It was during a hiking trip that Estonian brothers Andreas and Jaak Tiik came up with the idea for ÖÖD House, a small prefab home with serious design cred that can pop up practically anywhere. The idea was an instant success, and the houses can now be found around the world in various guises. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the pair came up with a new idea—a prefab office based on the ÖÖD House that could easily be shipped anywhere in the world.

The home office is designed to be easily installed on foundation screws, which don’t require digging or a concrete foundation.

"ÖÖD Home Office was created to address a practical need," says Kristi Kivilaid of ÖÖD House. "In today’s turbulent times, the general working culture has changed, and the need for separate office space is increasing every day. Many companies no longer see the need to rent big office spaces, and so people are working from home more than ever. This offers a workspace in your back garden, separate from your house, where you can concentrate and let ideas spring to life."

The team at ÖÖD House wanted to create an affordable and sleek home office that could be shipped worldwide. They can fit three offices into one 40-foot-long container.

The result is a simple 113-square-foot prefab that expands the company’s popular Mirror Glass collection to five different models. The best-known of these models is the ÖÖD Hotel, which has been used in hospitality businesses around the world. "The pure modern form of the ÖÖD Home Office already existed," says Kivilaid. "We just had to come up with the perfect size for a home office that would be easy to ship worldwide and simple to install."

The glass walls allow the home office to become completely immersed in its surroundings. "Thanks to the glass panels and panoramic views, you have all the space on the outside that you can see from the inside," says Kristi Kivilaid of ÖÖD House.

The office features a small timber bench attached to the wooden side wall. "It adds some fun, personality and surprise to a usually uniform area," says Kristi Kivilaid of ÖÖD House. "It’s a place to sit down for some fresh air or with a cup of tea and enjoy your garden."

The space can easily fit a desk—or even two desks if there is a couple working from home—and a small sofa. Shelves can be installed on the timber walls for storage. And, if the home office is no longer required, the structure can be used as a playhouse, yoga studio, or a small guest bedroom. "The materials are strong and durable, so the house will last a lifetime," says Kivilaid.

The office has two wooden walls—one at the rear and one at the side—and expansive, floor-to-ceiling glass mirror walls at the front and other side. "It’s designed for people who are looking for an original solution for the home office," says Kivilaid. "It’s minimalist from the inside to the exterior, and the pure form allows your ideas to be in focus while you work."

The glass panels reflect the office’s surroundings, reducing the visual impact of the built form and allowing it to effectively disappear into its setting.

Thanks to the reflective glass facade, the cabin seamlessly blends into its surroundings, making it suitable for use in both urban and rural environments. While most people will likely install the cabin in their backyard, a couple in Belgium are interested in installing one on the roof terrace of their home, and they are currently negotiating planning permission with the local council.

"We designed the ÖÖD Home Office to take its character from the environment in which it’s located," says Kivilaid. "Neighbors also love it, as it really melts into the environment. Plus, the glass facade allows you to keep an eye on children while you’re working."

The Home Office is an evolution of the earlier ÖÖD House, and it utilizes the same mirrored glass for its facade. 

Every element of the office’s design has been carefully considered. The floor-to-ceiling windows use mirrored glass, which reflects 97% of direct sunlight. This means a desk can be placed directly against the glass wall to take advantage of views and natural light, without introducing glare to computer screens.

The interior measures just 113 square feet. It’s designed so that a desk can be pushed directly up to the glass facade, allowing users to enjoy natural light and views.

The standard office costs €19,000 (about $22,114) plus transport costs, and it can be purchased directly from ÖÖD Home. The company also plans to offer it through Amazon in the near future, which will make procuring the prefab even easier for international buyers.

The home office can be shipped worldwide, and assembly is a snap—although an electrician will need to connect the office to the grid.

"The whole idea is to make house ownership and installation as easy as possible," says Kivilaid. "So, we kept it simple. Of course, if someone is interested in creating something custom, we can add furniture, lighting, or even create a bigger space. That’s the beauty of owning an ÖÖD Home Office—it’s simple to install and fun to use!"

The home office is enclosed on two sides by glass walls attached to a steel structure. The remaining two walls are clad in heat-treated wood.

Floor plan of ÖÖD Home Office by ÖÖD House

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Designer: ÖÖD House / @oodhouses

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