False Bay Writer’s Cabin by Olson Kundig Architects
Olson Kundig Architects designed a cabin on San Juan Island in Washington State.
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Description from the architects:
The cabin is five hundred square feet and is a private writers retreat and guest cottage. Located on San Juan Island, Washington, the owners wanted the cabin to feel contacted to its setting, the climate, the wildlife and views. They also needed a structure that could be easily secured when not in use.
The cabin was designed as a glass house surrounded by three wooden slat decks that can be raised by a hydraulic system of wires, rope, pivoting sheaves and lead blocks, that serves as shutters. When open, the shutter decks are outdoor living spaces; when closed they secure the cabin. The fireplace rotates 180 degrees to be enjoyed indoors or out. An inverted roof with deep overhangs forces water to drain to the rear of the cabin.
The cabin is a single room with a small kitchenette and a bathroom. Finishes are restrained, punctuated only by a blackened steel inlay that bisects the floor from the fireplace to the slot window at the rear of the cabin.
Visit the Olson Kundig Architects website – here.
Photography by Tim Bies/Olson Kundig Architects
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theopolis on 05 Nov 2011 at 10:29 am #
This is the best small space I’ve seen here. The whole thing is such a nice example of simple technologies used in a smart, restrained fashion. Put a green roof on it and you’ve got my dream retreat cabin. Well done!
AJ Smith on 05 Nov 2011 at 8:12 pm #
What is the cost of this project? Does it require any foundation work
Thanks for the reply.
Phamm on 06 Nov 2011 at 11:25 am #
Writers must be very disciplined-I would find it hard not to stare out the windows, cat-lie on the deck, walk, walk, walk to the ocean and back. Beautiful.
Maira Evans on 06 Nov 2011 at 12:43 pm #
I simply love it. Less is so much more and this cozy cabin has it all. Congrats
Graham Roebeck on 06 Nov 2011 at 2:02 pm #
Well done! We have several varieties of the bucolic retreat with retractable shutters in NZ, but this is the first I’ve seen that captures the intimacy and sense of place. To be fair the other examples are for families and entertaining so are necessarily larger- but this- with the swivelling fireplace (!) and foldout bed is charming.
Christian on 07 Nov 2011 at 2:58 am #
It’s a lovely cabin, very charming and the simplicity is pure genius. If there’s one little thing that bothers me it would be the fact that because of its construction, the terrace doesn’t allow proper walking around (cables, corners ‘missing’), but then again, I fear this cannot be fixed without compromising the concept!
Lydia Labat on 07 Nov 2011 at 2:03 pm #
The fold up quality feels so natural and yet how many homes do this?
O.L. Wellington on 07 Nov 2011 at 10:31 pm #
Inspiring!
Wim on 16 Nov 2011 at 2:40 pm #
Did anyone mention ‘out of the box-thinking?”. This is an instant classic.