Korkhouse

Gillingham, England, United Kingdom
2 guests
1 bedroom
1 bathroom

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Superbly Simple: A property that meets our exacting standards, with everything you need, nothing you don’t, and above all thoughtfully designed.

Cabin: A small shelter or house, often in a remote area

Countryside: Out of town, in rural or agricultural settings

A Tiny Cork House for Two

With its big environmental cred and cool 21st-century designer aesthetic, this eco-friendly, compact country getaway at the crossroads of Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire was designed as a creative hub for connecting to nature’s inspiration and rediscovering peace and simplicity. An added splash of noble cool comes in the form of its owner, filmmaker/photographer Jasper Cable-Alexander, son of the late Lord Snowdon.

Creative Inspiration at an Off-Grid Cork Cabin

Designed in 2021 by award-winning U-Buld architects at Studio Bark, this tiny cork house for two is big on sustainable building innovations, combined with a creative minimalist design aesthetic.

Fully off grid, the house is on wheels, clad in renewable cork and powered by ten solar panels. There’s a grey water recycling system, thick sheep’s wool insulation, and bespoke wood furnishings. Inside, there's a a mini-island, memory foam bed, wood-burning stove and cozy kitchen. Outside, next to a rolling stream, a dinner table surrounded by wood stools offers a place to dine, create, reflect, or simply observe the grazing sheep and cows nearby.

The cabin may be off-grid, but it still offers WIFI, board games, Sonos speakers and cozy amenities, and despite its diminutive size, has a fully equipped kitchenette, endless hot water, a composting toilet, TV and sofa. The cherry on top is its outdoor wooden heated bath.

Around

Despite its inspiring, lost-in-the-country vibes, the cabin is located near Bruton, Glastonbury and Frome, with easy access to London (approximately 100 miles away). There are numerous restaurants, galleries and fun things to do in the area in addition to local nature walks and hiking trails. The world-class contemporary art of Hauser & Wirth Somerset (with gardens designed by artist Piet Oudolf) is a 15-20 minute drive from the cabin, and 20-30 minutes away are the magnificent woodlands and gardens of The Newt in Somerset, with their replica Roman villa, restaurant, extensive grounds, and artisan ciders and cheeses in the Farm Shop. Another recommended nearby stop is Messums West art gallery in Tisbury (30 minutes).

Other things to do include snuggling with mini animals at the Madjeston milk station (walking / biking distance), strolling Frome High Street’s vintage shops, cafes, pubs and craft breweries, or hitting its monthly 1st Sundays market. Outdoorsy types should take in Stourhead, a verdant National Trust site (14-minute drive), explore Eccliffe's bridge, mill and river that inspired painter John Constable, or the hike the local road, lined with great walks and pretty views.

Location

Gillingham, Dorset, England. Nearest airports: London (2-2.5 hours). Trains from London Waterloo station to Gillingham take approximately 2 hours, then it's a 5-minute taxi or 10-minute bike ride to Korkhouse.