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Design Dilemma: Corrugated Cabins

Cabin living has changed quite a bit from the time it meant a little log cabin in the woods. Modern cabins have gotten very modern indeed, embracing an industrial aesthetic that can go both rough and sleek at one and the same time. Don’t believe us? We offer two examples:

Llano, Texas

Above, this cabin, designed by Austin architect Matt Garcia,  is one of four built by four different couples on a single lot. They’re built of corrugated metal, plywood and concrete. The aesthetic is modern industrial and the cabins were inexpensive to build. Inside, the same rough, unfinished look carries on:

As you can see there is lots of reliance on polished concrete and plywood. Plenty of built-ins keep living simple and efficient.  Above, built-ins help outfit a simple home office. But built-ins extend to the bathroom as well:

The livingroom is open, airy and efficient:

Since the cabin is essentially one room, the living room is also the bedroom:

Sometimes, plywood as a finishing material can come off as sort of sad. But amazingly, the plywood exudes a kind of rustic warmth that is perfect in this setting. Here’s a night-time view:

New Haven, Vermont

The Vermont cabin above also uses corrugated metal for a semi-industrial look. This cabin is much larger, and feels a little less rustic, and a bit more industrial than the Texas cabins. The colored steel beams used to support the structure add to the industrial feel.

So there you have it. It’s possible to build a cabin out of metal and steel and retain a rustic feel!

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Subtle House of Shadows Solves Problem in Thailand

Department of Architecture designed the clever Shadow House in Samutprakarn, Thailand.

The site on a busy corner intersection presented a real challenge.

The up-scale residential estate its on forbids the use of any kinds of fences around the houses.

So the design had to create some privacy for the residents exposed to views by passing motorists, at ground level.

The solution was to map out metal lattice screens and sheer semi-translucent canvas panels projected at various distances from the block of the house, but all within a tight grid.

This series of screens outdoors on the attached terrace create privacy and allow partial views, without strictly constituting ‘fencing.’

This subtle solution creates a series of soft baffles in canvas to buffer the house from the street, in a space that appears in constant motion. Read the rest of this entry »

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Luxurious House + Guest House Looks Inwards for its View

For Belzberg Architects, designing the Brentwood Residence presented a challenge. There was no view outside the lot.

So they put two buildings at opposite ends a grass lawn and made this bold geometric architectural volume the view.

At night the volumes of the shapes reverse, lit up like a lantern.

At the far end of the garden beyond the pool is the more modest guesthouse which doubles as the poolhouse.

From this vantage point, the intriguing architecture of the main house beyond the pool really is the view.

The two buildings set up their own dialogue with eachother across the lawn.

From their shared lawn, the main house is inviting and convivial.

The morning sun streams into the kitchen of the very appealing poolhouse-cum-guesthouse space, inviting an early morning swim.

White floors, walls and ceilings make for a brilliant light space that continues seamlessly outdoors through a disappearing glass wall.

A cool and sophisticated Hollywood touch is provided by the Andy Wharhol image on the wall behind the clean contemporary kitchen/dining room.

Entered from the lawn, the guesthouse bathroom is deliciously airy and unfussy. Read the rest of this entry »