In The Summer Refuge series, curated by Archt. for Archisearch, summer is not a sliver of time but a state of being. Rooted in nature, rural landscapes, vernacular architecture, and closely connected to notions such as “disconnection,” “slow living,” and Martin Heidegger’s “Dasein,” namely the art of being present in the world, the series focuses on seasonal houses that shelter time, memory, and dreams.
In the ninth episode, we follow Kosmos Architects as they reimagine shelter with the futuristic Tin Can Castle, an impromptu refuge responding sustainably to the need for immediate, unexpected housing. Located in north-east Georgia’s Kakheti region, where vineyards, monasteries, and wild nature coexist, Tin Can Castle is a metallic-skinned artefact, a one-of-a-kind temporary shelter, and a flexible architectural system.
Architecture works best when it is playful, versatile, spontaneous. In collaboration with Château Chapiteau, an international nomadic community developing co-living spaces in Georgia, Kosmos Architects created Tin Can Castle as a modular unit with a distinctive character, custom-designed and constructed to fit the collective’s ‘magical kingdom,’ envisioned to grow over time into small cluster settlements.
With an affordable estimated cost of €6,800 per unit, the project is imagined to host art residencies and children’s camps, gradually transforming the site into a hub for cultural and social exchange.
“We believe that falling back into childhood is wonderful—especially if you have ever fallen out of it,” the team behind Château Chapiteau says, affirming that good architecture responds simultaneously to our inner needs, desires, and fantasies.
Designed for a utopian yet tangible magical world, Tin Can Castle is a truly sustainable, down-to-earth construction.
Built from found materials collected within a two-kilometer radius of the site and inspired by local DIY constructions, this metal-skinned castle is a small, self-contained unit that can be assembled with minimal tools and straightforward building techniques.
Reused tires form the foundations, reinforced with river boulders for added stability against wind loads, while a simple timber frame supports a lightweight corrugated metal envelope punctuated by a distinctive lozenge-shaped window. A large square opening and a smaller rectangular one flood the interior with natural light while maintaining a strong visual connection to the surrounding landscape.
By relying on locally available and repurposed materials, the building can be erected quickly, keeping both environmental impact and costs low.
Experimental yet grounded, futuristic yet present, at once universal and local, autonomous and expandable, Tin Can Castle is an unexpected yet essential refuge, offering protection for wanderers and dreamers—a safe haven for those who drift. 
Facts & Credits
Project title Tin Can Castle
Typology The Summer Refuge, Featured
Episode 9th
Location Kakheti, Georgia
Status Completed, 2023
Built Area 20m2
Client Château Chapiteau
Architecture Kosmos Architects
Photography Château Chapiteau