Shut Down Cabin | 2007 | Evergreen, Colorado  The Shut Down Cabin is designed for a painter, her husband and two children to visit on weekend getaways from the city. The 10-acre site offers 270-degree views of the surrounding Front Range mountains.

The client's tight construction budget and requirements for flexible space led to a simple and rigorous design. To increase the visibility of distant views and to minimize the cabin's footprint on the land, the 800-square-foot cabin is raised up on pier footings. Challenging site features are embraced by, and incorporated into, the design. The deck and hot tub are wrapped around a 10-ton boulder to create an intimate and protected setting.

The exterior of the building is clad in corrugated metal wall panels hung from an overhead track system. These sliding panels allow air to flow freely through the space in the summer and tightly shut down the cabin for energy conservation in the winter.

The design incorporates zero-maintenance materials, which withstand the climate fluctuations of the mountains and reduce long-term operating costs. Photovoltaic panels take the cabin off the power grid and provide both electricity and radiant floor heating.

This project was completed as a project architect with Semple Brown Design, P.C.