This Cabin Retreat In San Juan County Has A Clever Trick Up Its Sleeve

Based in the idyllic location of False Bay, Washington, this cute cabin is often used as a writer’s retreat and guest house throughout the year. When it’s not in use, however, the surrounding decks cleverly fold up to become shutters, protecting the glass house.

The owners of this 46 square-metre (500 ft.²) island cabin wanted to feel at one with the surrounding landscape and chose the secluded spot to make the most of the panoramic bay views, warm weather and proximity to the abundant local wildlife.

Opting for a contemporary glazed design so that each space could enjoy a vista of the surrounding coastal landscapes, the owners also wanted to make sure the glass cabin was protected when it wasn’t being used.

These could then be transformed into decks that connect the internal spaces with the outdoors to create additional external living spaces when the cabin is occupied. To create a further link between inside and out, Olson Kundig installed huge three-metre (10 ft.) tall windows and sliding doors that can be pushed back in summer.

In addition, the south side can be opened individually when it’s a little cooler; the internal woodburner can also be cleverly turned right round so that guests can gather around it from the outside too. Another smart design feature is the inverted roof, which guides rainwater down to the drain at the back of the cabin so that it doesn’t drip down the sides of the overhang onto the decks.

The modestly sized interior consists of a single glazed studio with a lounge area and desk for writing in the day, with a space-saving fold-down bed to turn it into sleeping quarters at night. The wooden headboard and storage unit also serves as a partition that conceals the en-suite bathroom and kitchenette to the rear of the property.

Due to the compact nature of the cabin, the finishes are kept to a subtle palette of light timber, black-coated steel and neutral soft furnishings, ensuring the focus is kept on the beautiful views rather than distracting from them.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.