Cabin at Longbranch | Olson Kundig
In the 1980s, the retreat was made up of three tiny pavilions linked by wooden platforms. By 2003, the pavilions had been connected by a unifying roof, creating a single form grounded onto the hillside and projecting out over the landscape.
Cabin at Longbranch | Olson Kundig
First built in 1959 as acclaimed architect Jim Olson's first project, this modest bunkhouse in the woods grew into an extraordinary family retreat.
Materials enhance this natural connection, reflecting the silvery hues of the overcast sky of the Pacific Northwest and tying the building to the forest floor.
The living room’s large wall of glass frames a view of the adjoining grassy field and Puget Sound, visually blending indoors and outdoors.
Cabin at Longbranch | Olson Kundig
Cabin at Longbranch | Olson Kundig
Cabin at Longbranch | Olson Kundig
Simple, readily available materials were used throughout: wood-framed walls are sheathed in plywood or recycled boards, and doubled pairs of steel columns support beams that in turn support exposed roof structures.
Cabin at Longbranch | Olson Kundig
Cabin at Longbranch | Olson Kundig
Cabin at Longbranch | Olson Kundig
Just as the barn was extended and cantilevered over the sloped site, so too was the deck off the kitchen, which juts out toward the oak grove. “There are 125 coast live oaks on the property,” says Walker. “They’re beautiful trees, so why not exploit that?” See more ways to use oak in your home.
Located in the renovated barn, the living room can be transformed into a performance space that seats 80. The art piece is from South Africa. Accompanying the Steinway piano is a sideboard from Restoration Hardware; the pendants are from Cisco Home.
The terrace off a bedroom holds chaise longues from Design Within Reach. “When we laid out the project, the eucalyptus tree was going to go away,” says Walker. “But then we thought, if we move the foundation a little bit, we can probably save the tree.”
The wall beneath the stairs holds hidden storage, including an Enomatic wine dispenser and Sub-Zero refrigerated drawers.
In the kitchen, Walker continued an earthy color scheme. The range and wall oven are by BlueStar, the hood is from Zephyr, and the island is Caesarstone.
The new volume houses the dining area, which includes stairs to the bedrooms. The table is from Blake Avenue and the walnut chairs are from Room & Board. “You don’t want bright colors to take away from that relationship between the interior and the exterior,” Walker says.
He worked around existing oak and eucalyptus trees for the new building, and retained the vernacular of an original barn, at right, where Frankel hosts concerts. Check out MVRDV's Balancing Barn.
Walker left the site in its natural state, but added grasses along the path to the entrance. For more ways to use grass in your home.
With his son, William, watching, architect Noah Walker tries out the floor-to-ceiling Schüco glass doors he integrated into a guesthouse he designed off an existing barn for Nathan Frankel, an amateur violinist, in Beverly Hills, California. The new portion features an open living-dining area. See more glass houses we love!
Situated on the eastern end of the residence, the master bedroom boasts a mitered glass corner window that overlooks a koi pond and a Live Oak tree.
A stand-alone Texas shellstone fireplace divides the living and kitchen areas. The stainless steel wood storage boxes had been removed, so the current owners had it fabricated to Neutra's specifications. They also scraped off the
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