MINI LIVING by Sam Jacob Studio: Urban Cabin

The ongoing project by MINI explored the future of urban habitats based on the creative use of space on a small personal footprint, which in a world of streamlined design reflects each city's unique character. The MINI LIVING team designed a micro-house as a research space for relevant urban needs and local identities. The Urban Cabin consisted of a clever module reflecting its environment and featuring distinct London characteristics created by architect Sam Jacob. Externally, Jacob's design was inspired by London's rich history of geometric facades, while the interior was conceived as a flexible, imaginative space that pays homage to British eccentricity, further rooting the local fragment within specific traditions. It was designed to be a place of exchange, bringing people together and replicating important elements of urban life: a shared kitchen referred to the importance of food markets, and a micro-library responded to the decreasing number of public libraries. The collaboration between MINI LIVING and Jacob is based on the idea of London as a city of contrasts between past and present. "I've always been interested in combinations, juxtapositions and fusions; in how projects can draw on different references and forge alternative possibilities," Jacob explains. "Often this means bringing apparent opposites together to create unexpected alliances and design languages. The aim is to open up the possibilities of design while also making reference to the world around us." Supported by MINI LIVING.