lakeside cabin
One of several projects set within the grounds of our Lakeside House project, this woodland cabin provides accommodation for visiting friends and family. The brief was to locate the cabin within the nearby woodland, in walking distance of the house whilst maintaining a sense of seclusion and privacy.
The chosen site occupies an existing natural clearing within the pioneer tree species that occupy the southern reaches of the garden bordering the lake. We worked closely with the clients and arboricultural consultant to find a site that entailed minimal impact on the existing trees. The chosen site requires just one young tree to be felled, with the tapered form of the building responding to the more established surrounding trees.
Accessed by foot only, the cabin makes use of a historic pathway leading down through the woodland towards the shore of the lake. The sloping nature of the site allowed us to form a two storey building that followed the existing ground whilst keeping the roof height as seen from the house as low as possible. The result is a building that feels expansive and open to the surrounding woodland yet is almost entirely screened from view from the house. From the lake itself, existing tree screening hides the cabin from view throughout most of the year, with just glimpses visible through the branches in the winter months.
The wedge-shaped profile allows the building to slot into the natural clearing but also contrasts the verticality and irregular forms of the surrounding trees. This simple form allows for two levels to sit comfortably and elegantly in amongst the trees. The ground floor is entered via a ramp from the old contouring path with the lower floor tucked under as the slope falls away. The ground floor includes the primary accommodation spaces with the kitchen, open plan living and dining to the south providing views into the woodland canopy and some small glimpses down to the lake. A utility room and small WC are tucked away to the side at the entrance The lower level is split over 3 intermediate levels to accommodate the slope of the site and includes two double bedrooms with a family bathroom. The master bedroom is located to the south, so as to enjoy the glimpsed views down through the trees to the lake.
The building hovers above the woodland floor, its pile supports touching the ground lightly, echoing the surrounding tree trunks. The experience is that of living in a tree house, surrounded by trees, embracing and enjoying the spirit of the woodland.
Explore the other Lakeside projects we are working on:
Team
Client : Private
Quantity Surveyor : Morham & Brotchie Partnership
Structural Engineer: David Narro Associates
M&E Engineers: Irons Foulner
Landscape Designer: Secret Gardens Design
Arboricultural Consultant: Donald Rodger Associates
Ecology Consultants: Findlay Ecology Services & The Wildlife Partnership