The clients have a deep emotional connection to their wooded lakeside lot in Northern Wisconsin. It started with a one-room timber framed cabin built by hand in the 1990’s. A bunk house was added shortly afterwards to host guests for long weekends. More recently the “Party Barn” was added as an informal indoor gathering space to entertain guests. They now desired a larger cabin with a full kitchen and additional bedrooms but that still respected their established patterns of activities. The original cabin was relocated on the site further inland, and a new home was designed with modern amenities while still maintaining a cozy cabin feel.

As a nod to the original cabin, the new cabin incorporates timber framing (No nails or metal connections!) in the Kitchen / Great room. Those spaces are designed as the main gathering space with food prep as a shared activity. The Great Room seating is open to Kitchen for easy conversation and bookended by views of the lake and a stone fireplace on the other side.

The cabin is located on a peninsula with 180-degree views of the lake. The windows were strategically placed to maximize lake views, provide natural light, and facilitate cross breezes.

The Entry is nestled between two gables and opens to an inviting Dining Room table and a framed view of the lake. The Owner’s Suite is on the ground level, allowing the clients to age in place, and the Lower-Level Guest Bedrooms all offer views of the lake. A three-sided Screen Porch on the main floor has uninterrupted views of the lake.

The exterior is clad in natural stone and thermally modified wood, both locally sourced. SIPs (Structural Insulted Panels) were used on the roof and exterior insulation on the walls to prevent thermal bridging and increase energy efficiency.

Project Collaborators: Indicia Interior Design, RPS Home Builders (contractor), Bunkers & Associates (structural engineer), Big River Timberworks (timber frame), Spacecrafting (photography),

Awards: Selected for the 2025 AIA MN Homes by Architects Tour