A 300-square-foot cabin tucked into a rocky hillside was dubbed Tinyleaf for both its dimensions and treelined surroundings. Sited in north-central Washington’s scenic Methow Valley, the architects considered majestic views and a strong relationship to the topography in its efficient design.
What was your design approach to Tinyleaf?
Tinyleaf serves as an outpost for the site (and future guest studio) prior to any further building. This creative approach allowed our client to establish use of the site much sooner in their planning. A simple interior palette of concrete and wood ties together the space. Much like a ship’s cabin, the interior is like a piece of cabinetry with clever and hidden storage solutions concealed out of sight.
How was Tinyleaf’s design inspired by traditional cabin architecture?
Early log cabins were typically one-room structures, small in scale, providing simple design elements to fulfill the needs of the inhabitants. This attitude toward a small piece of architecture is something that is definitely inspiring to us. Tinyleaf is a great example of a small space that provides everything the owner needs through clever use of space and multifunctional elements.
What is your favorite part of the design?
The relationship to the landscape and hillside was a primary design driver that we love; Tinyleaf berms comfortably into the hillside and opens up to the landscape below.
When it comes to the enduring allure of cabin style, which aspects most appeal to you?
The scale of space and materiality commonly found in cabins throughout the ages is something that allows the user to feel instantly at home. More intimately scaled spaces, simpler living, fewer distractions of modern daily life and typically a deep connection to the place or setting often inspires a quiet but elegant architecture rooted in the use of natural, simple materials and utilitarian design elements, which we certainly admire.
This or That
Pioneering Author: Laura Ingalls Wilder or Willa Cather? Laura Ingalls Wilder. It was a part of our upbringing to read Little House on the Prairie.
Rustic Simplicity: Potbelly stove or wood-burning fireplace? Wood-burning fireplace.
Winter Warmth: Patchwork quilt or Pendleton blanket? Patchwork quilt. Our studio has experienced the fun of quilt making, especially as a collaborative activity.
Architecture: GO’C Studio, Ben Kruse
Structural Engineer: J. Welch Engineering
Photography by Ben Lindbloom.
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