nature conservancy cabin

With the Nature Conservancy in need of a replacement for their dilapidated and uninhabitable structure near the shores of the pristine and Conservancy protected Independence Lake, the approach of the design for the cabin was to reuse available resources and minimize impact of both construction and operation.

Independence Lake, CA

Year-round

Thus,thefacilityisusableyear-roundinanycondition.

resources on site

The new facility to be used by staff, guests, and occasionally large groups utilizes solar power and battery back-up, as well as harvests water from the nearby spring. Tree thinning in the area provided material for items such as casework, railings and siding, much of which was milled on site.

Cedar-clad cabin with a wraparound deck and tall windows framed by pine trunks — 01 Among the pines

simplicity of form

Cabin with dark metal and cedar siding and an exterior stair to the upper level — 02 Two levels of access

Cedar stair tower leading to the upper-level entry beside the dark metal wing — 03 Upper-level entry

Tall cedar gable with large windows and a steep metal roof against a blue sky — 04 Gable end

Built for snow

two levels of access

Simplicity of form and creating two-levels of access into the cabin allowed the structure to properly handle the large snow falls common to the area during the winter months.

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