This Mobile Home Doesn’t Look Like a Mobile Home at All

When people picture mobile homes, they often think of rows of identical units. This project by PAD Studio in the New Forest District of the United Kingdom shows a different idea: a mobile home that does not look like a mobile home at all.

The brief

PAD Studio worked closely with the owners. They wanted low energy use, plenty of daylight, a constant link to the outdoors and, above all, a home that would not look or feel like a typical mobile home.

Sweet chestnut, oak and limestone

The home sits in a clearing and is wrapped in dark-stained sweet chestnut, giving it a sleek, grounded look among the trees. Inside, warm oak, pale limestone and white panelled walls make a clean, welcoming backdrop.

Living around a wood fire

Built-in cabinetry in the living room makes the most of the compact footprint. Around the corner are the dining room and kitchen, where a central wood fire is both heater and focal point, linking the two spaces.

Doors from the dining area open to a small patio with planters and seating, extending the living space outdoors.

The U-shaped kitchen has minimal white and wood cabinets, generous worktops and open shelves for everyday items.

Office, hallway and bedroom

A dedicated home office has built-in shelving and room for a sofa, and its doors open to a deck with space for a couple of chairs. Floor-to-ceiling windows line the hallway, filling it with daylight and keeping nature in view.

In the bedroom, a floating bed keeps the room light, and a small table and chair face the scenery. In the bathroom, a recessed mirror doubles as a shelf, and a skylight brings daylight into the shower.

Rethinking the mobile home

With low energy needs, a close link to nature and carefully considered details, the project shows how far a mobile dwelling can go. As a general point, good materials and daylight matter more to how a home feels than its type or size.

Project credits

• Project: mobile home, New Forest District, United Kingdom
• Design: PAD Studio
• Photography: Nigel Rigden
• Source: Contemporist