hardoin. "It was a very enjoyable moment that provided us with a lot of visibility and ideas."

Now, Heva prefabs can be purchased and fully customized to suit a range of locations and personal preferences. They can even help with obtaining authorization for placing the cabin, and each one is made to order-so no two are exactly the same.



A simple, yet elegant vanity doubles as storage.

"The idea is that the structure is reproducible and can adapt to the desires of each person. We have designed different sizes and options; each element can be added to customize the whole."

They didn’t stop there, though-Atelier 6 Architects built a second cabin for seasonal housing, and then a pop-up store for surf brand Roxy, who wanted a movable space that ran on its own electricity. That cabin has toured multiple sports events and festivals throughout Europe.



This sleeping area includes a bookshelf and sconce.

The first Heva is currently available for rent on a beautiful site in Basque Country. "We want to move it next year to take it to the heart of a forest to rent on Airbnb as a soothing place where you can reconnect with nature and disconnect from everyday stress."



While modern in style, Heva channels the beauty of nature.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
UAE Offers Free ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions to Citizens
Lebanon Initiates Plan to Disarm Palestinian Factions
Iran and U.S. Make Limited Progress in Nuclear Talks
The Daily Debate: The Fall of the Dollar — Strategic Reset or Economic Self-Destruction?
Trump Administration's Tariff Policies and Dollar Strategy Spark Global Economic Debate
OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s Startup for $6.5 Billion to Build a Revolutionary “Third Core Device”
Turkey Weighs Citizens in Public as Erdoğan Launches National Slimming Campaign
Saudi-Spanish Business Forum Commences in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia and Spain Sign MoU to Boost SME Sectors
UK Suspends Trade Talks with Israel Amid Gaza Offensive
Iran and U.S. Set for Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks Amid Rising Tensions
Russia Expands Military Presence Near Finland Amid Rising Tensions
Indian Scholar Arrested in Crackdown Over Pakistan Conflict Commentary
Israel Eases Gaza Blockade Amid Internal Dispute Over Military Strategy
President Biden’s announcement of advanced prostate cancer sparked public sympathy—but behind closed doors, Democrats are in panic
A Chinese company made solar tiles that look way nicer than regular panels!
Indian jet shootdown: the all-robot legion behind China’s PL-15E missiles
The Chinese Dragon: The True Winner in the India-Pakistan Clash
Australia's Venomous Creatures Contribute to Life-Saving Antivenom Programme
The Spanish Were Right: Long Working Hours Harm Brain Function
Did Former FBI Director Call for Violence Against Trump? Instagram Post Sparks Uproar
US and UAE Partner to Develop Massive AI Data Center Complex
Apple's $95 Million Siri Settlement: Eligible Users Have Until July 2 to File Claims
US and UAE Reach Preliminary Agreement on Nvidia AI Chip Imports
President Trump and Elon Musk Welcomed by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim with Cybertruck Convoy
Strong Warning Issued: Do Not Use General Chatbots for Medical, Legal, or Educational Guidance
Saudi Arabia Emerges as Global Tech Magnet with U.S. Backing and Trump’s Visit
This was President's departure from Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince personally escorted him back to the airport.
NVIDIA and Saudi Arabia Launch Strategic Partnership to Establish AI Centers
Trump Meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara in Historic Encounter
Trump takes a blow torch to the neocons and interventionists while speaking to the Saudis
US and Saudi Arabia Sign Landmark Agreements Across Multiple Sectors
Why Saudi Arabia Rolled Out a Purple Carpet for Donald Trump Instead of Red
Elon Musk Joins Trump Meeting in Saudi Arabia
Trump says it would be 'stupid' not to accept gift of Qatari plane
Quantum Computing Threatens Bitcoin Security
×