A tiny cabin compound in an old quarry | GO Logic

January 27, 2016

A trio of tiny cabins sits among jumbled chunks of broken granite on Vinalhaven, an island in Maine’s Penobscot Bay. The site was once a quarry but vegetation is slowly growing back, returning the land to a more natural state. The cabin compound was designed by the architects at GO Logic to serve as a seasonal vacation retreat.

The two smaller structures are sleeping cabins, each with its own bath, while the slightly larger one is the living, dining and kitchen pavilion. The cabins are positioned in a U-shape configuration and joined by a series of decks and walkways, creating semi-sheltered outdoor spaces between them.

Each cabin sits at a slightly different height determined by the topography. The cabins and decks are supported by pier foundations, minimizing the impact of construction on the site and allowing them to float over the surrounding vegetation.

The tiny cabins have a pretty minimalist design. The simple gable-roofed boxes recall the characteristic fishermans’ cottages and sheds on Vinalhaven. Interior ornament was kept to a minimum, allowing the natural surroundings to take precedence.

Sliding glass doors connect the owners and their guests to the landscape, beckoning them outside. The large glass panes were placed at the corners of each cabin, maximizing the sense of space by drawing the eye along the long diagonal dimension.

The cabins shells are formed from cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels. The prefabricated panels consist of several alternating layers of lumber glued into a solid sandwich and cut to the exact shapes and sizes needed. The inside faces of the panels serve as the finish surface with just a coat of paint.

The exteriors are covered by standing-seam metal roofs and a rain-screen siding of spaced cedar boards that will eventually weather to a silver gray. Sliding shutters on barn door tracks provide privacy, light control and security in the off-season.