Nestled against a rock ledge above Icicle Creek, this vacation cabin for a young family takes the form of two separate boxes set beneath a wing-shaped roof. One box houses the daytime functions of cooking, eating and gathering and the other the evening functions of sleeping and bathing. The boxes are entered from a breezeway supported by two log posts harvested from the site. From the carport/utility shed below, a footpath leads one between the cabin and the rock ledge to the breezeway, which frames dramatic mountain views as one enters the cabin.

Several unusual challenges informed the design. The remote site is off the grid and accessible only by snowshoe or skis in the winter months. In response, photovoltaic panels placed near the utility shed fulfill the cabin’s electrical needs while wood and propane provide heat. A built-in daybed in the living half of the cabin allows the family to inhabit only this space in extreme conditions. Integrated slatted wood panels slide over window and door openings to secure the cabin when unoccupied. In addition to providing a covered entry, the breezeway is a refuge from the harsh winds and sun that buffet the site for much of the year. The broad sheet metal roof, metal windows and guardrails, and non-combustible decking help to protect the cabin from wildfires that occasionally impact the site.