Home Architecture

The Vipp Shelter – The Ultimate Prefab Home Comes Packed With Cool Features

By Simona Ganea | Published on

All buildings regardless of their function are usually constructed and planned in relation to their surroundings and the context of their location. There is however a type of structure which is not necessarily dependent on the environment surrounding it, at least not in the common sense. We’re talking about prefab cabins and other such structures which can theoretically be placed just about anywhere and which are usually self-sufficient and able to adapt to their surroundings in various different ways. One such structure is the Shelter which was designed by Danish retailer Vipp, a company which has been working with steel since 1939.

The Vipp Shelter is a prefab cabin which can be transported just about anywhere and installed in only a couple of daysView in gallery
The Vipp Shelter is a prefab cabin which can be transported just about anywhere and installed in only a couple of days
The design is minimalist and modern, featuring clean lines and simple geometric formsView in gallery
The design is minimalist and modern, featuring clean lines and simple geometric forms
The structure is raised off the ground on a series of pillars. This makes it more versatile in relation to the terrain on which it standsView in gallery
The structure is raised off the ground on a series of pillars. This makes it more versatile in relation to the terrain on which it stands

Sure, this is not the only prefabricated shelter out there but the difference between it and the others is that this Shelter was designed more like a product rather than an architectural piece. The reason we say this is because the Shelter comes fully equipped with Vipp’s own range of products and homeware including most of the furniture, fixtures, lighting pieces and even the linens and lots of small accessories. Some have described this as a plug-and-play house which comes already packed with everything a user requires and all that’s left to do is find a suitable site to place it on. Of course, there are some additional things to take into consideration because nothing is really that simple.

Two large protrusions from the roof give the cabin a somewhat symmetrical look, marking two key design elementsView in gallery
Two large protrusions from the roof give the cabin a somewhat symmetrical look, marking two key design elements
The cabin has fully glazed surfaces and this helps it better get in touch with its surroundingsView in gallery
The cabin has fully glazed surfaces and this helps it better get in touch with its surroundings

The Shelter was conceived to serve as a tool meant to facilitate the escape in nature. It looks like a rectangular box made of metal and glass and, elevated off the ground on small pillars. It first became available in 2014 and it has an interior living space that totals 55 square meters (592 square feet). Two roof protrusions mark the sleeping loft and a skylight which brings in natural light. The Shelter is prefabricated North of Copenhagen and can theoretically be transported anywhere in the world.

It's up to each costumer to make the most of everything the Shelter has to offer in terms of design and structureView in gallery
It’s up to each costumer to make the most of everything the Shelter has to offer in terms of design and structure
The biggest advantage of having full-height windows and glass walls is that you can maximize beautiful viewsView in gallery
The biggest advantage of having full-height windows and glass walls is that you can maximize beautiful views
The exterior of the cabin is minimalist and made of metal, featuring a dark gray color which contrasts which just about any environmentView in gallery
The exterior of the cabin is minimalist and made of metal, featuring a dark gray color which contrasts which just about any environment

The cost is 485,000 euros without transportation. Because this is a product and not an architectural project, it falls on the client to take care of all the details and challenges related to the infrastructure, transportation, as well as the actual positioning of the structure on site, its relation to the terrain, the views and the local climate. These are complications that need to be addressed either with or without professional help. The production of each Shelter takes 6 months and the installation can be completed in 2 to 3 days in most cases.

Parallel sliding windows also help to bring in lots of natural sunlight, giving the interior a bright and airy lookView in gallery
Parallel sliding windows also help to bring in lots of natural sunlight, giving the interior a bright and airy look
The living area situated on the main level actually opens up on two sides so it's important to find the best orientation for the shelterView in gallery
The living area situated on the main level actually opens up on two sides so it’s important to find the best orientation for the shelter

As far as the design and organization of the shelter is concerned, there are two levels. The main area contains the kitchen, the dining space, the bathroom and nook with a fireplace and a daybed and second area is a narrow sleeping loft which can be accessed via a ladder and which has a glazed ceiling. This home away from home features concrete flooring with radiant heating and 10” insulation throughout. Other notable features include the full-height windows and glass walls which can potentially offer some really amazing views as well as facilitate the connection between indoor and outdoor. Of course, it all depends on where you decide to place this minimalist and cool structure.

Most of the interior space inside is a collection of social functions nicely spread across the main floorView in gallery
Most of the interior space inside is a collection of social functions nicely spread across the main floor
It's possible to place the Shelter in regions with harsh climates although that may reveal a series of challengesView in gallery
It’s possible to place the Shelter in regions with harsh climates although that may reveal a series of challenges and complications
The Shelter comes fully equipped with a variety of Vipp products and featuresView in gallery
The Shelter comes fully equipped with a variety of Vipp products and features
The possibilities regarding the location and positioning of the Shelter are basically endlessView in gallery
The possibilities regarding the location and positioning of the Shelter are basically endless
Ideally, this structure should be placed on a remote site with existing infrastructure, beautiful views and a good amount of shadeView in gallery
Ideally, this structure should be placed on a remote site with existing infrastructure, beautiful views and a good amount of shade
You can even take the Shelter on rocky terrains or uneven surfaces where it can adapt to the surroundingsView in gallery
You can even take the Shelter on rocky terrains or uneven surfaces where it can adapt to the surroundings
Although the design is not dependent on any particular location, it has been conceived in a way that allows it to be versatile in this senseView in gallery
Although the design is not dependent on any particular location, it has been conceived in a way that allows it to be versatile in this sense
One of the protrusions on the roof houses a small and narrow sleeping loft with ceiling skylightsView in gallery
One of the protrusions on the roof houses a small and narrow sleeping loft with ceiling skylights
The kitchen, dining space and living area are all part of an open floor plan with glazed walls and concrete flooringView in gallery
The kitchen, dining space and living area are all part of an open floor plan with glazed walls and concrete flooring
The main floor also includes a table and chair combo which can potentially serve as a workstationView in gallery
The main floor also includes a table and chair combo which can potentially serve as a workstation
The company included in the interior design their own range of metal and ceramic homeware products View in gallery
The company included in the interior design their own range of metal and ceramic homeware products
The shelter has concrete flooring with a built-in radiant heating system throughoutView in gallery
The shelter has concrete flooring with a built-in radiant heating system throughout
The bathroom is small but has a very clean and airy look thanks to the glass shower enclosure and the wall-mounted vanityView in gallery
The bathroom is small but has a very clean and airy look thanks to the glass shower enclosure and the wall-mounted vanity
The kitchen features a large island packed with storage compartments and all sorts of featuresView in gallery
The kitchen features a large island packed with storage compartments and all sorts of features
A daybed occupies a section of the main floor, completing the lounge space and creating an increased sense of comfortView in gallery
A daybed occupies a section of the main floor, completing the lounge space and creating an increased sense of comfort
A ladder can be used to climb up to the sleeping loft. It's a compact and practical detail in tone with the rest of the designView in gallery
A ladder can be used to climb up to the sleeping loft. It’s a compact and practical detail in tone with the rest of the design