david coleman architecture designs cabin with angular forms and an illuminated facade in washington

located on a rain-drenched site in the rugged, north- western foothills of marblemount, washington, david coleman architecture designed a modest, sustainable cabin with a big presence amidst a dramatic landscape. surrounded by rocky, distant peaks, the site slopes gently to the east and overlooks a large woodlot. the clients wanted a building that had presence in and subservience to the wild landscape. the duality became the thematic tag that informed the design.

david coleman architecture placed two buildings within the 30’ by 100’ site. the two buildings are juxtaposed within this footprint in a ying/yang fashion, leaving a sinuous exterior space that is defensible and varied. the western terrace is carved into the site, stepping down into the earth, leading toward a soaking tub set behind a glass wall. the south-eastern porch and monumental stair, both covered by a soaring roof, rise above the site, offering shelter from the rain and summer sun. both spaces meet in an interstitial ‘rain garden’, a place where seasonal rains gather and flow toward the river below.

the building is designed to be seasonally expansive, configuring its spaces according to the weather. the project becomes generous in summer when activities spill outside onto the porches and terraces, and becomes modest and efficient in winter when the rains set in. the 890 sqft (83 sqm) cabin houses a great room, bath and sleeping loft clad in frameless glass. all rooms open toward distant views of the mountains.

the 1000 sqft (93 sqm) studio houses a music room, workshop and guest loft. the west wall is clad in a polycarbonate skin, illuminating the interior rooms in a soft glow during the day, and the exterior terrace in a dramatic display in the evening. building forms are angular and elemental, not unlike the surrounding mountain peaks. the result is a dramatic building, deceptively simple, deeply rooted in the site while having an unexpectedly crisp and modern aesthetic.