Our design supports designing for Integration, Resources, and Ecology.

The interior space is filled with the ebb and flow of natural light and playful shadows. Sunlight washes through the canopy of hemlock rafters. As light dances across the floor and walls a sense of time is traced, by season and by day, in this remote place of respite.

The materiality of this building is essential to its character. We sourced regionally harvested lumber to frame the roof, positively driving cost and carbon footprint. The lengths of harvested logs influenced the spans of the roof canopy and the orientation of the simple beam pattern shifts between the programmatic zones. Siding options were comparatively assessed for durability and to reduce maintenance cycles. The selected pallet of materials embraces raw textures and the natural weathering steel cladding visually darkens and recedes into the forrest with time.

The canopy of hemlock rafters is concealed from bird’s eye view by a vegetated roof, re-integrating native vegetation in the footprint of impact. The cantilevered structure respects the existing terrain; untouched boulders and native mosses thrive below. The cabin's piers were selectively located between trees preserving roots and preserving vegetation tight to the building's perimeter.

Our strides to be respectful of the site defined the types of utilities that would be available, including seasonal water. Although, for two winters now, the cabin has had the company of a full time resident - a writer who warms the space with the wood stove and collects water from a well sited near by. The concrete slab floor captures warmth from the wood burning stove on cool nights and holds a cozy temperature to the morning hours.

The Far Cabin

Category

Winner Status