stuff we drool about

Opal Lake Cabin

Designed by Opal Architecture, this lakeside gem combines innovative wooden design with exceptional sustainability. Located in the picturesque rural Northwest Connecticut, this remarkable home showcases the perfect blend of cross-laminated timber (CLT) and wood fiber insulation, achieving an impressive level of energy efficiency. By utilizing wood as the primary building material, Opal Architecture emphasizes its sustainability and minimal environmental impact.

Designed to replace a seasonal cottage, this single-level cabin maximizes its volume by concentrating the kitchen, dining, and living spaces. Private areas, including the primary bedroom suite and a study/guest room, spread out to the west and east respectively. The stepped façade ensures every major space enjoys breathtaking lake views.

Despite its complex geometry, the Opal Lake Cabin successfully utilized prefabricated CLT panels for the structural walls, ceilings, and roof. These panels, left exposed on the interior, provide both structural support and a stunning finish. Encased in rigid wood fiber insulation and adorned with prefinished ash siding, the cabin achieves an energy-efficient Passive House standard. To further reduce reliance on the power grid, the cabin incorporates Teslas Solar Roof and Powerwall technology, enabling electricity generation and storage.




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MARTIS DUNSMUIR HOUSE - Image

MARTIS DUNSMUIR HOUSE

The Martis-Dunsmuir House is a spectacular residence located near Lake Tahoe, California. Developed by Sagemodern, the rustic contemporary home is designed for comfort, privacy and flexibility, with enough room to handle large groups of visitors. The family retreat is also designed for easy indoor and outdoor living, opening out to a greater flowing creek that provides a serene setting to relax and enjoy the fresh mountain air. The 1,600 square-foot outdoor living a...
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PLUS HUS - Image

PLUS HUS

Whether you need a backyard office, a guest house, a gym or a kids playroom, the Plus Hus gives you 320 square feet to be customized almost any way you see fit. The low waste 320-square foot unit is pre-fabricated, flat-packed and can be delivered to anywhere in the States, and assembled on-site. The environmentally friendly dwellings are available in three different configurations that can include a bathroom and kitchenette. Included with each abo...
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SLOPE HOUSE - Image

SLOPE HOUSE

This stunning timber-clad house peeps from the trees near a lake two hours from the city of Santiago de Chile. Designed by the Hsu Rudolphy Architecture studio, the Slope House consists of an elementary structure of steel and concrete, which intervenes little in the field, and then receives a skin of wood and glass. The the house has multiple terraces and access to the water, it is composed of three levels, the upper floor features the main entrance, and the common ...
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