017 Tree Houses Dawson Lake

West Virginia, United States

Set in the woodlands of West Virginia, the project explores new ways of living in close contact with nature. A series of compact units is designed to immerse guests in the forest landscape, offering a quiet, reflective experience. 

The sharp, pitched geometry of each cabin responds to the verticality of the surrounding maple, poplar, and oak forest and is constructed entirely from local timber. The project consists of a cluster of eight compact units, each ranging from 36 to 55 m² and organized over two levels.

The lower level accommodates a lounge and reading area, while the upper level contains the sleeping space with a compact bathroom. A narrow internal staircase connects the two floors, reinforcing the vertical spatial sequence. Conceived as a minimal architectural intervention within the landscape, the project explores a restrained relationship between built form and nature, where architecture acts as a precise interface between habitation and environment.

Year
2023
Status
Concept
Architecture

Peter Pichler Architecture

Design Team

Peter Pichler, Daniele Colombati, Gianluigi D’Aloisio, Cem Ozbasaran, Giovanni Paterlini, Marco Caprani

Structural Engineering

Bollinger+Grohmann

MEP

Optima Engineering

Project Manager

Doug Hardaway

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