Our work has an international reach. The Contemporary Cabin project was developed during the first semester of 2016 for a client in Colombia. The design is inspired by a conceptual prototype conceived back in 2010, and adapted to fit the needs of a retired couple willing to build a one-bedroom residential unit in Zipaquira, a growing suburban area located 26 miles north from Bogota. The design, whose aesthetic value resides in a carefully achieved contemporary blend of formal and functional simplicity, came as the result of the intersection of two "cubes" that collide at a 15 degrees angle variation, which adds a component of dynamism to the floor plan layout and shapes a simple yet intriguing building massing. The house incorporates a selection of raw materials such as concrete as the main character, stucco, steel, glass, wood and stone.

The 1,600 sf two-story house is composed of a double height entry vestibule, an integrated kitchen-dining area with built-in cabinetry equipped with a wide countertop that serves as dining table / teppanyaki, a lower leveled double height living room enclosed by large floor to ceiling glass panels that offer a stunning view of the Bogota Savanna, a half bathroom and a laundry room on the first floor. The second floor houses a large mezzanine-style bedroom with a balcony open to the living room downstairs that benefits from the massive full height glazing, a full bathroom and a walk-in closet. The sloped upper roof above the double height living room includes a cluster of skylights for additional illumination.  Transparency and indoor-outdoor fluidity were fundamental directives in this design exercise.

The cabin is surrounded by a water mirror crossed by a deck made of lumber planks. To the back of the house the deck expands into a generous terrace accessible from the main entry as well as the living room. The terrace provides an outdoor opportunity to enjoy the gentle weather of the plateau and the peaceful natural view.