Studio Bucky’s Cucu Cabin: Red Shingles Add Personality and Wonder

Cucu is an off-grid cabin in rural Westmeath, Ireland, designed by Studio Bucky for the Samsú rental brand. This compact dwelling uses red-stained shingles that recall local agricultural buildings and metal roofs.

The bold exterior stands apart in a quiet forest setting. The project responds to the landscape, inviting a slower, more introspective hospitality beyond standardized cabin experiences.

Project scope and landscape response

The cabin’s tight square plan houses a seating nook, a kitchen, a log-burning stove, and a bathroom with a sliding door. A ladder leads to a mezzanine sleeping area.

The arrangement prioritizes efficient, multi-use spaces that form a single, coherent volume when viewed from the outside. The mezzanine’s circular window frames the surrounding trees and sky, creating a visual connection with nature.

The design introduces a sense of verticality into a rural cabin, echoing Ireland’s tower houses without literal imitation. Alexander Buckeridge, founder of Studio Bucky, explains that the project uses contemporary materials to evoke a timeless feeling of inhabitation at height.

Plywood walls with red accents in door frames and tiling balance rustic warmth with modern craft. A copper roll-top bath sits on the outdoor deck, turning a simple amenity into a focal point that blurs indoor and outdoor boundaries.

Site strategy and massing

The cabin’s massing is restrained to sit quietly among trees. The plan’s geometry and mezzanine add a sense of enclosure and airiness.

The circular mezzanine window serves as a visual counterpoint to the horizontal shed-like volume. This references historic Irish tower houses and emphasizes inhabitation at height.

Exterior and material language

The red-stained shingle cladding and metal roof echo regional building styles while signaling a contemporary approach. Inside, a plywood shell keeps the space light and adaptable.

Red color touches connect the interior and exterior. The bathroom’s sliding door and the ladder to the mezzanine reinforce a compact, efficient layout that maximizes every square meter.

Interior craft and spatial experience

Inside Cucu, tactile materials and carefully placed views are emphasized. The seating nook and kitchen are set along a straight run, while the log-burning stove anchors the living area.

The mezzanine sleeping zone is reached by a ladder, creating a clear vertical hierarchy. The circular window at this level acts as a sculptural element and enhances the sense of enclosure as one ascends.

Ply-lined walls provide a warm, cocoon-like atmosphere, punctuated by bright red accents and a copper bath on the deck. The cabin leverages modest means to create a refined, craft-forward experience.

Off-grid performance and sustainability

Cucu operates fully off-grid on solar power and includes a compost eco-toilet. The solar setup supports basic amenities and lighting, allowing guests to enjoy a comfortable stay close to nature.

The design features a compact footprint, passive solar considerations, and a thermal envelope tuned to the Irish climate. These choices support a practical approach to sustainable remote lodging.

Studio Bucky: context and practice

Studio Bucky was founded in 2024 by Alexander Buckeridge, an Irish-born designer. He brings a broad practice spanning interiors, furniture, and built environments.

The firm maintains a distinctive architectural voice. Its projects are underpinned by a sensitive engagement with site, materiality, and craft.

The studio draws inspiration from Irish history, including portal tombs. These ideas are translated into contemporary expressions that feel both of place and of today.

Photographs of Cucu were captured by Jasmine Hughes. Her imagery helps convey the cabin’s atmosphere and its relationship to the landscape.

 
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