Kota and Sami, an open fire welcomes the visitor to Kota, a flat-pack and CNC routed plywood hut built by London based collective Toy Studio for 2018’s Houghton festivals. Inspired by traditional Nordic Sami huts and old log construction, the name Kota is a derivation of a Finnish word for ‘shelter’. Besides being a design experiment to test the potential and structural solutions of digital fabrication, the hut is designed to provide an intimate enclosure, a quiet refuge in an eccentric setting. It is a place to sit around an open fire in the company of good friends.
Courtesy of ToyStudio
The programming of Kota’s convoluted form was made possible by a number of exercises in parametric variation and control. Each aspect, from its geometry to its fabrication is parametrically detailed using computer-aided design. The desired form is refined to accommodate specific requirements, size constraints, client budget, and maximum efficiency.
Courtesy of ToyStudio
Sami was designed to complement a previous installation entitled Kota; it is an architecture that brings a contemporary spirit to natural surroundings, providing an example of space and shelter in its most basic form.
Courtesy of ToyStudio
Kota is 5.5m tall and has a diameter of 3.2m. It is comprised of 56 planar ribs, which are formed through 174 individual components CNC’d from 18mm plywood. Sami is smaller at 3m high and 4m wide, with 24 planar ribs. The ribs are assembled via a series of lapped dovetail scarf joints and inter-screw bolt connections. Once assembled it is fixed to the ground with a number of ground anchors. The simplicity of the production method enables people with no formal training in construction to build the framework in a relatively short amount of time.
Project Info:
Architects: ToyStudio
Location: United Kingdom, Houghton Hall
Client: Houghton Festival 2018
Year: 2018
Photographs: Courtesy of ToyStudio
Ruba Ahmed, a senior project editor at Arch2O and an Alexandria University graduate, has reviewed hundreds of architectural projects with precision and insight. Specializing in architecture and urban design, she excels in project curation, topic selection, and interdepartmental collaboration. Her dedication and expertise make her a pivotal asset to Arch2O.