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In the double-height living space, Marvin windows stretch nearly floor to ceiling, capturing light even on rainy days and offering panoramic views across the forest. The Douglas fir frame remains exposed throughout, adding warmth, continuity, and rhythm.
In the double-height living space, Marvin windows stretch nearly floor to ceiling, capturing light even on rainy days and offering panoramic views across the forest. The Douglas fir frame remains exposed throughout, adding warmth, continuity, and rhythm.
Every opening was designed to feel deliberate. Casement and picture windows from the Marvin Ultimate collection above the living room’s built-in shelving offers an eye-level view into the canopy.
Every opening was designed to feel deliberate. Casement and picture windows from the Marvin Ultimate collection above the living room’s built-in shelving offers an eye-level view into the canopy.
In Jenn’s office, tucked beside the stair hall, the walls stop short of the ceiling, allowing the timber roof to remain uninterrupted above. “We talked a lot about how she wanted the space to feel,” says architect Gabe Hodge. “She placed a lot of value on how beautiful this roof was going to be.” The resulting design preserves acoustic and visual connection to the rest of the home, with small interior apertures that keep the space visually tethered to the landscape and the wider home.
In Jenn’s office, tucked beside the stair hall, the walls stop short of the ceiling, allowing the timber roof to remain uninterrupted above. “We talked a lot about how she wanted the space to feel,” says architect Gabe Hodge. “She placed a lot of value on how beautiful this roof was going to be.” The resulting design preserves acoustic and visual connection to the rest of the home, with small interior apertures that keep the space visually tethered to the landscape and the wider home.
“One of the most important aspects of this house is the timber roof,” says architect Gabe Hodge. “There are no interior partitions that engage with that roof—it’s free from the fireplace all the way to the other end of the house.” The effect is a continuous, unbroken canopy that amplifies the feeling of openness. The kitchen, pantry, and powder room are conceived as a block of smaller spaces within the open floor plan.
“One of the most important aspects of this house is the timber roof,” says architect Gabe Hodge. “There are no interior partitions that engage with that roof—it’s free from the fireplace all the way to the other end of the house.” The effect is a continuous, unbroken canopy that amplifies the feeling of openness. The kitchen, pantry, and powder room are conceived as a block of smaller spaces within the open floor plan.
The design process was intuitive and responsive, shaped by the landscape, the needs of the family, and what architect Gabe Hodge describes as “a willingness to allow the house to be guided into being.” “We tried to make as few decisions as possible that weren’t influenced by what we found on the site,” he adds.
The design process was intuitive and responsive, shaped by the landscape, the needs of the family, and what architect Gabe Hodge describes as “a willingness to allow the house to be guided into being.” “We tried to make as few decisions as possible that weren’t influenced by what we found on the site,” he adds.
Inside the timber volume, living spaces unfold with long views through the trees—which are enjoyed by both the family and the family dog, Aspen. The elevation draws in northern light and allows the residents to feel immersed in the seasons without sacrificing comfort.
Inside the timber volume, living spaces unfold with long views through the trees—which are enjoyed by both the family and the family dog, Aspen. The elevation draws in northern light and allows the residents to feel immersed in the seasons without sacrificing comfort.
The open-plan living and dining area frames views of the surrounding woodland through expansive Marvin Ultimate windows with a Douglas fir interior. “Even on dreary days, the house still brings in a lot of natural light,” says Jenn. “It doesn't feel overwhelming and it doesn’t feel like we’ve sacrificed privacy.”
The open-plan living and dining area frames views of the surrounding woodland through expansive Marvin Ultimate windows with a Douglas fir interior. “Even on dreary days, the house still brings in a lot of natural light,” says Jenn. “It doesn't feel overwhelming and it doesn’t feel like we’ve sacrificed privacy.”
The home also contains a self-contained in-law suite (pictured here) with a separate entrance. It connects to the home through sliding screen doors.
The home also contains a self-contained in-law suite (pictured here) with a separate entrance. It connects to the home through sliding screen doors.
Finishes were left intentionally unvarnished
Finishes were left intentionally unvarnished
The home is meant to appear raw and unvarnished, with framing left intentionally exposed and a restrained pilot used throughout the design.
The home is meant to appear raw and unvarnished, with framing left intentionally exposed and a restrained pilot used throughout the design.
After completing the private residence, Workshop is now leveraging a similar prefab panel to renovate a 16-unit seniors residence that will meet EnerPHit, which is the Passive House standard for renovations.
After completing the private residence, Workshop is now leveraging a similar prefab panel to renovate a 16-unit seniors residence that will meet EnerPHit, which is the Passive House standard for renovations.
Workshop collaborated closely with
Workshop collaborated closely with
“Unfinished House is a two bedroom, two bathroom 1,400 square foot home in Canada that is a prototype for panelized prefabricated construction with a high-performance envelope,” says Workshop Architecture. “Panelized prefab means that instead of being framed on site, the house comes flat-packed on a truck, a jigsaw puzzle of 8-to-16 foot-wide pieces that have the structure, insulation, and vapor barrier all pre-assembled.”
“Unfinished House is a two bedroom, two bathroom 1,400 square foot home in Canada that is a prototype for panelized prefabricated construction with a high-performance envelope,” says Workshop Architecture. “Panelized prefab means that instead of being framed on site, the house comes flat-packed on a truck, a jigsaw puzzle of 8-to-16 foot-wide pieces that have the structure, insulation, and vapor barrier all pre-assembled.”
Floor plan of Palapa Concreta by Lasala & Lasala
Floor plan of Palapa Concreta by Lasala & Lasala
Dwell’s managing editor, Jack Balderrama Morley, tested out the company’s latest model, nicknamed the O-Frame, a wooden prefab designed by architecture firm oioioi.
Dwell’s managing editor, Jack Balderrama Morley, tested out the company’s latest model, nicknamed the O-Frame, a wooden prefab designed by architecture firm oioioi.
Ernesto Pérez Rea Juncá and Pablo Germenos Garcia of oioioi wanted to design a luxurious space on an economical budget. “You get rid of what’s not necessary, and you get the simplest way possible,” Germenos Garcia says.
Ernesto Pérez Rea Juncá and Pablo Germenos Garcia of oioioi wanted to design a luxurious space on an economical budget. “You get rid of what’s not necessary, and you get the simplest way possible,” Germenos Garcia says.
“There are a lot of cool and very beautiful cabins being designed, but they all look alike,” Pérez Rea Juncá says. “The generic wooden cabin—it’s always this natural-pine tone,” says Germenos Garcia. The O-Frame uses pine plywood for the walls and ceiling and uses treated pine planks for the floor, but it’s all stained in dark and earthy colors.
“There are a lot of cool and very beautiful cabins being designed, but they all look alike,” Pérez Rea Juncá says. “The generic wooden cabin—it’s always this natural-pine tone,” says Germenos Garcia. The O-Frame uses pine plywood for the walls and ceiling and uses treated pine planks for the floor, but it’s all stained in dark and earthy colors.
High ceilings and framed views create a distinctive experience, which continues with Wander Cabins’ guided outdoor adventures, such as a hike down the slopes.
High ceilings and framed views create a distinctive experience, which continues with Wander Cabins’ guided outdoor adventures, such as a hike down the slopes.
Floor plan of O-Frame by oioioi
Floor plan of O-Frame by oioioi
Verdant spruce clads the T-shaped plan, which has a pile foundation that minimizes concrete and wood fiber insulation.
Verdant spruce clads the T-shaped plan, which has a pile foundation that minimizes concrete and wood fiber insulation.

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