‘The cabin that came first’

A conversation with Allan Niblo.

We’re delighted to share a conversation with Allan Niblo, the first Koto cabin owner at Fritton Lake.

Since launching our partnership with Fritton in 2021, the site has grown to include 20 Koto cabins, each set quietly within the woodland and along the water’s edge. Allan’s came first, marking the beginning of Koto at the thousand-acre rewilding site in Norfolk.

As a film producer and director, Allan has spent his career bringing distinctive stories to screen, from Human Traffic to Bronson and Monsters. His work has helped shape the early paths of talent, including Tom Hardy.

More recently, he's been working on something quite different. His latest project, Critterz, developed in collaboration with OpenAI, launches at Cannes Film Festival next month.

Here, Allan reflects on his work, and on what brought him to a Koto cabin at Fritton Lake.

Storytelling.

“I help bring stories into the world. Finding them, shaping them, supporting the people behind them, and guiding them towards an audience. It’s creative, practical, and requires patience. You hold onto something fragile long enough for it to take form.”

“What drew me in was the idea of shared experience. Sitting in a room with strangers and feeling something together. When it works, there is still a sense of wonder in that.”

Earlier in his career, everything felt more urgent.

“Now I think more about timing. When to move, when to pause. Some things need space.”

“My favourite moments come from seeing others thrive through the work.”

“Clarity, generosity, resilience. People who listen, adapt, and stay steady.”

More recently, his focus has turned to a new project.

“We’ve been working with OpenAI for the past two years on Critterz. We’re taking it to Cannes next month. It feels like a new chapter.”

“There’s a shift happening. A mix of resistance and curiosity.”

At Fritton Lake.

“What I look for now is simple. Space, both mental and physical. Time without interruption, and an environment that allows ideas to develop naturally.”

“It offers a kind of stillness that’s quite hard to find. It allows you to step back, which is often when ideas become clearer.”

Having previously owned a farmhouse in Norfolk, he was drawn to a place that offered that same sense of escape, without feeling abandoned when not in use.

“There’s nowhere else like it. It’s a very, very unique proposition.”

The Koto cabin.

“It’s somewhere I can properly switch off, but also somewhere I can think clearly about work without distraction. The design is quiet and thoughtful. It doesn’t try too hard, but everything feels intentional.”

“The light changes throughout the day and makes the space feel alive without being overwhelming. The materials help too, it feels grounded and natural.”

Fritton Lake Open Day.

Saturday 25 April | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

This Saturday, the gates at Fritton Lake open for a closer look at the club and its surroundings.

If you’re considering a Koto at Fritton Lake, this is the best way to experience it first-hand.

Join the team for a guided visit through the grounds, with time to walk the cabins, see the spaces, and get a feel for the place in person.

Visits are by appointment, with a limited number of spaces available. Register your interest below.

Contact.

Ready to start your Koto project? Let’s start the conversation here.

Credits.

Architecture - Koto
Interior Design - Koto Living
Photography - Edvinas Bruzas + The Modern House

About Koto.

Modular Architecture - Driven by Nature.

Koto is an architecture and design studio. Founded in 2017 and RIBA-Chartered, we design cabins, wellness spaces, hospitality destinations and private homes — each one shaped by the landscape it stands in, the brand it belongs to, and the people who will stay there. Our work spans bespoke commissions, including the three Michelin-starred Moor Hall Hotel in Lancashire, through to ready-to-order homes and mobile hospitality suites.

“The future of Grand Designs... It’s the future of self-build.”

— Kevin McCloud