This Modern Cabin Brings An Unexpected Industrial Look To The Forest

A modern lakeside cabin with corrugated metal siding, floor-to-ceiling corner windows, and a screened porch beneath the upper floor. Warm interior lighting contrasts with the surrounding forest.

A second-story box extends over the entrance of Jewel Box Cabin, a 900-square-foot (84sqm) home designed by Imprint Architecture and Design on the wooded shore of Caribou Lake in Lutsen, Minnesota. With two bedrooms, an open living area, a screened porch, and a flexible upstairs space, the cabin makes use of every part of its compact two-story layout.

An Upper Floor That Extends Over the Entrance

One of the cabin’s most recognizable features is its cantilevered upper floor, which projects beyond the ground level to create a sheltered entrance. A steel box filled with firewood sits beside the doorway, visually balancing the projecting structure while providing additional privacy.

A modern cabin exterior featuring a cantilevered second floor, dark corrugated metal siding, and a sheltered entrance. A rectangular steel firewood storage box sits beside the doorway.

A built-in steel firewood storage box filled with neatly stacked logs beside the entrance of a modern cabin. Dark horizontal cedar siding and a glass entrance door complete the exterior detail.

The exterior combines corrugated metal siding with natural cedar siding on part of the lower level. The architects selected metal siding for its durability and recycled content, while the cedar was finished with a water-based stain.

A side view of a contemporary cabin featuring corrugated metal siding above dark-stained cedar cladding. Tall rectangular windows and an overhanging upper floor define the exterior.

A Living Room That Opens Toward the Forest

Inside, the main living area has high ceilings with exposed fir beams and large windows that wrap around the corner of the room. These windows bring daylight into the interior while providing views of the surrounding trees and glimpses of the lake.

A modern cabin living room with floor-to-ceiling corner windows overlooking the forest, exposed fir ceiling beams, polished concrete floors, and a dark gray sofa. A compact wood-burning stove sits beside the windows.

A wood-burning stove provides warmth during Minnesota’s colder months, alongside radiant heating installed beneath the polished concrete floor. The exposed beams and plywood surfaces introduce natural materials to the otherwise simple interior.

The kitchen and dining area occupy the same open space, with white cabinetry, a compact arrangement of appliances, and a dining table positioned near the windows.

A compact modern kitchen with white cabinetry, black-framed windows, and a simple dining table surrounded by bright red chairs. Polished concrete floors and exposed wood ceiling beams complete the open-plan interior.

A Large Plywood Door Adds Privacy to the Small Layout

An interesting feature of the interior is a large sliding plywood door on the main floor. It can be moved to close off the upper level, allowing the occupants to create additional privacy without permanently dividing the living space.

A large sliding plywood door separates the staircase from the main living area of this small modern cabin. Polished concrete flooring, plywood wall panels, and black-framed glass doors define the minimalist interior.

A plywood staircase leads to the second floor, where the architects have fitted two bedrooms, a family bathroom, and a flexible space into just 385 square feet (approximately 36sqm).

A narrow plywood staircase with exposed wood grain, a black metal handrail, and white walls. A window above the landing brings natural light into the stairwell.

At the top of the stairs, the flexible area incorporates a plywood bookshelf beside a large window overlooking the trees. The space provides a place for reading while also serving as a shared area between the upstairs rooms.

A small upstairs reading area with a plywood bookshelf, black metal stair railing, gray carpet tiles, and a large window overlooking the surrounding trees. A sliding plywood door leads toward the bedrooms.

The bedrooms are compact, with plywood closets providing storage. Large windows bring in natural light and offer views of the forest and lake from the upper level.

A minimalist cabin bedroom with white walls, a plywood closet, dark gray carpet, and large black-framed windows overlooking the forest. A simple bed with white bedding occupies the compact space.

A cozy modern cabin bedroom featuring a large picture window with views of the trees, a plywood closet, and a colorful striped blanket. A white dog rests on the bed beside the window.

A Screened Porch Extends the Living Space Outdoors

A door from the main living area opens onto a screened porch, providing an additional place to sit and dine among the trees. Its mesh-covered openings allow fresh air to pass through while providing protection from insects.

A screened porch beneath the cantilevered upper floor of a modern cabin, furnished with a white outdoor dining table and chairs. Black mesh screens enclose the space while preserving views of the surrounding woodland.

Positioned beneath the projecting upper floor, the porch has a covered ceiling and views into the surrounding woodland. Together with the large living room windows, it gives the small cabin multiple ways to experience its lakeside location.

A modern cabin surrounded by trees, featuring dark corrugated metal siding, large corner windows, and a screened dining porch. The projecting upper floor creates a covered outdoor area below.

Designed to Limit Its Impact on the Lakeside Property

Beyond the compact layout, the architects worked to reduce disturbance to the wooded site. The cabin was positioned to make use of the existing land contours and drainage, limiting the amount of clearing required near the lakeshore.

An aerial view of a small modern cabin nestled among autumn trees beside Caribou Lake in Minnesota. The two-story building has a flat roof, dark metal exterior, and large windows overlooking the wooded property.

The building was also oriented to benefit from sunlight during winter and cooling breezes in summer. Large windows reduce the need for artificial lighting during the day, while passive cooling eliminates the need for air conditioning.

A compact two-story cabin with corrugated metal siding, dark cedar cladding, and a cantilevered upper floor. A gravel driveway leads to the sheltered entrance, surrounded by trees and natural landscaping.

Jewel Box Cabin brings these ideas together in a relatively small building, using its two-story layout, sheltered outdoor space, and extensive windows to accommodate the practical needs of a home while maintaining close views of the surrounding forest.