Viewing existing conditions as opportunities, the new cabin and bathhouse serves as a backbone to provide order and amenity to the site’s four existing,  structures. With a design informed by restraint, attention to details, craft, and materials, the structure is carved into the hillside to allow existing structures to remain dominant in the landscape and to respect the history of the site. The building encompasses multiple programmatic elements in one structure, serving as owner’s quarters, a shared bathhouse, shared laundry, two outdoor showers, and boat/bike storage tucked below  – all while anchoring the west side of the property and connecting site buildings.

Design goals directed a high-efficiency structure that would be exceptional to occupy, with a warm and light interior and moody, rich exterior. The structure borrows its form from the site, which features terraced topography from the access road to the water (the form is rotated 90 degrees and set into the hillside). Clad with shou sugi ban siding, metal roofing, and bright red windows, the richness of the palette anchors the building to the site. Contrasting the exterior, white-stained pine ceiling and maple trim are complimented with walnut cabinets and tile floors. The simple, no-fuss building creates a full-amenity family compound that allows multiple generations to enjoy the rituals of lake life on Whiskey Cove.