Cabin in the Woods
Advanced Architecture/12th Grade STEM Research
September 2021
Revit Floorplan
This "Weekend Getaway" was designed with 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. This home is going to be located in a secluded forest somewhere in Vermont. Using dark siding and natural wood finishes, allows the home to blend in. My goal for this design was to create a cozy space for family bonding, while staying under 1,000 square feet. This home has a relatively large grand room containing the kitchen and living area with access to a back deck that is about 500 square feet. I separated the living and sleeping space by splitting the house down the middle and offsetting it. Both bedrooms are designed to be about 11.5 x 14.5, which are a cozy size for a small house like this one. Both bedrooms have 5x2 closets for noise cancellation and storage. In the hallway leading to the bedrooms and bathroom I also included 2 linen closets for extra storage. The bathroom is a standard 5x8.
Revit Elevations
I envisioned this home to blend in with the area surrounding it. I wanted to use black board and batten siding and wood accents so it would not take away from the trees surrounding the property. One of my favorite parts of this design is the vaulted ceilings, and large windows. The clerestory window incorporated in this design is a great way to get natural light into the grand room. The floor to ceiling windows throughout the house gives the home a more modern look. Clearly larger windows are popular for letting in natural light, the unorthodox design of the windows coming all the way to the floor gives the opportunity to appreciate nature in a new way. Imagine sitting by the fireplace and seeing a deer walk by your window. The large windows leave little opportunity to miss the unexpected visitors that nature can bring.
3D Model
This project was the first time I got to make a 3D model out of my design. This project was a great learning experience for me. My patience was constantly being tested and at some points the project became very frustrating. Every time I began to get frustrated I would think about the end of the project when I finally get to see my design fully come together. Using foam core for the walls and roof and thin wood strips for the detail I finally finished the 3D model after a few weeks of working during my class period. Using printouts I added the black board and batten siding and the stone on the bottom. Adding this detail really helped me get the full look of this house. This project was fun for me getting to practice what I hope to be doing for a living in the future. Although there were imperfections I enjoyed working on this project and I am happy with the finished product.
Interior
The interior design aspect of this project helped me create the best floorplan for this home. This opened my eyes to seeing the differences between architecture and interior design. I found a love for both, I enjoy the practical and logistical side of architecture and interior design is the more relaxing and creative part where I can try new styles and color palettes. Using an app I transferred my floorplan over and began designing the interior, so I knew this design was practical. I like doing this because I can map out a space for possible furniture placement, I can design the entire kitchen, and I can walk through the house in 3D mode to really understand how this home would feel in real life.
Summary
I started this design in 10th grade during my first architecture class. This year in my 12th Grade STEM class and my Advanced Architecture class, I worked to improve the design with less restrictions than in 10th grade. I also had the opportunity to model my design and really see a 3D version of the house I worked so hard on. This project opened my eyes to seeing everything an architect does. They do not just draw a couple walls and windows and call it a home. There are many aspects of the home that require more thought than others. Making the 3D model helped me practice patience and precision to get the best results possible. Overall, this project made me enjoy architecture and the entire process of it so much more.