Cabinbatchkids
BLURRING THE LINES BETWEEN MAN AND NATURE
In today's world of asphalt, suburban sprawl, and skyscrapers, one might forget the deep, intimate connection humans have with nature. Architecture today tends to disregard surroundings and site, opting for designs that contrast with their location to the point of mockery.
In designing our cabin, our team seeked to use a combination of easily available and local materials to create a shelter that lets neither passerby nor inhabitant forget where they are-or what their part in the landscape is. Our central themes are simplicity as it ties to nature and structure, site-specificity, visual continuity, and regard to history and place.
The cabin works with the surrounding nature and the area's past to create a shelter that speaks the same language as the trees, the earth, and local history. From the expansive view out the rear window, to the recycled wood facade, the cabin does not wish to stand out, but to complement and blend in with the nature around it. Both interior and exterior of the cabin make use of local materials-predominantly recycled and pressure-treated spruce lumber and plywood from nearby lumber yards. It was important for us to keep the cabin simple, both from a stylistic and structural standpoint, so as to offer little impact on the environment, be easy to construct and maintain, and keep its roots based in the local landscape.
The shape of the building alludes to a simplified honeycomb formation, one that calls forth shelter, community, and stability. The angled walls on one side of our cabin offer increased space for sleeping and relaxation. View is of the utmost importance for this small living and working space, as it helps us connect with the outside. The grand window allows us to gaze forth, and the lightly-colored wood siding and flooring allows for a striking visual continuation of both the surrounding vegetation and, during cold months, snow.
We also looked to the local Acadian history in our consideration of foundations and materials, as well as the simplicity of the design. We also looked at wigwams, which are the traditional dwellings of the area, and were inspired by their local materials and ease of construction. With our cabin, we seek to provide shelter that is in line with the wooden architecture of past and present, and that extends that line forward into the environment, blurring the line between humans and nature.
(Competitor's text)
5 scanned / 4 viewable
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