Inside the igloo-style cabins popping up everywhere from Tallinn to Tralee

David Beckham and Gordon Ramsay were early Iglucraft owners. Home Editor Eve Kelliher finds out all about these curvaceous cabins

Iglucraft

Forget about tiny-house envy, tiny-towel-and-tattoos chic first fanned the flames of our fascination for Iglucraft. When David Beckham posted a snap of himself on Instagram, relaxing in his Estonian-designed home sauna, the sleek retreat radiated surefire “hot property” energy.

Beckham’s pal Gordon Ramsay followed suit a year later, snapping up one of the company’s modular family cabins in 2019.

Fast-forward to this summer, and as the boundary between indoors and out evaporates, we’re all dreaming of the ideal garden escape. More sanctuary than shed, preferably.

Twelve years ago, Priit Kallas had this precise idea. “I had a vision to create a handcrafted wooden sauna unlike anything else available on the market at the time,” says the Iglucraft founder.

The result? Sculptural wooden cabins, saunas and bespoke builds (think home offices, gyms, music studios or nooks to reflect in nature) that feel as considered as any interior scheme.

Priit built his first cabins and saunas in a village in his native Estonia, informed by the country’s vernacular architecture. The wood-framed modular Igluhuts are clad with layers of spruce shingles. “I started Iglucraft with the aim of revitalising and modernising traditional wood-framed, shingle-clad structures,” he says.

The company grew, and in 2019, Iglucraft developed a resort in Denmark.

The distinctive rounded shape became a defining part of the structures’ identity. But while they may blend into their surrounding landscapes, the dinky dwellings immediately stood out to celebrities, tiny-house buyers, and world-leading hospitality providers. The aforesaid David Beckham and Gordon Ramsay were quick to place orders, and Guy Ritchie is reported to own an Iglucraft too.

 

Meanwhile, the company has worked with the Four Season family hotel in Pfarrwerfen, Austria, and more recently and closer to home, Ballygarry Estate Hotel in Tralee, Co Kerry, and Mount Congreve Gardens, Co Waterford.

Where traditional garden rooms often prioritise function, Iglucraft leans into atmosphere, says Priit. “Step inside, and the tone shifts. Interiors are pared back yet tactile, with warm timber, softened light and a sense of enclosure that encourages stillness,” he says.

Priit himself owns several Iglusaunas, which he and his family use regularly throughout the year “as places to relax, recharge, and spend quality time together”, he says.

We might not all want to sweat it like Beckham by choosing a sauna, and that’s just fine — the core brand essence is “take time”, adds Priit: “It is an invitation to slow down, reconnect with nature, and create meaningful moments away from the rush of everyday life”.

As for orders from Ireland, business is brisk, confirms Priit. “We’ve seen particularly strong uptake for both saunas and cabins in Ireland compared to many other markets,” he says.

“There’s a natural cultural alignment around outdoor living, wellbeing, and creating spaces that feel connected to nature, which has made the response especially positive.

“Ireland’s relationship with landscape, weather and ritual feels very familiar to us.

“At Iglucraft, we build spaces that invite people to pause, gather, and experience nature more consciously, an approach that naturally aligns with sustainable living.”

Has the team noticed any purchase preferences unique to buyers of the tiny-home spaces destined for these shores? “What stands out in Ireland is that interest often goes beyond the product itself; people connect with the atmosphere and lifestyle our spaces represent,” he says.

“There’s a strong appreciation for craftsmanship, warmth, and places designed for gathering, slowing down and spending meaningful time together, which fits very closely with the Iglucraft philosophy.”

While there hasn’t been a significant surge in demand from Ireland directly linked to the Government’s proposal to exempt free-standing modular homes in back gardens from planning permission, interest in Ireland had already been consistently strong, he says — “particularly for saunas and cabins, driven more by lifestyle trends, wellbeing, and the desire to create meaningful spaces connected to nature. 

"That said, any regulatory developments that make high-quality modular living or retreat spaces more accessible are naturally positive for the category overall.”

The arched roofs and shingle cladding enhance the fairytale “escape” feel. “We’re especially pleased to have delivered several units to well-known destinations such as Ballygarry Estate Hotel and Mount Congreve Gardens, which reflects the strong appreciation in Ireland for high-quality hospitality experiences connected to nature and wellbeing,” says Priit.

Iglucraft cabins and saunas are delivered fully assembled. Each structure is handcrafted shingle by shingle and integrates all fixtures and furniture. Each product is designed to fit on a standard truck or in a container.

A new addition this summer is the Iglubar. Handmade from sustainably sourced timber and finished in the brand’s signature curved silhouette, the sculptural outdoor bar transforms the traditional garden drinks station into something far more architectural; part entertaining hub, part design statement.

Handcrafted from natural timber shingles and shaped in the brand’s signature curved silhouette, it is designed to feel less like a garden addition and more like a private members’ club.

Iglucraft huts/cabins are priced from €29,158 upwards (prices exclude VAT, delivery, and installation); see Iglucraft.com/en.

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