KÄBI is a ‘pocket of warmth and comfort’ in Estonia’s wild forest

The pine cone-like exterior of this cabin, located less than an hour from the capital, keeps guests cosy even on Estonia’s coldest nights.

Tallinn-based studio b210 designed the holiday home, which is part of the Maidla Nature Resort – a collection of forest cabins set in the wetlands of a 15th-century manor complex. The design brief was to create a space for visitors to ‘contemplate the fragility of the yet natural, wild and free world’ that surrounds the estate.

KÄBI uses glass walls and dramatic light wells to create this connection with nature, ensuring guests can see the sky and trees wherever they are in the cabin. The home’s open-plan space is punctuated by ‘tree trunk-like columns’, which hide the toilet and shower.

The architects have covered the home’s exterior and parts of the interior with thousands of wooden tiles, laid in a traditional, overlapping configuration that’s reminiscent of scales. This construction method, known as ‘kimm’, is often seen in Estonia’s rural architecture.

KÄBI sleeps two and starts at €485 per night. Maidla Nature Resort also offers guided bog hikes, canoe trips and yoga sessions.