Prefab cabins with a distinctly sustainable flavour
A Bento Kitchen (available in two configurations) with Studio Bed cubbies visible to the back wall.
Generous modular storage options and fixed inbuilt Kitchen module, maximise space.
A Japanese aesthetic has informed the minimalist design.
A built-in light fixture named ‘The Orb’ offers architectural interest and a warm ambience.
Large, sliding joinery provides ample natural light and airflow within the studio space.
A Queen-sized bed and mattress folds back into open and closed cubbies containing power outlets.
A basic Bento studio space. Floors are in 3mm feature-grade European Oak with Pureply Maple to walls.
A Bento studio space with Studio Bed wall unit module. The bottom-corner spaces of the wall unit contain easy-to-deploy seats.
A Bento studio space with Queen-size bed in place. Built in overhead lighting for reading is another considered architectural detail.
Dark-stained, chemical-free macrocarpa cladding helps the Bento cabin meld with any environment. A sun deck can be added after installation at the buyers cost/responsibility to increase useable living space.
The Bento cabins’ thoughtful design enables it to adapt to various uses and needs.
A low-profile stainless steel bench top with built in sink includes a drop-down or fixed breakfast bar counter, depending on the configuration.
The bathroom is tiled in quality Topcer Portuguese porcelain tiles in wet areas with a continuation of Pureply Maple plywood to all other wall surfaces.
Bathrooms feature a dry composting toilet. These are waterless, conserving precious water resources and keeping effluent and pollutants out of waterways.
A plan view of the Bento cabin with all three available modules.
A view from the left, showing the bathroom and large-sliders to the cabin’s front.
Looking through to the kitchen from the right-side entry.
View of the interior from the right-hand perspective.
A view of the front of the cabins showing the cubbies of the Studio Bed module and Kitchen positioning.
Founders of Bento, Tomek Piatek and sister Gosia Piatek.
Like a Japanese bento box, customers can pick and choose from three Bento cabin modules designed by Tomek Piatek and his sister, Kowtow founder Gosia Piatek. Combining Japanese design sensibilities with sustainability, their new range of modular, transportable cabins offers an innovative approach to prefab housing.
The pair started designing Bento cabins in early 2023. “The collaboration between my brother and I came about from our love of design and very similar taste and values on what creates a sustainable home,” says Gosia, who is behind the sustainable fashion brand Kowtow, which she founded in 2006. Her brother Tomek, an architectural designer and maker based in the Bay of Plenty, developed the concept after both recognised a gap in the New Zealand market.
“We both felt other options on the New Zealand market were of a low cost build and compromised on sustainability and quality.” After conducting market research and a cost analysis, they felt the numbers stacked up and started to envision the various ways people could utilise the cabins: “We are excited about the prospect of people setting up businesses with the cabins, buying multiple dwellings and setting up a hospitality business.”
Cabins starts with a 6.6 x 3.8m 18.38m2 base structure, with three core modules (Bathroom, Kitchen and Studio Bed) available as additions that can be configured using an online configuration tool that demonstrates the various floor plans available.
Prefabricated in their fully-enclosed Mount Maunganui premises, Bento cabins and modules meet Passivhaus standards, also prioritising conservation of water, and eliminating the use of fossil fuels — a conscious move from the designers — with sustainability being a “core focus” from day one, says the pair. Additionally, the designers have opted for premium Red-List Free materials to ensure cabins are free from harmful chemicals and are environmentally-sustainable.
The prefabricated nature of Bento cabins enables quick, easy installation. The pair points out, that the cabins are delivered preassembled as complete units and are set up on-site with minimal disruption, making them an ideal solution for locations with limited access. Each cabin is supported by a concrete-free, ground-screw foundation system, which is low-impact and easily removable.
“Each of our cabins is crafted with sustainability in mind,” says Tomek, “and they are constructed with Formance SIP panels, which provide superior thermal performance and significantly reduce operational carbon emissions.” The cabins also feature low-emission, formaldehyde-free Pureply maple wall linings and joinery, engineered-timber oak flooring, Topcer Portuguese porcelain tiles, and a waterless composting toilet, which conserves thousands of litres of water annually. “With zero reliance on fossil fuels and prepped for solar power integration, we’ve designed these cabins for a true-off grid modern living environment”.
Turnaround from consultation to installation takes approximately 14 weeks, with the process mapped out week-by-week on the Order Process page of the Bento website. A Bento base cabin starts at $99,000 and depending on the addition of optional modules — Bathroom ($30,000), Kitchen ($15,000) and studio bed ($10,000) — the cost for a single cabin can reach $154,000. As an added feature, a Profit Calculator allows one to calculate the estimated cost and return on investment.
The Profit Calculator and modular design of the cabins acknowleges a variety of applications and uses, with the pair pointing out they’re catering to a wide range of people — from someone looking to create a retreat in nature to somone looking to expand on their current living space. “Offering three modules and a variety of layouts and components, the buyer is able to select a module that suits their needs and budget,” says Gosia. “The cabins’ flexibility makes them suitable for various uses, including backyard extensions, holiday rentals and personal retreats.”
Tomek, an architecture graduate and self-proclaimed ‘minimalist’, says his focus is on designs that simplify life and reduce environmental impact, while Gosia, as the founder of Fairtrade organic-cotton brand Kowtow, brings her passion for sustainable materials and ethical production to the project.
Together, the pair is committed to promoting a lifestyle that is gentle on the planet while providing high-quality, comfortable living spaces.
Learn more on the Bento website.
