Mobile Hen House

Developed in 2023 as part of the Misterioso Objeto residency program organized by ACME Estudio with the support of the Spanish Ministry of Culture, the Mobile Hen House is a functional intervention that addresses the dialogue between contemporary design and livestock tradition. Commissioned for CREA, a rural cultural initiative, the studio approached the project not merely as a piece of animal housing, but as a "Wild Object" that explores the concept of nomadic infrastructure within a landscape.

The conceptual core of the project lies in the recontextualization of mobility. Building on the studio’s previous explorations—such as the Rock & Roll slate skateboard or the Napalm Boat—the design team sought to apply the logic of movement to a static rural typology. By making the hen house mobile, the studio transforms it into a tool for regenerative land management, allowing the "living components" (the hens) to move across different plots, fertilizing the soil and managing vegetation in a controlled, rhythmic cycle. This approach highlights the studio’s commitment to design that serves biological and ecological metabolisms.

Technically, the Mobile Hen House is a masterclass in structural honesty and material efficiency. The design team utilized a lightweight yet robust framework, combining industrial metal profiles with weather-resistant timber cladding. The structure is mounted on a salvaged chassis, ensuring that it can be easily transported by hand or towed across uneven terrain. Every feature—from the ergonomic nesting boxes to the integrated ventilation and security systems—was designed to prioritize the welfare of the animals while maintaining the studio's signature "bastard" aesthetic, where technical hardware remains visible and functional.

As a significant research milestone, the project demonstrates the studio’s ability to operate outside the traditional domestic sphere. By designing for a rural context through the lens of urban extraction and industrial logic, the team proves that the "Misterioso Objeto" (Mysterious Object) can be a highly practical and sustainable solution to modern agricultural challenges. The Mobile Hen House stands as a testament to the studio’s belief that design should not only inhabit spaces but actively participate in the life and health of the environments it occupies.