Architect Hayley Pryor has created The Oculus, a tiny moveable cabin in Byron Bay that was designed to resemble a typical Australian shed.
Designed to be road-legal and relocatable, the 21-square-metre dwelling was created by Pryor in collaboration with local builder Chris King.
A Flexible Retreat for Minimal Living
Intended to meet a variety of needs, from a compact standalone home or holiday retreat to a garden studio, Pryor modelled The Oculus's appearance on that of a typical Australian shed, pairing a timber exterior with a finely corrugated metal roof.
At the apex of this roof is The Oculus's namesake – a large central skylight that both pulls light into the interior and can be opened to create a stack ventilation effect.
"Drawing on the familiarity of the Australian shed and reinterpreting it through form, light and ventilation, the design results in a flexible retreat for minimal living," Pryor told Dezeen.
Passive Design Strategies
"Whilst moveable and relocatable, The Oculus was designed with orientation in mind to allow for passive design strategies – cross and stack ventilation, operable windows, and removable eaves – to manage heat naturally," she added.
"The elevated opening defines the architectural identity of the project while performing multiple roles: bringing light into the space, facilitating natural ventilation, framing views of the sky, and acting as a passive climate-control device."
Efficient Interior Layout
The Oculus is the first made-to-order model to be offered by local builder King's mobile home company, Retreat House.
To maximise the efficiency of its interior, built-in furniture helps to demarcate the sleeping, living, dining and kitchen zones, with a daybed, benches and counters also providing storage.
At one end, a sliding door leads into the cabin's bathroom, which also integrates a storage area that can be accessed from the outside.
Large plywood shutters allow for further natural ventilation, while at the cabin's front, a large sliding glass door opens the living space onto a terrace.
This terrace is sheltered by the large metal eaves of the roof, which slide into custom-welded brackets when The Oculus is being transported via road.
Material Selection and Durability
"Locally sourced hardwood timbers and corrugated sheeting provide durability and familiarity, while refined plywood interiors fold from the walls into joinery, creating a cohesive, unified interior," Pryor said.
"Together, these materials balance robustness, warmth and simplicity, reinforcing the project’s modest and functional character," she added.
Other Mobile Cabins
Other mobile cabins recently featured on Dezeen include Cocoon Freelancer by Maruán Attia, which was designed to fit on the back of a flatbed truck, and a hemp-clad micro home created by a social enterprise to offer a way to "escape the rent trap".
The photography is by Tim Clark.
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