Van life with an eco edge – this mobile wooden cabin is designed for getting away from it all

This is the Cocoon-Freelancer, Attia Design’s attempt at building a chemical-free alternative to conventional camper van and mobile office solutions. Intended for ‘modern professionals and adventurers’, this cubic construction weighs in at around 1,200kg and is built without glue, chemicals or plastics. Sized so it can slot on the back of a standard medium-duty van, such as a Mercedes Sprinter or VW Crafter, it offers a different type of mobile home.

Attia Design was set up by Munich-based Spanish industrial designer Maruan Attia. To create the Cocoon-Freelancer, Attia teamed up with German company Schreinerei Weidlich, a specialist manufacturer capable of building sufficiently strong, stable and lightweight wooden walls for a truly mobile structure. Together, they undertook three years of development, with a prototype that travelled 9,000km across Europe’s varied climates.

Made entirely from Swiss pine, the structure was inspired by Alpine architecture and Japanese wooden construction. Attia claims that the chemical-free nature of the timber is due to it being harvested during the waning moon in winter, ‘when the sap flow is at rest and sugar content is lower, [which] ensures optimal durability and resistance to insects, mould, and deformation’. As a result, there’s no need for additional chemical preservation.

To create the ultimate mobile sanctuary for roaming freelancers and van lifers seeking something different from a converted panel van, the interior is a cabin-lover’s delight, with panelled walls, a seating area that transforms into a bed, as well as a gas-powered kitchen and even a Swiss-made Tiny Stove. In keeping with the sustainable ethos, the water system uses stainless steel pipes, not plastic, and there’s plenty of storage built in under the banquettes.

The wood structure is intended to age naturally, with clever joinery that avoids end grains and external screws or fixings, keeping the surface pristine and less prone to water damage or deformation. On the roof there’s an array of solar panels to help keep you off the grid.

Attia’s other projects include an e-bike charging station. ‘Design is more than creating objects; it’s about solving problems, experiences, inspiring change, and leaving a positive impact,’ he says. ‘My mission is to craft meaningful solutions that reflect our shared values and build a better future, beyond the common standards.’

Cocoon-Freelancer, more details at AttiaDesign.com and Weidlich-Schreinerei.de