How the Westin Cabin was inspired by Edwin Lundie

Recently the Ninth Annual Edwin Lundie Tour took place along the North Shore of Lake Superior. One of the seven sites on this tour was a design of mine that was influenced by Lundie called The Westin Cabin. As an architect who has researched the designs of Edwin Lundie, one doesn’t have to copy him to have learned from him. Most notably I’ve learned to keep the footprint simple, preferably a rectangle, and the size modest. That way the added value can be realized in the quality and character of the materials inside and out.

Architect Dale Mulfinger Lundie inspired Westin Cabin

Lundie’s cabin designs for the North Shore of Lake Superior were seasonal structures with little need for insulation in the roof and walls and used single pain Windows. Our clients use their cabins all year long, and thus a well insulated envelope is preferred.

Architect Dale Mulfinger Westin Cabin

Architect Dale Mulfinger Westin Cabin

The Westin Cabin is in Lundie’s general local and here is what owners Mark Westin was recorded as saying in the Cook County News:

“We discovered Dale Mulfinger through his regular newspaper column about cabins and cabin design in the Star Tribune”, Mark wrote. “It was obvious that Dale ‘got it’ when is came to the essentials embodied in a family retreat. We provided Dale with a lengthy list of attributes, many of which required clairvoyant interpretation: we wanted a cabin not another house; fit the contours of the rock, trees, and existing nature; if anything, it should feel a little small; open and adjoining communal areas; two bedrooms max (and Dale threw in a loft); no separate master bath – sharing is the whole idea; no drywall; maximize windows; fireplace and a wood stove; yes, detach the garage; no, we don’t want a lawn.”

Architect Dale Mulfinger Westin Cabin

Architect Dale Mulfinger Westin Cabin

Interested in hearing more about the history of Lundie? Dale's book, “The Architecture of Edwin Lundie” has more about the influence that Lundie has had on cabin architecture. For more on Dale's extensive catalougue of projects visit his profile page.