Nokken, a UK-based offsite cabin manufacturer that specialises in architecturally designed, flat-packed cross-laminated timber (CLT) units for retreat-focused tourism, has secured a major investment from Swiss private equity firm Limestone Capital. Under the terms of the deal, Limestone will acquire a 30 per cent stake in the business, providing capital and operational expertise to fuel Nokken’s international expansion across the UK, Europe, North America, and high-growth markets in Asia and Australasia.
Limestone Capital, which manages more than €1 billion in assets across lifestyle and hospitality platforms—including Aethos Hotels, Emerald Stay, Loisium Wine & Spa Hotels, and Voaara—is known for backing experience-driven real estate ventures. Wood Central understands its investment in Nokken reflects growing confidence in scalable, design-led hospitality models that prioritise sustainability and emotional connection to place.
“Nokken represents a unique intersection of beautiful design, functionality, and emotional resonance,” said Grazi Painelli, Managing Director and Head of Acquisitions at Limestone Capital. “They are redefining how we experience the natural world, and their scalable model aligns perfectly with our vision for the future of hospitality.”
Founded by designers Nathan Aylott and James Van Tromp, Nokken has gained recognition for its architecturally refined, environmentally conscious cabins. Each unit is built flat-pack using FSC-certified timber, with CLT forming the structural core and European Larch used for external cladding.
Designed for deployment in remote or sensitive environments, the cabins offer a low-impact alternative to traditional hotel infrastructure, enabling immersive stays in natural settings such as forests, coastlines, and mountain ranges. “This is a significant milestone in Nokken’s journey and confirmation of where we believe the hospitality market is heading,” said Aylott. “We are confident in the alignment this represents.”
Wood Central understands the investment will be used to establish strategic partnerships with landowners and operators, secure key supply chain components, and expand Nokken’s sales and marketing capacity. The funding is expected to help bring its modular retreat concept to a broader global audience, tapping into rising demand for nature-based, sustainable travel experiences.
“Limestone Capital is a great strategic alignment for Nokken,” said Craig McDonald, CEO of the Nokken Group. “The partnership allows us to focus on bringing our products to some of the best destinations in the world and ensuring end customers can experience nature in new, meaningful ways. Their hospitality expertise and operational excellence will be instrumental as we scale.”
More than just a cabin manufacturer, Nokken is pioneering a new category in retreat hospitality—offering an alternative to high-cost, urban-centric hotel developments. Its model, embraced by progressive brands such as Autocamp and Marriott’s Postcard Cabins, enables faster deployment, lower capital outlay, and deeper guest engagement. Through its cabins and wider services, Nokken empowers partners to create scalable hospitality experiences in forests, mountains, and coastlines—placing the company at the forefront of a movement redefining where and how people stay.
“We’ve always believed that great design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about impact,” said Van Tromp, Chief Product Officer. “This partnership gives us the platform to bring Nokken’s vision to a global stage, where architecture, nature, and emotion meet in powerful, purposeful ways.”
