Alan Maskin, a principal and owner of Olson Kundig Architects has renovated his personal cabin retreat, located on Bainbridge Island, Washington. A second-floor addition provides this cabin with sweeping views over Agate Passage, a high-current tidal strait on the Olympic Peninsula. The scope of this 1,100 square foot project entailed the remodel and addition of a 1938 beach cabin — including interior design, art curation, custom furnishings and landscape design.
Throughout, modern design interventions delineate the house’s two different eras: the 1930s and today. Maskin designed several custom furniture pieces and casework elements throughout the home. Many incorporate glulam engineered plywood as the main material, including a daybed in the living room, an armoire, and a bed with built-in storage underneath.
It took roughly six months to secure the building permit and an additional seven months for the remodel and addition. This was a dream project for the architect and he got to work on the transformation. The original home was just a single story, featuring low 7′-6″ ceiling heights and an attic. Interior walls and ceiling were clad with wide plank Douglas fir. It was largely uninsulated and the electric baseboard heating and electrical wiring were faulty.
Underneath the upper level terrace is the original heated porch. This space was transformed into a large dining room to host up to ten guests and a home office for the architect.
Windows frame views of two outdoor gardens; a shade garden added under a large tree, along with a sun garden to the north. This garden is brimming with hardy plants that were inspired by the architects travel to tropical destinations.
Any original wood panels throughout the cabin that were taken down for alteration were repurposed into the new additions. This included the cabinetry, ceilings and storage areas.
The project required new fixtures and appliances in the bathroom and kitchen, including a wood stove that was replaced. A low ceiling in the living room was removed, while the attic space was transformed into a cathedral ceiling that soars 17-feet tall at the gable. New foundations were added, while a steel frame ties the foundations, building and roof together structurally — pertinent in earthquake zones.
What We Love: This renovated cabin has been beautifully preserved and modernized to provide a fabulous sanctuary for an architect. We are loving the fantastic water views and the garden oasis that surrounds this home. There are plenty of unique design details throughout, from the custom furnishings and built-ins to the second story bedroom and terrace. The former porch transformed into an office/dining space is a great re-purpose of space.
Tell Us: What do you think of the overall transformation of this home? What elements do you love and what would you change if this were your cabin retreat? Let us know in the Comments!
Note: Take a look at another inspiring home tour that we have featured here on One Kindesign from the portfolio of the architects of this home: Tiny cabin retreat in the woods of Washington inspires inner peace.
The cabin features a collection of works by Scott Fife, Sutton/Beres/Culler, Leiv Fagereng, Karen Rudd, Rebecca (Raven) Lucan, Chris Crites, David Eisenhour, Mary Larson and Klara Glosova amongst others.
The architect designed most of the built-in furnishings and cabinetry found throughout this compact home. Custom pieces were fabricated out of glulam plywood as the main material. This includes the leather and steel daybed in the living room.
A new staircase was constructed into the interior (replacing a ladder), featuring orange plexiglass risers to filter light into the bathroom under the stairs.
The second story addition encompasses a large bedroom, boasting floor-to-ceiling glazing that frames water views. Additionally, a terrace was added to the second level, nestled into the leaves of an old maple tree.
A plywood armoire and a plywood bed with built-in storage was designed by the architect. The flooring is fashioned out of wood from old glue laminated (glulam) beams from demolished buildings.
On the exterior facade, the new/modernized portions of the cabin were sided with corrugated zinc. This is a product composed mainly from a recycled zinc material.
PHOTOGRAPHER Aaron Lietz
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