Modern Cabin: Sperryville, Virginia

As an architect, I had always wanted to design and build my own house. This project became a guest cabin on our property in the mountains of Rappahannock County, Virginia, right next to the Shenandoah National Park. I wanted to do a case study house that would show my future clients that you can have an efficient house, modestly sized and cost effective, that can live large, comfortably and can be extremely flexible. The house is just over 900 sf, and was inspired by local farm buildings, outdoor pavilions and a way of living that prioritizes time spent outdoors. The house is elevated on concrete piers, which mitigated the cost of a full concrete foundation, gave a lighter footprint on the land, and gives the living spaces a treehouse feel. I wanted to demonstrate how off the shelf materials can be designed and crafted into beautiful things, such as the plywood built-ins and kitchen that were fabricated on site. The exterior poplar siding was harvested two miles away by a local forester. The concrete, wood siding, copper flashing and interior plywood all have their natural unfinished state, or with just a simple sealer, so they can acquire a natural patina. I wanted the materials to be honest and natural. The wall of built-ins functions as a mudroom, closet storage, book shelving, a cocktail bar, laundry room and two office/desk areas. By creating areas that can multi-task, I was able to reduce most of the excess circulation and ancillary spaces, allowing for a smaller footprint. Passive heating and cooling by means of brise-soleil , cross ventilation, and footprint orientation keep the house very efficient and comfortable. The large deck almost doubles the living spaces and connects you directly to the outdoors, with an easy flow from inside to out. The large concrete chimney, which also has a firewood niche, is structural as well. I have always been fascinated with the relics of stone chimneys still located in the national park, ghosts of former cabins. This chimney is a modern interpretation of those. The strong verticality of the chimney is offset by a custom fabricated entrance stair, pulling you into the house from the driveway. Living in and with nature was the driving force, as well as honesty in materiality and construction, a light touch on the land, and giving the inhabitants a light filled space that lives grand yet is modest and economical.