Big Cabin | Little Cabin

Project Details

Project Description

FROM THE ARCHITECTS:

Set high on a rocky cliff at 10,000 feet elevation, the pair of cabins command panoramic views over Colorado’s Sangre de Cristo mountains, the Collegiate Peaks, and the South Platte River. A thick forest of bristlecone and ponderosa pines surround the property to the north, giving the cabins a sense of privacy and protection.

Upon approach, the two cabins frame the sweeping view, and create a wind-protected space in between. The buildings are connected with open grate steel decking, creating a slip resistant platform that allows snow to fall through to below. To maintain the natural topography of the site, the house is built on isolated pier foundations. This raised pier construction allows spring run-off to flow freely beneath the structure.

The historic buildings of Fairplay inform the steep pitch of the metal roofs. Exterior cedar siding is stained dark to blend the house with the surrounding forest. Large expanses of glass connect the occupants to the remarkable landscape beyond. Raw plywood interior walls keep the cabin low key and rustic.

A simple, rectangular floorplan encourages cross ventilation and passive solar gain. Large sliding barn door shutters protect the glass from unwanted sun and wind. The cabin’s thermal envelope is highly insulated to minimize thermal bridging and energy consumption. Photovoltaic panels supply 100% of the cabin’s electricity.