This Cabin Has Grown From A Simple Bunkhouse To A Retreat For A Family

Back in 1912, the grandparents of Jim Olson (of architecture firm Olson Kundig), built their own summer cottage in Longbranch, Washington.

During summers and weekends, Jim Olson spent plenty of time at the cottage, and at the age of 18 and as first-year architecture student, his dad gave him $500 and told him to “Go build a bunkhouse.” Jim’s tiny 200 square foot cabin sat in the trees, and when the grandparent’s original cottage was destroyed by fire in the 1960’s, it was the only thing left standing.

Since then, that bunkhouse has been remodeled multiple times, and each time the remodel integrates the previous structure rather than replacing it.

Throughout the years, the cabin has had various pavilions linked by wood platforms and in 2003, a unified roof was installed to cover all of the buildings.

In the following years, further additions were added to create a forest retreat that measures in at 2,400 square feet (222sqm).

Inside the cabin, readily available materials, like plywood or recycled boards, have been used for the walls. The furnishings and decor have a simple natural palette, with plenty of neutral tones and textures.

Large windows and glass doors connect the interior with the exterior spaces.

A variety of outdoor spaces enables the family to relax and enjoy the water views.

Over the years and as the size of the cabin expanded, it became necessary to build around a tree.

The cabin has a couple of living areas, and in this case, you can see where different walls connect.

Large windows throughout the cabin provide natural light filtered by the trees.

Here’s a look at one of the bedrooms. It features built-in shelving and windows on either side of the bed.

In the bathroom, a window allows the stones appear to flow from the forest straight into the bathroom.