Lake Nubanusit Cabin

A 1950s summer cabin on Lake Nubanusit underwent a transformation to accommodate a sustainable year-round residence. The goals were to maintain the interior cabin character with the exposed wall framing and wall boards, and yet to modernize and update the building so that it could grow into the future with its new family. A new ‘coat’ of insulation was designed to cover the original frame and wallboards, enabling a continuation of the interior camp feel. The west wall was entirely opened to connect with lake. A second-floor attic area was converted into a bedroom with continuous window opening from the floor below. An addition for a first-floor dining room with large sliding glass doors out to the lake was incorporated. The roof of this addition was designed as a deck for the new master bedroom. Rot resistant cedar was used to cover the new coat of insulation, complete with rain screen. Vertical boards were meticulously laid out to align with modern window openings, keeping the details minimal to push the 1950s modernism that the cabin now celebrates. The carpenter who originally built the ‘frame’ of the cottage had three thumbs, which inspired the original owners to commission a modern hex sign that is hung on the front gable of the cabin to ward off bad karma, so it was restored for talismanic purposes. Katie began design work on the project in the office of Scully Architects, and then took the show on the road, completing the design and overseeing the construction as she kicked off her new practice in New Hampshire in 2015.