Project Title: Loon Lake Retreat

Firm: Whitten Architects

Submitted for Consideration in: Architecture, Landscape, Interiors

Client:

Location: Lakes Region, New Hampshire

Project-At-a-Glance:
“We gave them a book about the wabi-sabi aesthetic, and they ran with it.” (-Client).

Like a fresh-cut log, this small, contemporary cabin nestled in the woods along a quiet lake front in New Hampshire features a dark, timber exterior, punctured and lined with warm, amber accents throughout.

Project Narrative:

Our clients have deep roots in this small town in New Hampshire situated between the Lakes Region and the White Mountains. They imagined a home that expressed enduring ties to this place, while reflecting a breadth of ideas learned abroad.

The property is a peaceful lakefront plot featuring tall pines and hemlocks. An initial challenge in gathering understanding and inspiration was the existing dilapidated cabin that occupied the site. The sprawling structure presented a psychological challenge to imagining a fresh natural site and potential architectural intervention. We determined that the new house footprint, being smaller, would sit inside the existing cabin footprint to maximize views down the lake and receive winter sunlight while minimizing site impact. A screened porch, situated on piers, could be nestled in the woods with minimal impact to the earth and surrounding trees. The porch appears like a lantern in the woods from the house and offers another point of view to the site.

The 1,500 square foot T‑shape plan implies two courtyards — extending the domestic zone of the home into the landscape. Granite boulders, emerging between hardscape, express the splice of the architectural intervention with nature. The entry courtyard lies to the north and the south courtyard gestures toward the fire pit and lake. The living space, housed in the vertical leg of the T, opens with glass sliding doors and a corner window to the lake. The horizontal leg of the T contains the bedrooms and bathrooms. The master bedroom opens to a private patio with an outdoor shower facing the lake. 

The house is clad, like a cut log with dark bark and amber wood.  The  dark siding is Western red cedar stained black. The amber siding undercover, along the entrance axis, is Douglas fir with a natural oil finish.