Far Cabin
The Far Cabin embraces surrounding natural beauty with delicate respect for the site. Weathering beams spring from the rising ledge, gently carrying the cabin over boulders and mossy terrain. The building is designed to capture natural light patterns sweeping through the space, reflecting the playful relationship between nature and structure.
Project Details
Location:
Midcoast, Maine
Structural Architects:
Joanna Shaw, Will Winkelman
Builder:
Cold Mountain Builders
Photography:
Jeff Roberts
Recognition
Project Requirements
We walked the land to find a setting nestled into the trees with soft breezes from the shore. Respecting the site was our first priority.
Building Materials
- Weathering beams
- Board formed concrete piers
- Granite slab entry
- Planted roof canopy
- Hemlock rafters
- Concrete slab floor
- Wood burning stove
The Site
The Far Cabin is perched on a ledge, anchored to the site on one end and soaring southward to capture summer breezes within a treehouse-like screen porch. Where topography rises, a series of thoughtfully placed board formed concrete piers tether the building to the ledge below allowing the terrain to flow through.
Design Concepts
The approach by foot sweeps below the cantilevered porch and gently rises to a granite slab entry. The cabin’s walls jog below the simple geometry of a planted roof canopy to create outside sheltered spaces. At the entry, a collection of site-harvested firewood is protected by the overhanging planted roof, and underfoot granite stones and ferns sweep in below the shade.
The plan carves out spaces for sleeping, reading, writing, preparing food, and bathing (both indoors and out). The 420sf interior space opens to a 150sf screen porch welcoming natural breezes. The interior space is filled with the ebb and flow of natural light and playful shadows as sunlight washes through the canopy of hemlock rafters.
Challenges
- The Far Cabin is perched on a ledge, anchored to the site on one end and soaring southward.
- Where topography rises, a series of thoughtfully placed board formed concrete piers tether the building to the ledge below allowing the terrain to flow through.
- The approach by foot sweeps below the cantilevered porch and gently rises to a granite slab entry.
- Our strides to be respectful of the site defined the types of utilities that would be available, including seasonal water.
The Results
Our strides to be respectful of the site defined the types of utilities that would be available, including seasonal water. Although, for two winters now, the cabin has had the company of a full-time resident. The concrete slab floor captures warmth from the wood-burning stove on cool nights and holds a cozy temperature during the morning hours.
