Clara Cabin
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By Bryan Meyer in Design Published: Friday, 26 October 07 - 10:44 AM (GMT -06:00) Last Updated: Monday, 29 October 07 - 08:52 AM (GMT -06:00) |
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This past weekend was my wife, Anne and my last visit to our northern Minnesota cabin until next spring. It's an emotional weekend because aside from a mid winter snowshoe hike in, we typically don't return for 6 months.
Aside from the roaming hunters and endless rain, the late fall is an amazing time of the year to be in the woods. Honestly, each season is fascinating, but by October the leaves have dropped, migrating animals departed and the woods eerily quiet. What was once impenetrable foliage now offers distant views and sounds from crisp trees flexing in the gusty winds.
We spend the short days working on the last few projects of the year and nights around the fire dreaming up new ones for the spring. The cold and damp weather makes us long for a sauna building, but since we still cook outdoors, the priority has to be a kitchen structure.
The idea to build a cabin came about over 10 years ago when Anne and I had recently completed architecture school. Anne’s family had owned the remote lake property since the 60’s and happily camped without electricity or running water, building only a small storage shed. We were anxious to apply our education and get our hands dirty and decided to design and construct a building that would not only protect us from the weather and mosquitoes, but would capture the spirit and traditions of the encampment.
As lifelong campers, we love being outdoors and wanted the cabin to provide minimal shelter and amenity. We consider it to be a glorified tent - a primitive room in the woods. The concept for the design was inspired by Anne’s ritual of sounding an echo off the lake upon our typical late Friday night arrival.
The idea found form in the methodology of manipulation of the cabin doors to adapt to different views, sounds, uses and weather conditions. Large doors and a birch plywood interior transform the static box into a dynamic space, animated with inhabitation.
The 220 square foot “room” adapts to our basic needs through flexible storage devices such as a folding bed and pivoting storage devices.
The only technology incorporated is a 12 volt lighting system powered by a solar charged marine battery. Two sides of the building open to draw in the adjacent national forest land and allow views to the lake. Three bi-folding doors operate independently, allowing the user to open just one or all, thus converting the interior in to a stage-like volume (and a chapel, since we were married there). Small aperture-like windows contrast the large openings and provide framed views of the surrounding wilderness.
When closed and vacant, the building transforms into a mute box and blends into the quiet winter woods.
7 Comments so far: |
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| So you two are the ones who built that c (...) | Justin Anthony | 11/17/07 |
Thanks!
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Bryan Meyer | 11/19/07 |
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Comment deleted
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Name withheld | 12/30/09 |
| cabin book | Larry | 01/16/08 |
| great job | L.Stasiak | 04/26/08 |
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Top | Reply to this Title: So you two are the ones who built that cabin!!! Author: Justin Anthony (http://materialicio.us) Date Posted: 17 Nov 2007 09:32 AM (GMT -06:00) I saw it in a book some years ago, and since I started my own blog I've been slowly driving myself mad trying to locate it again.... This is a *most excellent project*. I want one. Everything you guys have been doing has been extremely inspiring. Keep up the great work. |
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Top | Reply to this Title: Thanks! Author: Bryan Meyer Date Posted: 19 Nov 2007 09:48 AM (GMT -06:00) Hey Justin, Thanks for the kind words. Anne and I built the cabin around 10 years ago - well before we learned about modular. This and small structures like it would be so simple to build offsite and transport. It was published in a book called The Cabin by a former employer of mine, Dale Mulfinger. Thanks for the link to your website. Great assemblage of information.
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Top Title: Comment deleted Author: Name withheld Date Posted: 29 Aug 2009 06:40 PM (GMT -06:00) Edited on: 30 Dec 2009 02:47 PM (GMT -06:00) This comment was deleted by an Administrator on December 30, 2009 at 02:47 PM (GMT -06:00). It was violating this site's Terms and Conditions. |
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Top | Reply to this Title: cabin book Author: Larry Date Posted: 16 Jan 2008 11:40 AM (GMT -06:00) hi, my sister got me the 'Cabin ' book and your cabin made an impession on me, as one I would like to get more information on. I recently purchased some vacant land here in Ohio and have been getting some ideas ( off-the-grid) together. Do you offer detailed plans for building the "Clara" cabin ? I've got a perfect spot for it in Noble County OH on 77 acres...and 2 strong sons who would enjoy the project...Thanks for posting the photos and comments.. Larry |
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Top | Reply to this Title: great job Author: L.Stasiak Date Posted: 26 Apr 2008 06:14 AM (GMT -06:00) Hey Bryan and Anne! Great job there. It`s good to hear that that after 10 years since you build it it`s still working fine - and looking good aswell. Lucas |
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Top | Reply to this Author: casinos de tope (http:// http://www.top-de-casinos.com) Date Posted: 07 Aug 2009 07:26 AM (GMT -06:00) I admire the awesome information you offer in your articles. I will bookmark your blog and have my children check up here often. I am quite sure they will learn lots of new stuff here than anybody else! |
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Top | Reply to this Title: ppo insurance plans Author: ppo insurance plans (http://www.ppocoverage.com) Date Posted: 21 Jan 2010 11:40 AM (GMT -06:00) Hey, This is excellent! is this cabin two rooms? do you have a floor plan? i’d be interested in knowing the dimentions and more about the materials you used. I’m interested in Eco-friendly buildings and this is the best I’ve seen so far! |
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