London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Aug 22, 2025

A Corrugated Steel Prefab in Australia Throws a Curve

A Corrugated Steel Prefab in Australia Throws a Curve

Transported in a single shipping container and raised in two weeks, this clam-shaped cabin nestles against a rocky outcrop outside Sydney.

The idea of a prefabricated cabin, with components light enough to carry and assemble without heavy machinery, had long had a siren call for owner and architect Mark Fullagar. After many nights sketching and dreaming of the perfect solution, Fullagar came up with the Fabshack-a 540-square-foot cabin with 90 percent of its structure built off-site.



Architect Mark Fullgar chose corrugated steel, aluminum window frames, and strengthened glass-cost-effective, non-combustible materials, given the cabin’s location in a rural fire zone.



Fabshack is designed to be adaptive to many different site configurations. In this instance, it nestles into a rock outcropping on the architect’s property northwest of Sydney.

Designed and built by Fullagar, the compact, comfortable cabin has a queen-size Murphy bed, seating area, storage, open kitchen and dining room, bathroom, laundry room, and deck from which to enjoy mountain views on his 26-acre property in Cattai, a suburb of Sydney, Australia.



A north-facing veranda includes an outdoor seating area adjacent to a stone fire pit.

The cabin is constructed of cost-effective, non-combustible materials in 8-foot-wide bays. Each bay consists of hollow-insulated plywood panels nestled within a steel frame, elevated on piers that lift the structure above the ground. Insulated plywood forms the continuous ceiling and curved wall of the cabin, creating a soft interior while facilitating necessary rainwater drainage on the outside.



The kitchen is fully equipped with appliances and storage, and accommodates a small table.



A green linoleum countertop and black cabinets add a pop of color to the wood interiors. Open shelving provides additional storage.



A recessed light extends along the length of the cabin, from the kitchen through to the living room.

Corrugated steel, aluminum window frames, and strengthened glass create an industrial exterior. By contrast, the plywood-wrapped interior adds warmth and texture to complement the natural setting. Green linoleum countertops and black millwork enliven the muted palette. Large windows face west to take in the mountain views, with sliding shutters that protect against the afternoon sun.



Large windows face west, providing uninterrupted views of the valley below and mountains beyond. Sliding exterior shutters and low-E glazing protect the interior from afternoon sun.



A queen-size Murphy bed folds down from this interior wall, transforming open living space into a bedroom.



Wardrobe storage flanks either side of the built-in bed.

Ninety percent of the work was completed in a workshop, meaning minimal labor time was spent on site. All components were packed in one shipping container, and each component was carried by one or two people to the site.



The shower is built into the curve of the structure, maximizing the unique space.



Green linoleum countertops and black cabinets reappear in the bathroom. A south-facing window draws in plenty of natural light. Even the cabinetry and plumbing fixtures were built in the workshop.



Clerestory windows draw in additional daylight while still providing privacy.

The Fabshack demonstrates the flexibility and adaptability of prefab construction. Since the cabin is comprised of modular bays, it can be modified for different purposes or sites, its components easily dismantled and recycled, and its materials upgraded depending on preferences and budget.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
After 200,000 Orders in 2 Minutes: Xiaomi Accelerates Marketing in Europe
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
Trump Called Viktor Orbán: "Why Are You Using the Veto"
Horror in the Skies: Plane Engine Exploded, Passengers Sent Farewell Messages
MSNBC Rebrands as MS NOW Amid Comcast’s Cable Spin-Off
AI in Policing: Draft One Helps Speed Up Reports but Raises Legal and Ethical Concerns
Shame in Norway: Crown Princess’s Son Accused of Four Rapes
Apple Begins Simultaneous iPhone 17 Production in India and China
A Robot to Give Birth: The Chinese Announcement That Shakes the World
Finnish MP Dies by Suicide in Parliament Building
Outrage in the Tennis World After Jannik Sinner’s Withdrawal Storm
William and Kate Are Moving House – and the New Neighbors Were Evicted
Class Action Lawsuit Against Volkswagen: Steering Wheel Switches Cause Accidents
Taylor Swift on the Way to the Super Bowl? All the Clues Stirring Up Fans
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Apple Expands Social Media Presence in China With RedNote Account Ahead of iPhone 17 Launch
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Cambridge Dictionary Adds 'Skibidi,' 'Delulu,' and 'Tradwife' Amid Surge of Online Slang
Bill Barr Testifies No Evidence Implicated Trump in Epstein Case; DOJ Set to Release Records
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
The CEO Who Replaced 80% of Employees for the AI Revolution: "I Would Do It Again"
Emails Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Character.ai Bets on Future of AI Companionship
China Ramps Up Tax Crackdown on Overseas Investments
Japanese Office Furniture Maker Expands into Bomb Shelter Market
Intel Shares Surge on Possible U.S. Government Investment
Hurricane Erin Threatens U.S. East Coast with Dangerous Surf
EU Blocks Trade Statement Over Digital Rule Dispute
EU Sends Record Aid as Spain Battles Wildfires
JPMorgan Plans New Canary Wharf Tower
Zelenskyy and his allies say they will press Trump on security guarantees
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
Escalating Clashes in Serbia as Anti-Government Protests Spread Nationwide
The Drought in Britain and the Strange Request from the Government to Delete Old Emails
Category 5 Hurricane in the Caribbean: 'Catastrophic Storm' with Winds of 255 km/h
"No, Thanks": The Mathematical Genius Who Turned Down 1.5 Billion Dollars from Zuckerberg
The surprising hero, the ugly incident, and the criticism despite victory: "Liverpool’s defense exposed in full"
Digital Humans Move Beyond Sci-Fi: From Virtual DJs to AI Customer Agents
YouTube will start using AI to guess your age. If it’s wrong, you’ll have to prove it
×