new caelifera cabin's angular geometry echoes origami folds and sawtooth mountain peaks

johnston architects rests family cabin in washington’s meadows

Set in a rural valley of ranches and orchards in Washington, New Caelifera is a family cabin named after the scientific identification of the grasshoppers that inhabit the site. Like the insect, the home sits lightly on the meadow with a low sloping profile, and draws its angular aesthetic from the contours of origami. Completed by Johnston Architects, the cabin metaphorically lifts from the landscape and folds inwards, encased in a steel shell that shelters a pavilion of glass and cedar. The result is a dynamic harmony between sculptural and tectonic elements.

the cabin’s angularity recalls folds in origami | image © Wiqan Ang

the cabin embraces the scenic mountainous backdrop

Interpreting the owners’ concepts, sensitivity to topography, and embracing vistas were key drivers throughout the design process. The team at Johnston Architects began with drawing vectors corresponding to view corridors to the dramatic peaks in the Sawtooth Mountains. These vectors formed the basis for the floor plan with the angles in the surrounding hills inspiring the slope of the roof. Moreover, New Caelifera’s final form ‘is a direct materialization of the clients’ appreciation of origami, lending the home its angular geometry.

The cabin is a landmark that welcomes the family upon approach. The architects created a substantial steel facade, ‘a strong threshold into the refuge beyond’, which temporarily obscures views upon entry and creates a heightened sense of anticipation. Alongside the steel materiality, the wood lined vestibule enhances the experience of crossing a portal into a new domain, lending the home a distinct look that balances between industrial and warm. Meanwhile inside, the living space faces a panoramic wall of windows revealing natural light and scenic views.

Johnston Architects encases the cabin in a steel shell, contrasted with cedar and glass | image © Phoebe Webb

the design embraces scenic vistas to the engulfing scenery | image © Phoebe Webb

the living space faces a panoramic window wall, infusing the space with natural light | image © Wiqan Ang

the cabin beholds a distinct look that balances between industrial and warm | image © Wiqan Ang

project info:

name: New Caelifera
architecture: Johnston Architects
location: Washington, USA

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edited by: ravail khan | designboom