Cabins are amazing. Not only can they be functional spaces, often used as shelters by hikers, hunters, explorers and workers; they can be chic offices and tranquil escapes from the often-hectic world, representing freedom, autonomy and intimacy. They have also grown more and more sophisticated and stylish in recent times, with interest in camping and the outdoor world enjoying a healthy boost. With that in mind, a new book has been launched offering a look inside some of the most compelling cabins around the world.
Called Cabin Porn: Inside, the book was edited by Zach Klein as a follow-up to a widely successful publication released back in 2015 that showcased the exteriors of a wide range of cabins in different locations. The project originally took the shape of a blog, with Zach gathering and documenting pictures of cabin life. His collection grew, and builders around the world began to reach out to him with photos and stories of retreats that they had made. Over 20,000 cabins were shared with him, and the photos captured the attention of millions of people. This led to Zach compiling his first book, Cabin Porn, which was later translated into seven languages.
According to Zach, the idea for the follow-up evolved quite naturally. “The last book was mostly typical exterior shots of beautiful cabins nestled in stunning settings. It garnered a lot of attention and was really enjoyed by the audience. But one common question kept popping up time and time again. ‘What does it look like inside?’” These are typically not answers that people share with us, because these are private spaces. But for the second book we endeavoured to find nearly 100 different cabins and get access to the interiors,” Zach told Lonely Planet.
The second volume serves as a reference for both the cabin builder and for those seeking new perspectives on how to create spaces that work, and showcases the intimate details that the cabins' creators gave them.
The book includes a grass-roofed, log-walled retreat on Cornwall’s Lizard Peninsula, the southernmost place on the British mainland. The cabin stands in a forest clearing, with views of a meadow and the sea, and the interior is simple and rustic, with bare wood finishings and a wood-burning stove.
The idiosyncratic 'Casa Tiny' in Puerto Escondido, Mexico, features a concrete exterior built by a skilled local craftsman and a stark and minimalist interior. Behind the bed there is a window that frames the green grassland of Oaxaca, and the kitchen has a huge concrete table that stretches out onto a terrace. Its ingenious wooden façade closes over it perfectly.
Another unique property in the book is Oz Farm in northern California, a geodesic dome built near the Pacific Ocean. It has a potbelly stove, two lofted bunks, a kitchen and dining room and a bed beneath a dreamy glass window.
Bird Box, by contrast, is a small, black, pitch-roofed cabin built on a Norwegian farm, inspired by the design of a treehouse. It has a deck underneath it for sleeping outside in the summer, while the inside has a vintage Swedish army stove with a truck’s exhaust pipe for a flue, and shelves made from repurposed wine crates.
When it comes to nailing down why cabin porn is so attractive to readers, Zach says it’s all to do with what we aspire to be. “In most cultures, there’s always been a tradition of spending time somewhere rustic in the outside world, but in the past decade I think that has changed. Being online to make our living means more time staring at screens, and the more we do that the more surreal and sublime it is to be reminded of how wonderful the outdoors are. The vision of being disconnected becomes refreshing to us. It’s an antidote to modern life.”
Zach also said that while the rise of online jobs has created this thinking, it has also allowed people to chase that very dream, given that they can work remotely. “The fantasy is more often becoming real. Cabins in this second book were built by people inspired by the first book. They can live virtually anywhere that they have a connection.”
Cabin Porn: Inside is out now. More information is available from the official website.
