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A unique lodging concept designed by architect Tom Kundig of Olson Kundig, the Rolling Huts are a series of six mobile, prefabricated cabins located in a flood plain meadow in Washington's Methow Valley. Conceived as a modern and low-impact alternative to camping, the huts were designed for a client who wanted to provide guest accommodations on the site of a former RV campground while allowing the landscape to return to its natural state. The cabins sit on oversized steel wheels, a creative solution to local zoning regulations that prohibited permanent structures but permitted RVs. This wheeled foundation elevates the huts a short distance above the meadow, allowing native grasses to grow underneath and minimizing the human footprint on the sensitive environment. The 200-square-foot cabins, completed in 2008, are essentially minimalist, steel-clad boxes on a steel and wood platform. Large, double-paned sliding glass doors at one end of each hut open onto a covered deck, extending the usable space into the outdoors. Inside, the material palette is simple, raw, and inexpensive, featuring cork and plywood left as natural as possible. A lopsided, inverted V-shaped roof with clerestory windows floats above the walls, bringing ample natural light into the compact interior. While the cabins offer a warm, sheltered, and low-tech space, showers and other communal facilities are located in a central barn, reinforcing the project's connection to camping. Project credits Architecture: Olson Kundig Design Principal: Tom Kundig, FAIA Project Manager: Jerry Garcia Staff Architect: Kenny Wilson Structural Consultants: MCE Structural Consultants Photography: Tim Bies, Chad Kirkpatrick, Derek Pirozzi Manufacturers: Milgard, Rais, Recla Metals, Stonco
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Olson Kundig:
Olson Kundig is an internationally recognized, award-winning design firm known for its collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach to architecture, landscape, interiors, and product design. Founded in Seattle in 1966 by Jim Olson, and led by a team of principal/owners, the firm has deep roots in the Pacific Northwest and a strong focus on projects that explore the relationship between the built and natural environment. They have a diverse portfolio, including residences (often for art collectors), museums, commercial projects, hospitality venues, and places of worship. Their designs are known for their contextual sensitivity, use of rugged and honest materials, and often feature custom, hand-crafted architectural details and mechanical elements. The firm is dedicated to sustainable design and has received numerous accolades, including the AIA Firm Award.
