The Armadilla Story. In the words of Archie Hunter.
I started my working life managing farms, which taught me a great deal about both the beauty and the unpredictability of nature. Eventually, I branched out on my own and launched a garden materials business. It turned out to be quite successful, and one opportunity led to another: after delivering supplies to customers, they’d often ask if I could help design or landscape their gardens. So I said, “Why not?”—and suddenly, I found myself running a growing landscaping venture.
In all my designs, I avoided straight lines whenever I could. Nature itself rarely follows strict geometry, so I favoured flowing curves and shapes. This style proved popular, and word-of-mouth soon spread. Before long, neighbours of my clients were requesting the same unique look for their own gardens.
Then, about twenty years ago, a customer asked if I could build a garden shed. That simple question sparked a new idea: why not make a unit with the same organic curves I loved using in my garden designs? That was the first seed of inspiration for what would become our “Armadilla Pod.”
Fast-forward to 2010: by then, we had developed a small, stylish structure that reminded us of an armadillo’s curved back. The name “Armadillo” was already taken, so we tweaked it to Armadilla, which felt both memorable and distinctive. Around the same time, the world of glamping was really taking off, and our pods fit perfectly into that trend. We wanted to stand out as the highest-quality option, so we decided every unit would meet proper domestic house standards—proper insulation, ventilation, electrical systems, and safety features.
In the early days, we primarily sold to individual clients. We showcased at various garden events, and the business started rolling. Then Ross joined the team. We built our units at our premises in Rosewell, and with Ross’s engineering know-how, we began pushing our pods to new levels of sophistication. We added double glazing, heating, air conditioning, toilets, showers—everything you’d want in a comfortable, modern space.
Ross also created a smart “Pod control” system that managed features like temperature and lighting remotely. This technology set us apart, and we soon realised there was a bigger market out there for commercial-grade accommodation units. We brought in a hotel consultant who introduced us to major hotel groups. That opened the door to large-scale projects, including collaborations with big companies and even a venture with Jason Vale, the juicing guru with resorts in Portugal and Turkey.
During this period, we designed The Wave, inspired by the curling shape of a crashing surf. It was another unique structure that showcased our focus on blending style with function. But just as our hotel partnerships were growing, COVID hit. The hospitality industry took a massive blow, and our business struggled too. Eventually, we faced a tough decision to put the company into administration.
In a remarkable turn of events, barely two weeks after entering administration, the company was bought, and we found ourselves back in business—ready to innovate all over again.
The Wave
The Future
Looking ahead, we remain as passionate and forward-thinking as ever. We have a range of products (The Pod, The Wave and The Kurv) perfectly suited to the hotel sector and beyond, and our focus on quality, comfort, and originality continues to drive us. Through every twist and turn, we’ve stayed true to our philosophy of bringing nature’s gentle curves to life in new and exciting ways. And as we chart the road ahead, we look forward to sharing our vision—and our accommodation units—with anyone seeking a truly distinctive space to relax, work, and explore.