The Woodlands Hideout

The intention behind this build was really to create a small yet comfortable space, that someone could escape from the city, escape from cell service and hopefully their phone, and be immersed in the natural world for an extended amount of time. The idea of the writer's cabin was a big part of the inspiration. But more than just a space for writers to write, the space was meant to be a place for creatives to refuel. I wanted to create a space that was simple and minimalist and really was more about the surrounding landscape than the inside. I wanted the space to feel cozy and safe for someone to stay by themselves or with another, but I wanted the space to melt away and direct the attention out the windows.

One of the main design constraints was creating a structure that could be transportable, as I wasn't sure how long we would have the property or if I wanted this one place to be the only place the building would sit. I loved this idea of a nomadic structure, but didn't want it to sit on a trailer with tires like tiny homes. And while at first I was drawn toward basing the build off of a shipping container, it felt too restrictive width wise. So I decided on a size that was 10' wide, 20' long, and 10' tall, and being inspired by how shipping containers are loaded and unloaded, I decided to create a steel skeleton frame that would give the whole unit more rigidity when in transport, especially considering there were some pretty large pieces of glass going in.

While originally I had grand visions of building the space completely by myself, I quickly realized that was going to be impossible. So I was lucky to find a good friend that was also connected to the vision, to help build and invest in the project.

Together we discussed what needed to be included in the space, and in order to get the amenities we wanted into the small building envelope and at the same time integrating a sloping roof, we needed to utilize every cubic inch of the volume. This is where it got really interesting, trying our best to make sure we incorporated key amenities while not sacrificing the simplicity of the space. When it came to choosing exposed materials, We really tried to minimize the number of different materials we integrate, to help aid in simplicity. We ended up choosing materials that were honest to what they were and served a very specific function. Even though the OSB we used on the walls, ceiling, and cabinetry, isn't typically used as a finish material, we love its texture and warm tones. Additionally, in the bathroom and shower we used a material that I have never seen used as a finished material, but instead is what some internal boat parts are made of due to its waterproof, lightweight, and strong nature. With a little bit of sanding and a sealer to make it more wipeable, it turned out to be perfect for our use case. In the end, for being less than 200 sq ft, the space feels expansive, and checks so many boxes for amenities we valued besides the view; namly a wood burnings stove, a hot shower, toilet, and a way to make some good coffee in the morning.