Five playful and functional pavilions from Cabin Fever 2025
A chicken-shaped observation deck and a geometric classroom were among the playful installations on show at Cabin Fever 2025 in the Czech Republic.
Organised by Hungarian architecture studio Hello Wood in collaboration with window company Velux, Cabin Fever 2025 comprises an annual festival and international architecture summer school held in the town of Česká Kamenice.
Taking place from 23 to 31 July on the site of a former textile factory and wartime labour camp, this year's edition saw a series of whimsical, yet functional cabins designed to offer communal shelters under the theme Quality Time – Connection to Each Other.
The festival was established by Hello Wood to bring both students and architects together to create "socially engaged, sustainable projects through a design-build approach", in line with its own community-focused approach.
"The 2025 edition, powered by Velux, explored how light and space shape human experience – placing presence, intimacy, and connection at the centre of architecture," the studio said.
"This dialogue with Velux reflects a shared conviction: that the future of building lies in responsibility – in creating spaces with care, with awareness, and with light – offering meaningful alternatives in an overstimulated world," it added.
Read on for a look at the festival's playful installations:
The Chicken by Mjölk Architekti
Functioning as both a shelter and observation deck, The Chicken pavilion was imagined by designer Mjölk Architekti to "reflect the life" of a chicken.
Beyond the cabin's straw-covered exterior, which doubles as a habitat for insects and birds, its interior contains a place of rest for visitors, from which protruding red windows offer outward views.
"Its whimsical form is a reminder that design is not only about straight lines – it can also bring joy, curiosity, and a deeper connection to the world around us," the event said.
Živa by Arthur Mamou-Mani
A raised geometric form encloses the Živa pavilion created by designer Arthur Mamou-Mani as a pod where "nature and learning meet".
According to Cabin Fever, its "intricate geometric form mirrors the balance and harmony found in the wild, while its mossy surroundings invite quiet reflection."
Set on a backdrop of forestry, the shelter serves as an intimate classroom space intended to offer a collaborative environment for its visitors.
Loom by Zak Underwood
Architect Zak Underwood drew on the site's textile heritage for his design of the Loom installation, which was adorned with yellow-coloured fabrics.
Sat atop a raised platform, the structure creates a sheltered seating area, which is framed by timber columns and beams designed as a reinterpretation of "the mechanics of a loom".
"Set on the grounds of a former factory, Loom becomes both shelter and symbol – a tactile reminder of craft, memory, and transformation," Cabin Fever said.
The Splinter by Entropic
An angular form and red-coloured finish define this cabin, which was designed by design studio Entropic for the festival.
"This sheltered retreat balances solitude and connection, ruggedness and comfort, offering a place to unwind, share stories, and truly connect with both nature," the organisers said.
At its front, wooden blocks serve as steps up to a raised doorway, beyond which the cabin offers a "warm and inviting" sheltered space lit by irregularly-placed square windows.
Eclosion by Dorottya Kiss and Matthew McArthur
A network of wooden pieces comprised this angular pavilion, which was designed by Dorottya Kiss and Matthew McArthur.
Intricate and woven elements of the installation draw on the site's history of textile craft, manufacturing and the cocoon of a spider.
"While you visit this site, you are constantly being woven through the fabric of space and time: you become part of the ever-changing fabric of the site," the event said.
The photography is by BoysPlayNice.
Cabin Fever 2025 took place from 23 to 31 July 2025 at Česká Kamenice, Czech Republic. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.
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