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Cabin 1
Design: Saul Kim
Image: River He Zhe Hua
Client: Roman Bodnar
Nov 2023
Lviv Oblast, Ukraine
This commissioned project for schematic design presented a unique challenge. The client, based in Ukraine, sought to develop a colony of cabins along a peaceful riverside field near the Romanian border. Despite the ongoing conflict in the country, the site itself remained tranquil, with drone footage showing people kayaking and swimming in the river just weeks before the initial meeting. The brief called for each cabin to have a distinct and unique design, which led the client to approach the studio with Architecture Anomaly references.
The first cabin in the series is an A-frame structure, developed from a specific set of requirements provided by the client. The design emphasizes balconies on both the front and back, allowing for uninterrupted views of the surrounding landscape. Drawing from previous design techniques, a cylindrical surface slightly off-angle was incorporated, with careful consideration given to distortion, floor-to-floor height, and solar orientation.
The result is a simple yet distinct architectural anomaly, refined through the addition of structural elements and an external staircase. The design maintains the prominence of the upper portion of the building, with minimal functional spaces housed within a 30m² footprint. The attic level includes a separate bedroom, and both floors feature balconies, as requested.
One of the key challenges in the project was aligning the structural system with the formal logic of the design. The architect’s philosophy, that form should follow the logic of material construction, was integral to this process. On the left side of the cabin, the structure supporting the extended balcony continues down to the ground, with bracing naturally connecting to the system at the base. A central structural element within the A-frame extends from the left side, tying into the overall system and ensuring both stability and coherence with the unique formal language of the project.
Cabin 1 Schematic Design
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Cabin 1
Image by River He Ze Hua
Structural Diagram
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