This vacation cabin on a working cattle ranch in a remote corner of Northeastern California serves a group of families with diverse needs and tastes. Located in an agricultural valley, alongside a spring creek known for its world-class flyfishing, the cabin is constrained by a strict budget that makes economy essential.

The design plays with scale, employing a low roof that addresses the intimacy of the wooded site at the cabin entry, which slopes upwards to frame the expansive view of the river and Soldier Mountain from the cabin’s more private living spaces. Large sliding doors open to the outdoors, along a porch that encourages cross-ventilation on hot summer days and extends the living area out toward the river.