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Cabin Retreat
CHICKAMAUGA, georgia
IN PROGRESS
375 sf | 3 Stories
The Chickamauga Retreat
The Chickamauga Retreat is an off-grid reflection space associated with a large vacation property situated in the Smoky Mountains. The building is envisioned as an environment for the CEO of a fortune 100 company to escape the stress and pressure of work by retreating to a remote location to reflect on the natural beauty of the surrounding property. The building sits at the edge of a large pond overlooking a ridge line, making it an ideal place to recreate, relax and focus on well-being.
The owner requested that the project alter the natural movement patterns of wildlife as little as possible, resulting in a design that is elevated above the ground plane with a superstructure supported by only three columns with pile foundations. Much of the construction is articulated as a kit of parts that will be fabricated into larger components off-site and erected with minimal staging and disruption of the natural context.
Through the utilization of solar power, a wood burning stove, an onsite natural artesian well and a bio-kinetic aerobic wastewater treatment system, the structure will be completely self-sustaining and thus have a minimal impact on the natural context.
The interior spaces include a sitting area with a small beverage bar and toilet on the main level. A spiral stair and vertical library wall connect the main level to a loft that incorporates a sleeping platform. Both levels have exterior porches that provide a direct connection to the exterior.
The primary exterior cladding is solid and perforated weathering steel panels on weathering steel frames, thermally broken aluminum glazing, and Ipe wood decking and siding. This palate of finishes will minimize maintenance requirements, further reducing the carbon footprint of the building.
