Shelter. Sanctuary. Solace.: An Oddly Named Cabin.

There are many different aspects to a house. Not only do they provide shelter from the elements, houses provide us with a place to store our memories, to live, laugh, and cry. A place to entertain, and to relax. A place of safety, as we develop into the person we may one day become. This blog is created with the intent of studying the architectural excellence behind creating, not just a house, but a home.

Tom Kundig has designed a number of houses during his time at Seattle based firm Olson-Kundig, and of these, his design 'Chicken Point Cabin' is one of the most recognised.Winner of the 2005 American Architecture award, this lakeside cabin was commisioned by Jeff and Amy Larson as a weekend retreat. When first embarking on his design for the holiday home, Kundig was inspired by a small wooden cabin in the nearby woods which he spent his summer's in when he was growing up. Located in the Northern Idaho area, the design was completed in '02.

The design is very simple, being roughly based on a square box, yet it is Kundig's talent for utlising quirky contraptions and manipulating spaces which really stimulate the senses. He has incorporated a 30' by 20' glass window-wall, which may be raised to open the living area to the surrounding environment. The rustic hand-crank pivots the whole wall open, exposing the interior to the outdoors, the lake and the forest. Kundig has a habit of often composing moving parts for use in his houses, which add a touch of interaction to a traditionally static object. This, along with his incorporation of many other peculiar objects into his designs, such as the suspension spring off a truck, a 4' recycled steel pipe turned into a fireplace, and plywood insert to house the master bedroom offer a playful sense of wonder to those able to experience the dwelling.

Not to mention the 19' tall entry door.

Kundig purposefully chose to use simple materials, incorporating a wealth of texture, and brightly coloured blocks to direct the eyeline to certain spaces. Many of the materials he left in their organic state, unfinished as to acquire a natural patina befitting to the surroundings.

These are some of the photos from the official website, which may give you an idea of the layout and design of the building. For now I've just tried to give you a brief run-down, with more analysis to come.