London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

An Off-Grid Artist’s Retreat Pops Up on an Island Near Ireland

An Off-Grid Artist’s Retreat Pops Up on an Island Near Ireland

Dubbed Studio Drop, the tiny green cabin offers refuge for creatives seeking isolation.

On a small island off the west coast of Galway, Ireland, sits one of the latest projects completed by designer Jordan Ralph. The simple, cylindrical cabin-known as Studio Drop-was created for a program commissioned by the European Capital of Culture to provide off-grid studios for creatives.



Perched cliffside on the island of Inis Oírr-the smallest of the Aran Islands-the tiny one-room retreat launched on June 21-the summer solstice-and it will offer residencies for artists through August 2021.

"The core concept for Studio Drop was to design and create a deployable piece of microarchitecture that would land on Inis Oírr and serve as a space for artists to participate in residencies for a week or two in relative isolation," Ralph said in a previous interview.



While designing the structure, Ralph sought inspiration from common sights along Ireland’s coastal landscape-including martello towers, beehive huts, and lighthouses. He even reworked his design to incorporate traditional craft techniques after meeting with nearby boatbuilders and craftsmen. "We wanted to design an original piece that felt both contemporary and simultaneously indigenous to the land and people of Inis Oírr."



The cabin's small, cylindrical form is also designed to accommodate harsh weather conditions. According to Ralph, "cylindrical forms are ideal for the gale-force storms that frequent the Irish west coastline, and force the wind to break around them rather than push them over."



The seaweed-green exterior is outfitted with vertical larch planks. The minimalist interior is spare save for a wraparound bench and a picture window overlooking the sea. "The window allows a gentle light into the space, which really gives the resident artist a sense of connection to the time of day and weather outside." The space also features a hammock-style daybed, created from salvaged trawler net, and an outdoor cooking and seating area.



The project is part of the Drop Everything for Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture initiative, which was extended into 2021 due to COVID-19. "Visual artists, writers, illustrators, musicians, and photographers are all invited to participate in week-long residences on the island," states Drop Everything founder Mary Nally. "The hope is that the rest-and-work space, powered by nature, can easily up and move to different locations."


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×