Tom Kundig, co-owner of Olson Kundig Architects in Seattle, will often compare his creative process with mountain climbing, a longtime hobby of the 62-year-old architect who grew up in eastern Washington. “The faster, the cleaner you climb a mountain, the more you engage the landscape,” he says. “You have to face your demons and break through to the elegant solution.”
This approach was particularly useful when designing the 2007 project Rolling Huts – a group of cabins located in the Methow Valley, which Kundig describes as “a relatively remote and unspoiled” corner of northern Washington. After accepting the commission, Kundig learned that zoning restrictions in the area did not permit permanent structures to be built on the site. His elegant solution: put each hut on wheels.
This turned out to yield numerous benefits beyond simply bypassing local legislature. “The site is located on a floodplain, so raising the huts allowed us to help mitigate this environmental risk,” Kundig says. Of course, guests also benefit from an elevated outlook on the valley, which comes with an unobstructed view of the North Cascades and the surrounding forest — a seemingly endless sea of pine and fir trees.
The cabins (six in total) are constructed with rustic, no-maintenance materials like steel, which Kundig chose for its durability and responsiveness to the natural elements. Inside is just 200 square feet of living space, which defers guests to the outdoors — the main draw of the place. “The intention was to be as low-tech and low-impact as possible, so that the materials, the orientation of each hut and the way they touch lightly on the land all worked together to engage the surrounding landscape in a direct but unassuming way,” Kundig says. “Ultimately, I wanted the cabins to take second place to nature.”
Today, the cabins are available to rent as short-term rentals, starting at $145 per night. They come equipped with a small refrigerator, microwave, fireplace and wi-fi, as well as enough space to sleep two; if one were to travel with a small family, modular furniture inside can be configured to accommodate an additional two guests. Nearby, there a numerous hiking and mountain trails, as well as slopes for skiing in the winter. Guests attracted by the architecture of the Rolling Huts, however, can wander to the nearby Delta Shelter, a three-level, 1,000 square-foot cabin also designed by Kundig.
“Cabins remind us of the basic human need for shelter, which is so necessary to our survival,” Kundig says of his fondness for the type of structure. “At the same time, they often defer to and integrate with nature. They remind us that we are but a small part of a bigger system.”
The Bag to Get You There
Measuring roughly 11 x 17 x 5 inches, the compact Oculus duffel from Bottega Veneta is only as large as it needs to be, with adequate space to store everything you might need for a quick business trip or weekend in the woods. It’s constructed from French calf leather and features adjustable straps for comfortable carry by hand or shoulder. Additional details include oversized metal eyelets and a hand-woven pattern, lending to a sleek, modern aesthetic. Buy Now: $4,350
