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Contemporary Cabins in the Woods
See how 4 compact vacation homes take on new forms for the modern age
Houzz Contributor. I am an architect and writer living in New York City. I have Bachelor of Architecture and Master in Urban Planning degrees, and over ten years experience in architectural practice, split between Chicago and NYC. Currently I'm focused on writing and online pursuits. My daily blog can be found at http://archidose.blogspot.com
Houzz Contributor. I am an architect and writer living in New York City.... More »
The word "cabin" draws to mind a number of images and meanings, many of them stemming from Henry David Thoreau's stay at Walden Pond in Massachusetts. His two-year "life in the woods" was stripped to its essence and necessities (food, shelter, clothing and fuel), and to this day, cabins are associated with a roughing-it mentality, where time is spent in nature without modern conveniences.
Many contemporary buildings that adopt the cabin moniker certainly exist as a break from the city, allowing the owners to live reclusively and close with nature for a short period of time. But they also incorporate the modern conveniences that many people rely upon: electricity, running water, sanitary plumbing, heating/cooling, telecommunications. This points to the fact that roughing it is a relative term. The following cabins illustrate how these buildings are still compact and relatively simple abodes that relate to the natural context in particular ways.
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Many contemporary buildings that adopt the cabin moniker certainly exist as a break from the city, allowing the owners to live reclusively and close with nature for a short period of time. But they also incorporate the modern conveniences that many people rely upon: electricity, running water, sanitary plumbing, heating/cooling, telecommunications. This points to the fact that roughing it is a relative term. The following cabins illustrate how these buildings are still compact and relatively simple abodes that relate to the natural context in particular ways.
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| This cabin designed by DeForest Architects overlooks Lake Wenatchee in Washington State's Cascade Mountains. The cabin opens itself up to the stunning lake views by incorporating floor-to-ceiling glass. In this view we can see how the building is composed of two volumes that step down the hill and alternate the slopes of their roofs; this allows views to be had from either volume. |
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Inside, we can see the reason for the generous glazing as we glance the chilly waters visible through the trees and snow.
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From the approach the house presents itself as primarily closed, with a few small openings. The sloped roof makes it clear the architects considered the area's snowfall.
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| This cabin is also situated in upstate Washington, in Port Hadlock, northwest of Seattle. A lot of these cabins are found in that area, as getting into the outdoors is a favorite pastime, and the distance between city and country can be quite short. |
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| The cabin nestles itself against some trees and opens itself up toward the lake views; yes, this is a common tactic in cabins sites in such places. The cabin is low but it is propped up on footings above the landscape. |
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| The lifting of the one-story structure allows it to be higher than the landscape between it and the water, among other more practical reasons. The siting of the cabin clearly takes advantage of an opening in the trees. |
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| Designed by Seattle-based FINNE Architects, this next cabin is actually situated in the upper peninsula of Michigan state. The small vacation retreat is a simple box with corrugated metal siding, wood roof structure, and a stone chimney anchoring one end. Note the glass corner and the lake view. |
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From inside, similarities with the previous examples are evident: generous glazing, sloping roof, lots of wood. The last two tie these cabins to Thoreau's Walden Pond abode, but the last is definitely a late 20th-century insulated-glass phenomenon.
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Now we head back to the Seattle area — the San Juan Islands, to be precise. This project designed by Bosworth Hoedemaker is actually composed of various buildings: a main cabin, a writer's hut, and a picnic shelter among them. Here we see the main cabin nestled among the trees.
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A closer view of the main cabin reveals the outdoor porch that is a primary way of enjoying the distant water views. Full-height glass walls are eschewed in favor of something more traditional, with windows set in wood walls.
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The wraparound porch orients itself toward the water beyond the trees.
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The writer's hut is also nestled among the trees. Its form is simpler than the main cabin — gable versus hip roof — but the vocabulary of materials is similar.
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Even with small openings, relative to the previous examples, the connection with nature outside is strong.
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The picnic shelter is made of heavy timber and stone, but is otherwise open, sans walls.
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| This last project, the Yolo County Cabin in upstate California by Butler Armsden Architects, appears very un-cabin-like at first. Sited within a patch of trees on 400 acres of farmland, from a distance it looks like a lighthouse transplanted from elsewhere. |
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This tower is one of two volumes that comprise the cabin; it houses the master bedroom below the roof deck, and the lower piece contains the living area.
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| The architect describes this lower piece, with its generous porch, as "almost chicken coop-like." These two volumes may be at odds with each other in terms of orientation and materials, but they are culled from a similar vernacular, so the disjunction works. |
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| Like other examples in this ideabook, views are prized in this cabin, but they are of two types: in the living space, the distant views are filtered by the trees and other things in the foreground ... |
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| Up above the master bedroom, the views are expansive, allowing the owners to take in the entirety of the farmhouse property. Just like the lakefront cabins, this one strives to connect the owners with a their surrounding landscape, even though it's more "managed" than, say, a forest or lake. It goes to show that since the days of Thoreau the term "cabin" takes on many forms, and also that "nature" has many guises. More regional modern architecture: Boston | Chicago | NYC | NY Metro | Seattle | Oregon | No. Calif. | San Francisco |L.A. | Coastal L.A. |
Comments
vivace72 The rolling huts are worth taking a look at as well in WA...so many wonderful examples in the PNW especially!
17 months ago · Like
SURFACE DECOR FLOOR WAREHOUSE & DESIGN CENTER Absolutely incredible...what peace you could have. Exterior extraordinary and interior could use surfaceanddecor glass, stone and tile for kithen, bath, backsplash.
17 months ago · Like
John Hill vivace72 - Yes, I forgot we had those as part of the book review of the second monograph on Tom Kundig:
Ideabook: Books: Tom Kundig's Houses 2
Ideabook: Books: Tom Kundig's Houses 217 months ago · Like
CAROLE MEYER Wow.....these are so beautiful and peaceful looking....love the photo in the snow. I am now going to go get my cup of coffee, sit by the fireplace and daydream! Thanks!
17 months ago · Like
Kathryn Peltier Design These are beautiful - I am dreaming of a nap on that daybed in the Writer's Hut.
17 months ago · Like
Whitney F I've never heard Northern California referred to as "upstate" California - kind of liking it!
17 months ago · Like
docpoimen show me the per foot price for these scenes, and determine just how many people can actually afford this stuff. It is dreamy perhaps, but not realistic.
17 months ago · Like
John Hill Whitney - Did I write "upstate"? Wow, I guess living in NYC is rubbing off more than I anticipated!
17 months ago · Like
franki7 Oh, my, the next "project" facing us is a glass addition to our cabin...the photos are inspirational! franki
17 months ago · Like
Stefanov Dejan supeeeer
17 months ago · Like
dancingdeer the one in the san juans...it's the only one of the bunch that represents what a "cabin" should be like.
17 months ago · Like
judyvoelz San Juan Island Main Cabin....without a doubt.
17 months ago · Like
nicanderson I am a cottage lover. With 3 family cottages and one of my own, I love the lifestyle. It does not have to be fussy. I do love modern cottages with mid century design. I love the simplicity of it. I see more and more of these cottages being built in Ontario.
17 months ago · Like
Ideabook updated on Jan. 7, 2012.
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