Nine Wooded Retreats for Winter Getaways

Whether it’s an escape outside city limits from the wintertime blues, or a quiet respite for creative work or play that’s not very far from home, these architectural cabins inspire major getaway envy.

A few were designed with the creature comforts of modern living, while others offer little else than wood, glass, and mountain views. We’ve rounded up nine favorites from our Project Gallery, from A-frames to modern cottages—all under 2,000 square feet.

Follow each project’s link to learn more, then head to the Gallery to share any we may have missed.

Linear Cabin, Johnsen Schmaling Architects, St. Germain, Wisc.

Starting with the utilitarian purpose of rural cabins―a step up from a tent, a place for sleeping and eating between hikes and fishing trips―the Milwaukee-based firm focused on a three-part program, with little room for amenities. The firm consciously avoided the sort of rural-modern affectations that define many of its neighbors. ‘We didn’t want it to be a formulaic, slap-some-wood-slats-on-it sort of project,’ says principal Brian Johnsen, AIA, who co-founded the firm with Sebastian Schmaling, AIA. ‘We wanted to make something simple and efficient.’

Villa Boréale, CARGO Architecture, Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, Canada

This project’s design comes from a global vision: A Scandinavian inspiration, a cottage with clean lines, a modern barn. The materials in their raw appearance influenced the general concept, as well as pale tones and natural textures such as wood, concrete and the white color. The black metal cladding also creates an impressive contrast that highlights the smooth matte finish of the steel and the natural grain of the Eastern white cedar. Moreover, as the entrance to the site is significantly higher than the house floor level, the choice of installing the same black metal cladding on the roof became clear, in order to provide a neat signage at first glance.

Half-Tree House, Jacobschang Architecture, Barryville, N.Y.

Constructed entirely by its owners—a pair of amateur “weekend builders” on a shoestring budget—the 360-square-foot wooded retreat makes room for nothing but the essentials in its diminutive footprint, foregoing even running water and electricity. Kept decidedly sparse, furnishings include little more than a Jotul stove for warmth, a multipurpose table that functions as a cooktop, desk, and storage, and a fitted mattress for sleeping. The wood cladding used on the cabin’s exterior was repurposed from milled, felled pines sourced from the 60-acre site.

TinkerBox, Studio MM Architect, Kerhonksen, N.Y.

True to its concept, purpose and program, this house is all about unique design moments and hands-on learning. Studio MM creates homes that engage the client, highlight contemporary design, showcase local artisans, and emphasize high quality detailing and craftsmanship: TinkerBox embodies all of these qualities.

Lake Cottage, UUfie, Ontario

Fourteen openings in the main living space reveal both inhabited spaces, skies, and trees. A solid timber staircase leads to a loft, having the feeling of ascending into tree canopies as sunlight falls on a wall covered in shingles stained in light blue. While engaged with nature, the abstract composition of the interior spaces allows the imagination to flow.

Pole House, Allan Coppinger, Manitoba, Canada

To suit its dense forest context, Pole House is designed as a vertical wood platform structure that floats above the ground on thin steel pipe columns. The resulting tower typology enables views to the lake through the forest. Three economical floor plates are stacked, progressing from most public to most private. A stair winds around each floor plate contained within a simple rectangular form.

Go Home Bay Cabin, Ian MacDonald Architect, Ontario

The four-season family cabin is a deeply thoughtful response to the cultural heritage landscape of Go Home Bay, an enclave of Ontario’s Georgian Bay archipelago. The area was once immortalized by the Group of Seven and abounds with a powerful natural beauty; rocky landscapes populated by white pines shaped by the west winds. However, the landscape is also increasingly vulnerable to development. Over-scaled structures have become ever more commonplace, dominating the context, dwarfing the surroundings and spoiling one’s experience of the natural realm. This cabin is an important, positive alternative to the prevailing trends.

High House, Delordinaire, Quebec

For the ‘High House’, Delordinaire plays with the limit between interior and exterior, inviting people to gather in spaces immersed in nature. Elevated stilt constructions are typically used in warm climates and flood zones. This energy efficient winter chalet uses stilt typology to create a protected ground floor area with an outdoor stove. Providing an unusual space where residents can be amongst nature and the snowy exterior, while still enjoying some protection from the elements.The stilt typology raises the house above the surrounding tree line giving it an uninterrupted view of the Mont Saint Anne from the lounge, as well as a striking overall aesthetic. It also allows sunshine to directly enter the house at all hours of the day.

Corbett Residence, in situ studio, Bahama, N.C.

The house is located on a wooded site down a winding drive. The drive is thin and meanders through the trees to protect the house from view until arrival. The house is a low black box that strikes a line across the sloping site, mimicking the horizon. It is placed at the edge of a hill above a creek and is oriented to admit natural light and views of the forest. The clients, who are very restrained, brought beautiful ideas and precedents to the table and challenged the architects to include only necessary things.

View more homes in our Project Gallery.