Nokken's Softshell Suite adds a bathroom, kitchenette and mezzanine bedroom to its modular hospitality concept, taking outdoor living to a new level.

Nokken has launched the semi-permanent Softshell Suite, a new self-contained module designed to help hospitality operators offer longer, more comfortable stays in outdoor settings.

Building on the original Softshell structure, which the company developed with Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) in 2024, the Softshell Suite transforms the modular unit into a fully serviced guest room. While the original version was aimed at off-grid stays, the new model is intended for operators with existing utilities such as plumbing and electricity who want to add higher-specification accommodation without permanent construction.

The Suite is installed inside the standard Softshell frame and includes a kitchenette with dining area, a fully fitted en suite bathroom and a mezzanine bedroom. It retains the original structure's lightweight design, requiring no permanent foundations and allowing assembly by three people in around one day.

Nathan Aylott, co-founder of Nokken, says: "A soft structure doesn't mean it can't have a hospitality-grade bathroom. The Suite is our answer. It opens up the full spectrum of what a retreat can be, from a low-key night in nature to a fully serviced stay outdoors."

According to the company, the new product responds directly to feedback from hospitality operators, many of whom wanted to replicate the bathrooms featured in Nokken's cabin range within the Softshell concept. By adding private facilities and a kitchen, Nokken believes operators can encourage guests to stay for longer and increase occupancy outside peak travel periods.

The company says its own Field Report research identified growing demand for accommodation that combines outdoor experiences with the comforts of a hotel room, allowing operators to generate more repeat bookings and reduce their reliance on seasonal demand.

Designed as a modular product, the Softshell Suite allows operators to add units gradually rather than investing in permanent buildings. Three Suite modules can be transported in a standard shipping container, while production takes around eight weeks before installation.

Nokken also points to wider changes in the hospitality market. Its Hospitality Trends 2026 research suggests demand for outdoor accommodation is growing 2.5 times faster than the wider hotel sector, while its Future of Travel research identifies increasing interest in "coolcations" and "calmcations", with travellers choosing quieter destinations and travelling outside the traditional summer season.

To support year-round operations, the Softshell Suite has been engineered for all-season use, with retrofittable insulation for colder climates due to become available from autumn 2026. This allows operators to extend trading into winter rather than limiting use to warmer months.

The structure has also been designed for sites where permanent development may not be possible. Built using FSC-certified timber and canvas manufactured to ISO 14001 environmental standards, the Softshell requires no permanent foundations and can be removed with minimal impact on the landscape.

"The original Softshell was Nokken getting started," says Aylott. "The Suite represents our commitment to innovation and building solutions that keep pace with what operators and guests now expect."

The Softshell Suite is available to order now. Pricing starts from €46,800 for the Suite module, which must be installed inside the existing Softshell base structure. The base unit is sold separately from €21,500. The accommodation sleeps two or more guests within an internal area of approximately 16.5 sqm.