olson kundig's 'city cabin' is an urban retreat on a regularly-sized seattle lot

designed by olson kundig, ‘city cabin’ is a urban retreat located in one of seattle’s most established residential areas. the client, an avid conservationist dedicated to preserving forests, asked for a private dwelling that would connect her to nature. siting the 2,400-square-foot (223 sqm) house on the northwest corner of the lot maximizes garden areas on the south and east sides, while the staggered footprint allows for more glazing — increasing sun exposure and garden views. ‘the client wanted to feel like she was living in the wilderness when, in fact, her home is on a regular-sized urban neighborhood lot,’ explains jim olson, design principal, olson kundig.

all images by aaron leitz

olson kundig organized the home around a central gathering space with two wings extending from it: one with the master suite and the other containing the guest room and storage areas. the central area, which contains an open kitchen and living space, is a single volume defined by a 16-foot-high (4.8 meter) ceiling. here, a full-height window wall overlooks the gardens to the southeast, and clerestory windows maximize solar gain and create a sense of lightness while maintaining privacy.

with the goal of net-zero energy use, the home’s design incorporates key sustainability features such as photovoltaic panels and an air-to-water heat pump. meanwhile, planting mature trees and dense greenery onto the site helped transform an ordinary urban infill lot into a private refuge. the architects explain that the materials and assemblies were chosen primarily for economy and sustainability, but that the palette also draws from the client’s extensive collection of native american art.

the concrete floors are tinted with a custom red hue inspired by red cedar and ochre colors, while the walls and ceilings are made of natural, unstained plywood. on the exterior, reclaimed fir siding will weather naturally with minimal maintenance. durable galvanized steel roofing and beam endcaps complement the natural wood finishes, developing a rich patina with exposure. along with reclaimed materials, the house is also topped with a sedum green roof. see other projects by olson kundig on designboom here, including the ultimate work from home cabin.

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project info:

name: city cabin
location: seattle, washington
completed: 2015
project size: 2,400 sqf / 223 sqm
olson kundig project team: jim olson, FAIA, design principal; renee boone, project manager and project architect
key consultants: dovetail general contractors, general contractor; coughlin porter lundeen, civil engineer; MCE structural consultants, structural engineer; WSP, mechanical engineer; palm room, landscape architect; DePelecyn studio, lighting design; RDH, envelope
photography: aaron leitz