Greg Dutton, the architect, the designer of this treehouse-like, create an off-grid retreat in his own family’s retreat in rural Ohio. He want a building that sustainable and in sync with the environment surround. The exact location of the Hut is on a cattle farm in the Ohio Valley. It is set among a forested area on the banks of a high river overlooking a lake.
This 600 square foot residence is shaped by its natural setting and Dutton’s relationship to the land. “We’ve owned and worked the land for over 40 years,” said Greg Dutton.
“So there is a very deep connection and relationship with the property,” he continued. “The build site is in a forest that my brothers, sister, and I used to hike as kids.”
Dutton designed The Hut to create the sensation of being in a tree house, lifting it above the dirt slope on concrete pillars.
“An initial inspiration for the design was this idea of wanting to feel like you were lofted in the trees. To get this effect, we positioned the cabin at the very edge of a cliff. When you are standing in the interior looking out through the 25′ of southern glazing, you are looking at the forest as it drops down the cliff below you,” he added.
Untreated pale cedar shingle covering its exterior will turn gray with the weather over time, blending into the forest. The home have no access to mains electricity or water. The residence relies entirely on solar energy, so the structure is positioned to benefit from exposure of the southern sun. Floor-to-ceiling windows extend over one wall, framing the landscape view and letting light entering the space all year round.
Another eco-design features include a natural ventilation system that uses gentle breezes. The rainwater collection system also functions as a building’s plumbing.
Inside, the hut has a simple layout consisting of a kitchen, bathroom and small entrance that opens up to the living room and the connected bedroom. The interior’s minimalist design features an eastern white pine floors and southern yellow pine paneling on the walls and ceiling. It’s influenced by Scandinavian architecture and Danish hygge, which depicts a feeling of comfort.
Peeled materials and color palettes were chosen with the aim of bringing nature in.
“Growing up on a farm, I draw a lot of inspiration from rural aesthetics and the simplicity of those interiors was a big driver for the feel we were trying to capture inside the space,” said the architect.
