On the shores of the Coeur D’Alene Lake in northern Idaho, this residence designed by the practice of Uptic Studios represents a contemporary interpretation of a traditional log cabin, a beloved structure in the countryside of North America. The client’s brief was to provide a vacation home for a three generation family with special attention paid to the issue of privacy and needs of each age group, balanced by the enjoyment of communal family living.
As the site is situated on a steep cliff, a natural drainage route for underwater springs which can become a stream at certain times of the year, solidity was given to the base of the structure by placing the wooden frame on a concrete foundation and the horizontal home was divided by a bridged gap to allow for the water to follow its natural course down the hillside.
The view of the lake was of utmost importance for the family and as such the need for columns on the lake facade was avoided, thanks to a specially designed steel beam to support the cantilevered roof and provide an uninterrupted view, enhancing the effect of the indoor/outdoor space as the open plan living room extends seamlessly onto the deck.
Vast expanses of wood throughout the interior provides a rural feel which merges with the contemporary functional family vibe. Every effort was made to ensure that the everyday requirements of this close knit family were satisfied from the private spaces to the generously sized communal living spaces in this very elegant ‘log cabin’!
