Foley Ridge Cabin

Foley Ridge Cabin, completed by On Site Architecture in 2015, is a bedroom addition to a single-room dwelling in Stuart, Virginia. The site occupies a steeply sloped clearing, accessible only by a dirt trail, and offers wide views toward the Blue Ridge Mountains. The brief called for expanding the residence with minimal impact on the land while maintaining connections to its varied natural surroundings. The design presents as a galvanized steel volume raised on two concrete walls and placed perpendicular to the slope to preserve natural drainage. Interior spaces are shaped from this monolithic form and reflect a restrained, homogenous material palette. Each room aligns with a distinct view: the northwest-facing maple-lined bedroom rises to the full gable for mountain sunsets; a southeast-oriented child’s room looks into the surrounding deciduous forest and catches morning sunlight; and a concrete bathroom opens solely to the eastern sky. These spaces are linked by a wedge-shaped corridor that both connects to the existing dwelling and serves as an internal bridge. The project draws from Appalachian traditions of economy and craft, employing simple materials assembled with careful attention to detail.