sher maker's charred wood cabin settles in serene landscape of thailand

a cabin by sher maker in the middle of nowhere

architecture firm sher maker has collaborated with local builders and artisans to construct the ‘wood and mountain’ cabin in chiang mai, thailand. drawing influence from vernacular architecture, the project takes shape as a simple wooden structure opening up to the surrounding vegetation. the remote site welcomes off-grid travelers to explore the verdant serene site and the ‘middle of nowhere’ atmosphere.

the wooden clad cabin

charred wood exterior with a symbolic character

the design language by sher maker is very simple, taking its cues from wooden structures and wall systems that can be commonly found in northern thailand. the exterior presents a neat cladding made of locally sourced wood, providing privacy but still leaving one side open towards the mountain. the studio put great emphasis on prolonging the life span of the materials, by sorting and charring pre-existing wooden planks to reuse them. this process, which is heavily influenced by the japanese shou-sugi ban technique, contributes towards blending the structure with the natural surroundings. in addition, it makes the cabin more resistant to weather conditions, while it also provides it with a stand-out look and a symbolic character.

in order to construct the cabin, the studio experimented with wall mock-ups in their workshop, collecting samples and material information. ‘using wood burners for us is not just about seeking and bringing that kind of aesthetic without context,’ shares the sher maker team. ‘it’s about understanding the material and making it by our self’ . the designers left the imperfections on the wood planks untouched to symbolize that this building is the work of architecture by human hands.

the serene cabin connects visitors to the natural surroundings