This simple, 120 square foot bunkhouse is perched on a steep, wooded site adjacent to a 60 year old lake cabin in eastern Washington. It provides additional sleeping and play space for an expanding, extended family that shares the cabin during spring, summer and autumn months, and was conceived as a quasi-outdoor living space, having no heating, lighting or electricity.

Taking inspiration from the forest service fire lookouts, META Architects designed an efficient form with minimal use of materials – many of which were salvaged from other buildings. Post footings reduce the impact the building has on the site. Strategic placement of windows allow the building to be opened up and encourage natural ventilation during the hot summers, while large roof overhangs keep the rain out.

Translucent panels allow natural light and the colors of the forest to spill into the space from above and eliminate the need for electric lighting. An attached cedar deck provides frames views of the lake between the trees, and an opportunity to sleep out under the stars.