Architecture Wednesday: The Mountain Refuge

A couple of weeks ago I gave you big—over 11,000 square feet—and expensive—nearly thirty million dollars—and so I opted to continue the trend … except for the size and the cost.

This one, the Mountain Refuge, designed by Italian architects Massimo Gnocchi and Paolo Danesi, is a contemporary interpretation of old traditional mountain … or coastal …  cabin, bringing in architectural character and spatial quality and trying to strike a balance between sustainability and design.

The cabin is proposed as a wooden structure built from two modules, covering a total floor area of 258 square feet. But it has the same soaring ceilings as the mansion from last week; it has the same wooden elements, and, like that massive home, it has a spectacular view.

And, if you are so inclined, and need a few more square feet, you can add another module for an additional 129 square feet! The Mountain Refuge can also be a Lake Refuge … or Beach Refuge or Valley Refuge … as no poured-concrete is required to build it. Now, to be fair, in some locations with more extreme conditions, you may need at least a thin concrete slab.

The interiors are finished with exposed plywood, while the exterior plywood is coated with black pine tar, lending the dark, warm look together with water-proofing. The rear of the cabin is completely closed off to the elements—save for a front door—but the front facade has an entire wall of glass, opening up the tiny space to invite the landscape inside.

It's all you need … kitchen, living, bed and bath … along with whatever view happens to await you wherever you settle this one down.

Design Boom