A-frame cabins are undoubtedly distinct in their tent-like triangular tube shape. Their simple form lends itself naturally to economical construction, and prefabricated framing. The triangular form has a long history all over Europe, but now advances in laminated timber and modern glazing have opened up cost-effective contemporary designs that are available to purchase in Europe.

What is an A-frame structure?

An A-frame cabin is a timber home made with steep sloping roofs on either side that together form the shape of a letter A. A-framed construction was typical throughout Europe, with steeper sloping roofs in areas of Northern Europe with heavy snowfall, as snow would naturally slide down the steep roofs, thereby avoiding the risk of overloading the structure.

Two trends in particular are now driving the resurgence of this traditional style in Europe:

Glamping: The construction of 1 bedroom A-frame pods that are usually delivered whole onto site, to be used as glamping pods. These can be well-insulated to extend the glamping season to year-round use, which also makes them suitable as Tiny Houses. As the Tiny House, and eco-community movements gather pace, the use of 1 bed A-frame structures has become increasingly common, with more manufacturers joining the market as a result.

Prefabricated and laminated timber frame houses: Advances in timber frame manufacture have made timber-framed buildings more accessible and desirable to many house buyers. They are generally considered to be a cost-effective, eco-friendly and beautiful alternative, using natural materials, to create modern styles, and also traditional styles of architecture.

Some smaller A-frame cabins are triangular in form, although many A-framed buildings infact have lower floors that are a standard rectangle, and only the upper floor being the A-frame. In this article we have focused on A-frame houses that use the A-frame to form their walls also.

Why build an A-frame cabin?

A-frames are relatively simple to design and build, so they are relatively accessible to self-builders, and they can be cost-effective to produce in factories. They have a long tradition in many north European cultures, often made using round-pole pine timbers to create the iconic steep sloping roof.

The distinctive exterior aesthetic is then experienced as a deeply cozy and charming interior as the walls close in above you. Some cunning and consideration may be required to effectively utilise the wall space, and manage internal door openings, but this all adds charm and to the sense the house is infact a nest.

 

Manufacturers in Europe that supply A-frame cabins

Nomadic Homes

The Nomadic Homes mission is ‘to provide high-quality, wooden A-frame houses for customers throughout Europe’. Choose from 12 structurally certified A-frame models, from this dedicated A-frame house specialist. They cut and prepare the timbers in their factory, and then assemble the house on your site. They deliver to anywhere in the world.

Sia Grande Build

These beautifully crafted ‘Owl Cabins’ are built near Riga, Latvia, and shipped for free within Europe. They are definitely in the glamping niche, though perhaps they could be adapted to create a Tiny Home. They are certainly portable and advertised at 35K Euros each.

 

Lushna

A-frame cabins are undoubtedly distinct in their tent-like triangular tube shape. Their simple form lends itself naturally to economical construction, and prefabricated framing. The triangular form has a long history all over Europe, but now advances in laminated timber and modern glazing have opened up cost-effective contemporary designs that are available to purchase in Europe. Another small but beautiful A-frame cabin is Lushna A-frame Icon, which is advertised as a bedroom in nature. It is insulated with natural woodfibre insulation, and claims to be cosy even in snow. They provide ground screws to eliminate the need for concrete foundations. These cabins are constructed in sections in the factory in Estonia, and then shipped anywhere in the world.

 

Avrame

From their factory in Tartu, Estonia, Avrame dispatch their stunning A-frame homes anywhere in Europe. They have 12 A-frame house models, as well as 5 non-A-frame models. Their website includes a series of books for the build process from start to finish, including the budgeting guide. The website says that the Trio, which is a two-storey A-frame house, comes in between 80K and 120K Euros.

Production time is stated as 6 to 10 weeks, and shipping within Europe is 2 – 6 days. You will have to assemble it yourself or use local carpenters. Avrame provides plans along with their flatpack houses.

 

MADI M60

 

This modern take on A-frame construction uses cross-laminated-timber(CLT) sheet, and rather than the models in the range scaling UP, they scale ALONG. MADI has offices in Switzerland and Norway, and they ship to anywhere in the world.

The exciting about MADI, is that they use an innovative folding system, so the house is prefabricated in their factory and then folded to be brought to site. The benefit of this folding process is the rapid deployment on site, which can massively reduce the cost of a project and reduce the risk of progress being affected by poor weather, as the houses are weather-tight within days of arriving on site.

The smallest version of the M60 is advertised at 60K Euros, and the largest at 145K Euros.

 

The Nolla Cabin

 

This is, in fact, an inspiration for you to build your A-frame cabin yourself. The Nolla incorporates simplicity, renewable energy, and relocatability as a way of life. There are lots of ideas for you in this beautifully simple and thought-provoking structure near Helsinki, whether you’re building a single-bedroom cabin or expanding the concept to produce something larger.

 

Is an A-frame your future home?

Even the diagonal outer walls have a distinctive and charming feel to them. Two families that live in A-frame houses would clearly relish discussing their smart storage solutions and the unique feel of living with sloping walls.

Now you’ve seen the application of the classic A-frame for single-bed cabins and spacious, fully-fitted three-bedroom houses. A-frame construction naturally lends itself to framing a stunning view at the ‘end of the tube’, and has heaps of charisma. So, there’s no wonder that A-frames continue to experience a resurgence across Europe, as well as in North America.