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Contemporary A-frame Cabin With A Soaring Ceiling And Huge Windows

By Simona Ganea | Published on

No matter how you look at it, this is one of the most exemplary A-frame cabins one can think of. It was designed by Todd Gordon Mather Architect and is located in the Lake Tahoe region, in California. It may not be your typical rustic mountain retreat but you can still definitely see a few key elements scattered around, such as the stone fireplace or the barn doors. Everything has a polished and modern look yet somehow the cabin retains a very warm and cozy character.

Staying true to the A-frame design guidelines, the cabin's roof extends all the way to the groundView in gallery
Staying true to the A-frame design guidelines, the cabin’s roof extends all the way to the ground
Large windows open up the entire cabin and let in lots of natural sunlightView in gallery
Large windows open up the entire cabin and let in lots of natural sunlight

The project entitled Phoenix Rising was completed in 2019. The architects chose a contemporary design approach, giving the cabin a very clean and simple geometry. There are 1,700 square feet of living space in total and although the cabin has a relatively small footprint its interior is surprisingly airy and open. The 34 foot high ceiling and the huge windows definitely have a lot to do with that. Also, the design is not really as simple as the glazed facades would suggest and there’s actually a lot of diversity in this project.

One of the roof lines extends outwards to form a protective wall View in gallery
One of the roof lines extends outwards to form a protective wall
The entrance is positioned on one side of the cabin, breaking the straight lines of the roofView in gallery
The entrance is positioned on one side of the cabin, breaking the straight lines of the roof
On this side there's also a set of small windows that protrude from the roof, adding depth to the designView in gallery
On this side there’s also a set of small windows that protrude from the roof, adding depth to the design
The entrance facade has a very inviting design, reminiscent of rustic mountain cabinsView in gallery
The entrance facade has a very inviting design, reminiscent of rustic mountain cabins
Strategically placed openings provide views towards the beautiful surroundingsView in gallery
Strategically placed openings provide views towards the beautiful surroundings
The glazed facade also include large glass doors which open up and allow the living spaces to extend outsideView in gallery
The glazed facade also include large glass doors which open up and allow the living spaces to extend outside
The bedrooms are small and cozy, with small-scale windows and soothing color schemesView in gallery
The bedrooms are small and cozy, with small-scale windows and soothing color schemes
Natural wood was used extensively throughout the interior design, adding warmth to all the spacesView in gallery
Natural wood was used extensively throughout the interior design, adding warmth to all the spaces
The impressive ceiling height is one of the defining design features of this entire projectView in gallery
The impressive ceiling height is one of the defining design features of this entire project
Modern barn doors were seamlessly incorporated into the design, as an homage to rustic cabinsView in gallery
Modern barn doors were seamlessly incorporated into the design, as an homage to rustic cabins
Even the upstairs areas feel very bright and open despite the pitched roofView in gallery
Even the upstairs areas feel very bright and open despite the pitched roof
Another rustic reference is the stone fireplace which is present in the main living areaView in gallery
Another rustic reference is the stone fireplace which is present in the main living area
A large chandelier is hanging at the center of the living area, between the kitchen and the loungeView in gallery
A large chandelier is hanging at the center of the living area, between the kitchen and the lounge
Various shades of blue are seamlessly incorporated into the decor, most notable on the ground floorView in gallery
Various shades of blue are seamlessly incorporated into the decor, most notable on the ground floor
The kitchen island is multifunctional and has a built-in sinkView in gallery
The kitchen island is multifunctional and has a built-in sink
The common areas are all combined into one big space on the ground floorView in gallery
The common areas are all combined into one big space on the ground floor
A classic black and white striped pattern was chosen for the staircase which connects the two floorsView in gallery
A classic black and white striped pattern was chosen for the staircase which connects the two floors