INITIAL ANALYSIS OF THE CABIN
Contextual Information, wind roses for Hayden Lake, Idaho, Summer and Winter
FIRMNESS - A HOUSE AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL FILTER
Aspects of the Chicken Point Cabin Design which encompass this notion include;
- A 'little house, big window' mentality. Completely opening the house up to the view
- The orientation of the cabin, positoned to take advantage of the views and optimal winter sunlight
- A pitched roof, to allow in additional light
- Highly insulated glazing on the front windows
- Ribbon windows running around the roof line, to allow in additional light and provide views to the sky
- Thick, heavy set walls which act as thermal mass
- The pivoting 'window', which allows for good ventilation, especially in the warm and stuffy summer months
- Maximum advantage has been taken of the view
- Surrounding proportions carried through the design, namely the main entrance door.
SITE CONDITION - DESIGN RESPONSE DIAGRAMS
COMMODITY - A HOUSE AS A CONTAINER OF HUMAN ACTIVITY
Aspects of the cabin which encompass this notion include;
- Emphasis on the journey, a transitional sequence from the entrance to the main living space
- Partial connections between private and public spaces, occupants are offered a glimpse of private areas
- Multi-functional room, the main living space. The heart of the house. Central locale for the family occupants
- The owners wanted to live open to the lakeside and use the cabin all year round, both requests have been factored into the design and accomplished
- The cabin accomodates all family memember, a child's strength can even pivot the six ton steel window.
SPATIAL ARRANGEMENT AND TRANSITION
SEQUENCING AND TRANSITION
DELIGHT - A HOUSE AS A DELIGHTFUL EXERIENCE
Aspects of the cabin which encompass this notion include;
- The materiality of the house, predominantly natural materials have been used and in most cases left unfinished as to acquire a natural patina.
- The open plan notion of this design means that the scents and sounds of the surrounding landscape would permeate much of the space, particularly the scent of pine
- The cabin has almost a physical connection with nature, the unfinished walls and bare concrete floors would be cold under feet, grounded the user to the location, reminding them of their poistion in the landscape
- Unadorned walls, mean that the structure inadvertantly becomes art in the space
- There is no disconnection between the materials, the idea and the function of the building
- The entry sequence is a series of deliberate design choices to heighten the experience and engage the users emotion
- The house exhibits 'second glance' architecture, it gives more to you, the longer you are there, connections which become evident only with time, for example the form of the sink and fireplace.
THE DESIGN PARTI
FORMAL DIAGRAMS - LOUIS KAHN'S FAMOUS 10 LINES OF ARHITECTURAL INTENTION
SPATIAL EXPERIENCE
Chicken Point Cabin although considerable small and compact, has a highly choreographed entry sequence, the journey in a sense cresendos. Initally, you are greeted by a nineteen foot metal door, proportioned to compliment the surrounding pine trees. Passing through this surreal entrance, a floating staricase then draws your attention; leading to the second floor loft, it serves a dual function. It screens the kitchen and dining space and offers a glimpse into private areas of the house.
Kundig (2010), remarked that, "with a cabin, you can almost play games like for example by placing the most public entry on centre with private areas of the house". A contradiction to conventional planning. He goes on to further explain, that cabins are "sort of stripping away the cultural articles that sometimes a house means inside the city. They're almost primitive in a sense, in the way of meeting primal needs".
This hovering 'bridge' is an extension of the plywood sleeping loft which has been inserted into the main living space and acts as a retreat away from the central family area.Following the entry you're constricted to a narrow, bare floored passage, before the space explodes into a double height living area. The heart of the house.
The immediate facade a huge steel and glass window, pivots with minimal force to provide an uninterupted view of the landscape and direct access to the lake. A fireplace central to this space makes for a peaceful and encompassing atmosphere. Again Kundig (2010), sums up that, "a house isn't just about windows and doors, but windows and doors that make you feel something."Dung, N., Kundig, T. (2006). Tom Kundig: houses. New York: Princeton Architectual Press.
Kundig, T. (2010).Tom Kundig. Int. J. Murdock. Retrieved March 5, 2010 from, http://archrecord.construction.com/features/interviews/0708TomKundig/0708TomKundig-1.asp.
Olson Kundig Architects. (2010). Chicken Point Cabin. Photos by Benjamin Benschneider. Retrieved 5 March, 2010, from http://www.olsonkundigarchitects.com/Projects/101/Chicken-Point-Cabin.
Riegal, R. (2004, May 7) Architect Tom Kundig brings creativity, open mind to projects. Daily Journal of Commerce, p. 1.
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