Located on the traditional lands of the Kabi Kabi and Jinibara peoples, Donnington Ridge is an off-grid cabin in the Sunshine Coast hinterland exploring restraint, resourcefulness and living with less.

An existing structure, no larger than a double garage, has been transformed into sleeping quarters for a family of four. New openings frame the landscape, while charred timber, plywood linings and reclaimed materials elevate a utilitarian building into a warm retreat.

The family escape of architect Rebecca Caldwell of Maytree Studios, the cabin sits within 16 acres of koala-protected bushland. It is not a finished project, but an ongoing exercise in placemaking and a lifetime commitment to caring for the site: removing weeds, nurturing habitat and creating spaces for others to slow down and reconnect, with a campfire, an outdoor bath, a book, wine in the sun and uninterrupted time together.

Solar power, rainwater harvesting, passive design and sustainably sourced materials support a light footprint. Somewhere between camping and a conventional home, Donnington Ridge reflects ideas central to Antml Studios: using fewer resources to achieve more, finding the floor area that is just right, and creating spaces that feel calm, grounded and deeply connected to place.