A rural cabin channels Nordic design on a family farm in Ohio

Concealed by dense woodland, this cabin is precisely as its creator intended; an off-grid retreat designed for respite and peace of mind. Suspended on a minimalistic foundation of concrete piers, the structure sits atop a high bank overlooking a lake, its compact dimensions and cedar shingle-clad exterior emphasising its camouflage within the immediate surroundings.
The cabin sits on the Ohio family farm of architect Greg Dutton, who designed the structure and built it with his father and brother Chris. With offices in Columbus and Pittsburgh, his firm, Midland Architecture, has recently grown in size and reputation – notably snagging an IFRAA award in the process – but the Appalachian vernacular of his upbringing is an ever-present influence in his designs. Specifically, the cabin is his third project on the farm, the land part of a former strip mine slowly reclaimed by grassland and forest. The latter was a decisive factor in the architect’s empathetic approach to the surrounding land; this included the use of recycled rainwater and solar energy to sustain its occupants.
The minimalist structure is a retreat for the Dutton family.
Inside, pared-back interiors demonstrate the architect’s mantra of simplicity and functionality, with a pronounced Nordic aesthetic: bleached Eastern Pine floors and walls clad in white painted lap panelling demonstrate civility without straying far from the cabin’s natural surroundings. Opening the door into the open-plan living space-cum-bedroom reveals a soaring deciduous panorama, courtesy of floor-to-ceiling windows; meanwhile, a wood burner in the centre of the room acts as a well-placed accent.
At 600 sq ft, space is at a premium, a reality that spearheaded a host of details, such as custom-designed cabinets and countertops that maximise kitchen storage, while the bathroom doubles as a wet room. ‘The architecture I love is about craft and attention to detail,’ Dutton says. ‘When you marry that approach to a beautiful site, magic can happen. That was the goal from the start of the project.’
The structure sits on the family farm, which used to be a former strip mine.
Inside, the architect mixes Appalachian vernacular with Nordic aesthetics.
At the same time, the architect went for simplicity and functionality.
The retreat’s internal walls are clad in white painted lap panelling.
Bleached Eastern Pine floors define the interior.
The whole project spans a modest 600 sq ft.
The cabin also uses recycled rainwater and solar energy.
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the Midland Architecture website
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
-
Mondrian makes waves at Burleigh Heads with a striking Australian debut
Mondrian Gold Coast emerges as a sculptural new anchor for Burleigh Heads, pairing surf-side glamour with global polish
-
Introducing the design-led Split Watches, a force for good
Good design is given a charitable spin by Split Watches – for every one sold, the company donates an hour of therapy
-
Meet the New York-based artists destabilising the boundaries of society
A new show in London presents seven young New York-based artists who are pushing against the borders between refined aesthetics and primal materiality
-
Inside a Montana house, putting the American West's landscape at its heart
A holiday house in the Montana mountains, designed by Walker Warner Architects and Gachot Studios, scales new heights to create a fresh perspective on communing with the natural landscape
-
Peel back this Michigan lakeside house’s cool slate exterior to reveal a warm wooden home
In Detroit, Michigan, this lakeside house, a Y-shaped home by Disbrow Iannuzzi Architects, creates a soft balance between darkness and light through its minimalist materiality
-
Inside the new theatre at Jacob’s Pillow and its ‘magic box’, part of a pioneering complex designed for dance
Jacob’s Pillow welcomes the reborn Doris Duke Theatre by Mecanoo, a new space that has just opened in the beloved Berkshires cultural hub for the summer season
-
A Rancho Mirage home is in tune with its location and its architect-owners’ passions
Architect Steven Harris and his collaborator and husband, designer Lucien Rees Roberts, have built a home in Rancho Mirage, surrounded by some of America’s most iconic midcentury modern works; they invited us on a tour
-
Inside Frank Lloyd Wright’s Laurent House – a project built with accessibility at its heart
The dwelling, which you can visit in Illinois, is a classic example of Wright’s Usonian architecture, and was also built for a client with a disability long before accessibility was widely considered
-
Tour this fire-resilient minimalist weekend retreat in California
A minimalist weekend retreat was designed as a counterpoint to a San Francisco pied-à-terre; Edmonds + Lee Architects’ Amnesia House in Napa Valley is a place for making memories
-
A New Zealand house on a rugged beach exemplifies architect Tom Kundig's approach in rich, yet understated luxury
This coastal home, featured in 'Tom Kundig: Complete Houses', a new book launch in the autumn by Monacelli Press, is a perfect example of its author's approach to understated luxury. We spoke to Tom Kundig, the architect behind it
-
Tour architect Paul Schweikher’s house, a Chicago midcentury masterpiece
Now hidden in the Chicago suburbs, architect Paul Schweikher's former home and studio is an understated midcentury masterpiece; we explore it, revisiting a story from the Wallpaper* archives, first published in April 2009