Full-Length Skylight Tops This Modern Shepherd's Hut

Updated October 11, 2018

Tiny homes aren't a new thing; in fact, one can partially trace them back to caravans and shepherds' huts that herders used to live in, while moving their animals from one pasture to another. Based out of Suffolk, England, tiny house maker Thomas Alabaster of Contemporary Shepherd Huts built this modern pastoral beauty, featuring a full-length, light-welcoming skylight.

© Contemporary Shepherd Huts

Alabaster relates how his love of the old sheds as nature's refuges informs his designs:

Having grown up in the Suffolk countryside I have always loved English summers, and take real pleasure in feeling connected to my environment, I'll often sit in the shed at the bottom of the garden, dilapidated and rotting as it is, to read a book and watch the wildlife. Whether its a shed or a bench in a sunny spot, I love to be near nature, and I try to enable this in the small spaces I design, while at the same time working with a client to create their dream hideaway.

This modern version of the classic shepherd's huts is insulated and clad in galvanized steel that has been welded together.

© Contemporary Shepherd Huts

The form of the hut looks like your typical gabled-roof house, but the apex of the roof has been truncated to make room for a long skylight, which lets light wash into the interior. The detailing is quite nice -- though it might be a bit difficult to clean.

Stepping inside, the full glass wall lets in even more light, and also makes room for a small veranda.

© Contemporary Shepherd Huts

The whitewashed interior feels airy and light-filled. In one corner sits a simple kitchen with a two-burner stove, with overhead rack storage, and a small refrigerator. At the back sits the sleeping area, which has a lovely tall window that lines up with the skylight.

© Contemporary Shepherd Huts

The bathroom sits across from the bed, behind a space-saving pocket door. The bathroom was built to be a bit larger and "less pokey" than typical trailer bathrooms, and features zinc panelling in the shower.

According to the website and Tiny House Swoon, this spacious shepherd's hut cost about USD $20,000 to construct; the basic design can be customized further for clients. Clean, minimalist and inspired by the traditional herder's abode, this tiny home feels like the perfect place to relax and rest in the quietude of nature. More over at Contemporary Shepherd Huts.