Header: BoysPlayNice
Located near Zlatý Roh vineyards, just 3 km above the ECK restaurant, Cabin Devín is a small yet functional weekend getaway. Spanning just 20 square meters, the cabin achieves complete energy autonomy while offering visitors undisputed comfort. The site above Devín Castle provides a wide view across the vineyards toward the Austrian Alps.
The seamless transition between the interior and the terraces
The local climatic conditions are very challenging, and the architects at Ark-Shelter found it difficult to create a retreat suitable for all seasons while maintaining a close connection with the surrounding landscape. The building harmonises with the surrounding landscape through its sliding glass walls, which are hidden behind fold-down terraces that can be lowered to reveal the see-through surface. The front façade is equipped with full-height shading screens. Between these openings – life unfolds. Once the terraces are expanded, the interior flows into them, thereby increasing the floor area. Therefore, the exterior and interior work together in fluid continuity.
A kitchenette and a hidden bedroom
A small kitchenette is tucked behind the main living area, with a bathroom featuring a shower. The tailor-made concrete sink is intentionally oriented toward a large window, allowing the user to gaze out at the landscape from early morning, thereby reconnecting with the surrounding nature. The space transforms in the evening.
A pendant lamp attached to the loft features a cable that can be pulled to reveal a sleeping area hidden during the day. The retractable ladder is integrated into the cabinetry, thus eliminating the need for a visible staircase. The enclosed upper level provides an intimate atmosphere. Surrounded by a solid roof, the light enters through a skylight above, allowing users to engage in stargazing.
Off-grid electricity systems
Another challenge was making the cabin function fully off-grid, even in the cold winter months. The space gets all its electricity from solar photovoltaic panels with battery storage and a gas-powered backup system. In cloudier days, the appliances automatically switch from solar to gas. Electricity for lighting and small devices is automatically prioritised while high-energy-consuming processes, such as heating and cooling, are adapted to available resources.
Year-round heating and cooling
As for water, it is stored in a concealed reservoir with a raised floor and a separate wastewater tank. Intelligent shading and ventilation protect the cabin from overheating in the summer. The system uses cooler air from below the floor on the northern side, while the warm air is exhausted through a heat-recovery unit upstairs. Regulative CO₂ and humidity sensors regulate the heating-cooling process bi-directionally.
Marked by its small size yet remarkable spatial intensity and technological independence, Cabin Devín in Bratislava’s homonymous town proves that no space is too small to be transformed into a fully livable architectural experience.
Technical sheet
Client: Cabin Devín
Project location: Devín, Bratislava
Project country: Slovakia
Completion year: 2024
Built-up area: 20 m²
Usable floor area: 14,7 m²
Photographer: BoysPlayNice
Structural engineer: Radovan Hnidka
Carpenter: Mário Cyprich
Realisation of the module and built-in furniture: Ark-Shelter
Artworks: Stanislav Mikovčák
Glass: VAK
Loxone system and solar panels: PV SERVICE PLUS
Featured brands: Gessi, HWAM, Javorina, Loxone, Prostoria
