Catsfield Cabin

Catsfield Cabin – Outdoor Kitchen & Landscape Regeneration
Location: Catsfield, Sussex
Budget: £50,000
Timeline: 6 Weeks
Scope: Full landscape reshaping and bespoke outdoor cabin design & build
Crafted Landscapes were commissioned to transform an overgrown, steeply contoured parcel of land into a practical, welcoming, and ecologically sensitive outdoor retreat. The project site lay within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, demanding a design approach that was both bold and respectful of its surrounding Sussex countryside.
Brief & Design Vision
The client’s vision was to create a safe and natural route through the landscape leading up to a wild garden, with an emphasis on keeping the space green, native, and useable. In addition to enhancing biodiversity with new tree planting and wildflower meadows, the brief called for a flexible outdoor living space—somewhere to cook, dine, and relax with friends under the stars. The design was to reflect a rustic, countryside charm while remaining understated and authentic.
Design Execution
Crafted Landscapes adopted a minimalist and regionally sensitive material palette, using locally sourced Chestnut and Oak to construct the main structural elements of the outdoor cabin. The semi-open structure was designed to evolve across its form: starting with exposed roof beams, transitioning into slatted timber cladding reminiscent of Venetian screening, and finishing in a fully weatherproofed rear. This transition allows for natural dappled light and shadow play while maintaining comfort and shelter.
Custom Features & Detailing
Staying true to our ethos of bespoke craftsmanship, the Catsfield Cabin includes several unique, site-specific details:

• Solid Oak worktop with live-edge finish, custom-milled from a single slab sourced at a local sawmill

• Upcycled vintage cabinet integrated for storing herbs and spices

• Galvanised retro wall lights provide warm, ambient lighting and a refined industrial touch

• Handmade open shelving and timber countertops bring both utility and charm to the kitchen area

Landscape Reshaping & Biodiversity Enhancements
The surrounding terrain was reshaped with organic mounding and soft-contour banking, allowing the new path to curve gently up through the garden. These new forms blur the boundary between structure and nature, softening the cabin’s edges into the wider environment. Native trees, hedging, wildflowers, and fruit trees were introduced to encourage pollinators and provide seasonal interest. The clients have since added a wild pond, further supporting local biodiversity.
Outcome:
The result is a rustic yet refined retreat that balances architectural character with ecological sensitivity. A space deeply rooted in its landscape, made for gathering, cooking, and reconnecting with the rhythms of the natural world.