It was during the height of the pandemic that I was called upon to design a replacement for a much loved family cabin up on the Iron Range. I was contacted by a college friend whose family owned the place; they had a great site with plenty of outdoor space to enjoy summer weather, lake views, and even a game of bocce ball, but the building itself was aging and had a number of problems. They sought advice from SALA, and Dale and I were happy to take on the project. I had been immersed in my own family’s cabin rebuild at that time. Dale would pass by their property on the way to his cabin and, well, he wrote the book on the Family Cabin.
Our challenge: how to design a cabin which can comfortably be shared by many people that doesn’t break the bank? The cost of construction had risen sharply during the early part of the pandemic, and the family was keen to keep costs down. Dale and I put on our thinking caps to create the most efficient design possible.
From the beginning we knew we would need to envision a simple form– corners and complicated foundations add cost to a structure. We also sought to use every inch of space effectively. Space devoted to circulation is minimized by planning bedrooms that open out onto a common area. A loft area is carved out of the roof structure. A kitchen island allows multiple cooks without them getting in each other’s way, and provides additional seating. Bedrooms are small and simple, but we were able to add more of them, and we fit a second bathroom into the compact footprint for extra convenience on busy weekends.
Outdoor space was maximized with a comfortable screened porch. This space is less costly to build yet some of the most valuable in summer!
Beyond the design efficiency, we worked hard to make the new cabin special. Green painted siding recalls the color of the former cabin, and big sunny Marvin windows bring in south light and views of the lake. Wood trim and accents inside warm up the space visually, and a wood stove adds coziness for cool days. A wood alternating tread stair not only saves valuable floor space while providing access to the loft, but is a point of visual interest.
It is a pleasure to work with families who imagine a shared retreat away from the bustle of daily life, one that can be passed down to the next generation as time goes on. At last report, we hear that this family is once again enjoying their summers up north together.
