stacked cabin, muscoda, wis.
johnsen schmaling architects
milwaukee
Johnsen Schmaling Architects reinterpreted the traditional cottage as a vertically oriented structure constructed of concrete, stucco, and wood. One juror called the result “beautiful-looking.”
The architects designed the cottage for a couple of outdoor enthusiasts “who were getting tired of the tent and just wanted a place to cook and a place to sleep,” says Brian Johnsen, AIA. The design team of Johnsen, Sebastian Schmaling, AIA, LEED AP, and Nicholas Wood responded with a modest, compact volume that’s nestled into the hillside and provides wide vistas of the valley below. It also has a practical intention. “We didn’t want to go in with a heavy hand, so we went up to minimize the footprint,” Johnsen says.
The base of the house is a concrete plinth that’s left exposed, while a black stucco-clad box sits on top. “We used the dark stucco to emulate the tree trunks on the site, while the wood of the windows [and garage doors] add a warm accent,” Johnsen says.
Upstairs, the main living space consists of an open plan that’s bracketed by a galley kitchen on one side and simple sleeping volumes on the other. Movable floor-to-ceiling curtains confer privacy when needed, while large wood and glass apertures permit expansive views and provide natural cooling in the summer months.
project credits
principals in charge: Brian Johnsen, AIA, and Sebastian Schmaling, AIA, LEED AP, Johnsen Schmaling Architects; project architects: Brian Johnsen, Sebastian Schmaling, and Nicholas Wood, Johnsen Schmaling Architects; general contractor: Rick Hansen, Rick Hansen Building, Arena, Wis.; project size: 800 square feet; site size: 40 acres; construction cost: $197 per square foot; photography: John J. Macaulay.
product details
bath and kitchen fixtures and fittings: Kohler, www.kohler.com; cooktop and oven: Wolf, www.subzero-wolf.com; countertops: Caesarstone, www.caesarstoneus.com; dishwasher: Bosch, www.bosch-home.com; doors: Archispec, www.archispecllc.com; garage door: Clopay, www.clopay.com; hardware: Schlage, www.schlage.com; hvac equipment: Trane, www.trane.com; insulation: Johns Manville, www.jm.com; lighting: Juno Lighting, www.junolightinggroup.com; paint: Benjamin Moore, www.benjaminmoore.com; refrigerator: Frigidaire, www.frigidaire.com; siding: DuoCoat (plaster); windows: Eagle Window, www.eaglewindow.com; wood stove: RAIS, www.rais.com
