Wolf Creek Cabin

The Wolf Creek Cabin sits in a lightly treed meadow in Central Washington’s Methow Valley, where the climate consists of hot, arid summers and cold snowy winters. The design aims to take advantage of valley and mountain views beyond to the Northeast and South while offering an exterior space protected from the valley’s prevailing winds.

The clients were looking for a retreat cabin with an easy flow from inside to outside. In response to their request and the desire to form a strong connection to the site, the architect arrived at a design of two interlocking ‘L’s. One solid ‘L’ forms the two wings that make up the cabin while the other void ‘L’ is the courtyard, protected from the winds and secluded behind a screening element thereby creating an outdoor gathering area with privacy from neighboring cabins. Overall, the building mass is kept low to the valley floor to remain unobtrusive while the roof line and extended screening elements abstract the layering of mountain profiles beyond.

The entry is accessed through the courtyard and opens up to the living, dining, and kitchen spaces; all access the 180 degree valley views from various points. Southeast of this great room in the main wing of the house is the master suite, situated to take in the morning light. The guest suite occupies the second wing of the house to the north. In the crux of the ‘L’ formed by these two wings is a covered patio, serving as an extension of the living room in the warm summer months.

The courtyard ‘L’ offers an exterior gathering space protected from the seasonal winds that flow from the north. Two screening elements enclose the courtyard. They begin at the garage, extend past the courtyard entrances, and ultimately stretch beyond the main ‘L’ form of the house to offer additional privacy for the patios that go beyond the primary footprint of the cabin.

Materiality plays a large role in the cabin’s strong connection to the outdoors. A few key materials are used both on the exterior and interior, further strengthening the cabin’s easy flow from interior to exterior. Concrete floors continue outside to become patios, fir soffits continue inside as ceiling material and wrap down the walls, extending the lines of the siding to the interior. Metal cladding blends in with the landscape and is accented on the interior. The Wolf Creek Cabin sits low on the site while offering expansive views of the mountains that rise up around it.