Set in the heart of Joshua Tree National Park, California, the Folly cabins are a pair of off-grid, rusted barns which have been turned into a holiday home – which you can rent now for a stay. Built in 1954 the cabins have been redesigned by Malek Alqadi, the founder of Los Angeles-based firm Cohesion Studio, with the aim to explore an integration of pragmatic and contextual relevancy.
Upon arrival, Folly sets the tone to disconnect from the norm, the expected and provokes you to connect with the surroundings. “It’s about allowing people to experience sustainability,” explains Alqadi. “I added amenities and technologies, like Wi-Fi, to stay connected, but you have the option to completely disconnect and enjoy nature.”
A stargazing bedroom with no ceiling, showers with exposed and expansive views and an energy producing solar tree is the exploitation of nature through a respectful approach. Utilizing today’s Technology allows the guests to monitor energy consumption and solar production, controlled secured entry, lighting settings, solar powered skylights and set cooling and heating temperatures to the space. This interactivity establishes a reference to what off-grid living is like through automated creature comforts that ‘break the ice’ to an off-grid lifestyle without compromising the surrounding environment or guest expectations.
Folly is a prototype that is currently expanding into Folly Farm In The Hampton’s and Folly Mojave in Southern California. Both off-grid destinations will allow for inclusive experiences such as work retreats, social groups, or intimate events. Utilizing architecture as a medium, this collection of work will provide moments of disconnect in which guests can experience a creative escape to engage with fellow explorers or simply relax with alone time.
The Folly cabins are available to rent on Airbnb for $295 USD (€253) a night for an unforgettable experience in the smack dab center of the desert.
