Unyoked Is Using Minimalist Cabins to Help City Dwellers Cure Burnout

Intended to be an antidote for those burnt out and rundown by the frenzied pace of modern life, Unyoked is an Australian-based hospitality project offering a curated array of off-grid cabins in three countries: Australia, New Zealand, and most recently, the United Kingdom.

Each location is handpicked for its close proximity to a major city (none of the cabins are more than a few hours out), yet is isolated enough for guests to be totally immersed in nature. This way, city dwellers and stressed out urbanites can find respite—or, become unyoked, if you will—from the demands of technology within a secluded, scenic landscape that’s still within reach of home.

The company utilizes a unique strategy where private landowners who have acreage to spare “host” Unyoked's design-forward cabins. Requirements include uninterrupted wilderness views, little to no noise pollution or man-made structures, and unique natural features. For the landowners, the arrangement offers a chance to generate income through a form of low-impact, sustainable tourism, not to mention the cabin itself. Unyoked also handles all the booking and educates hosts on servicing the cabin.

Despite the differences in latitude and longitude, all of Unyoked’s tiny cabins share a common architecture from the folks at Sydney-based design company Fresh Prince. Clad in Black Australian Cypress wood siding that calls to mind Japanese shou sugi ban, the tiny 150-square-foot floor plan features reclaimed windows, a sustainable plywood interior, a composting toilet, and a small kitchen with a gas stove powered by solar energy.

As a self-described “nature-on-demand company,” the minimalist cabins are meant for restoration as much as they are designed to spark creativity, and there are sleek desks and compact workspaces should inspiration strike. The company has partnered with creatives from around the world, including a bevy of Australian musicians who created two custom soundscapes inspired by nature titled Field Recordings Vol. 1 and 2, available as an EP, in addition to publishing the Writer’s Anthology Vol. 1, which contains musings on the natural world in a pocket-sized book.

Unyoked even teamed up with actor Matthew McConaughey, who designed a cabin on the outskirts of Sydney that channels a distinctly southern, whiskey-drinking aesthetic.

The creative cabin strategy seems to be working; by appealing to the desire to escape the everyday to recharge in unspoiled wilderness, Unyoked’s in-demand abodes have become notoriously hard to book. The company does have plans to expand their network of rentals, which go for around $200 a night, giving hope to cabin lovers everywhere.

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