The owners are avid campers and camped on the property for several years before building a small cabin. They expressed a desire to maintain as open a building as possible and to have a facility which provides simple shelter to be used as a retreat from their mostly out-of-doors activities. In this camping spirit, the outer structure is analogous to a tent fly, permitting the inner, “exposed” structure to accommodate a free circulation of air and distribution of light. Although the outer structure could have been easily supported with solid beams, trusses were selected to enhance the movement of ventilating air and to promote a heightened sense of a filtering play of light. The line of skylights will allow the changing arc of the sun to further enhance this play of light with a varying, but controlled, angular display.

A separate wing to the south, which houses the bathroom, laundry and mechanical functions, is reminiscent of the privy that once served the original cabin and also helps to maintain an “arms length” distance from the public access easement.

The use of the house will be shared by members of an extended family and a unique requirement was for flexible accommodations. The sleeping loft was designed to accommodate a variety of sleeping arrangements. The loft can be readily changed into one, two, three or four-sleeping space arrangements by rearranging easily moved modules.

This house is intended to provide a modest and efficient summer lodging and was planned to be open and flexible.