Pine Flat

Program requirements called for the replacement of a weekend cabin, shaped by fire resistance, the landscape, foundation reuse, off-grid utilities, remoteness and most importantly, the clients’ 30 year love affair for the place. Robust envelope assemblies that include non-combustible materials and sliding steel screens armor the house against a repeat of the wildfire event that destroyed the original property. The protective form parallels the direction of the ridgeline, existing as a quiet presence in the wildland landscape. It is defined by its remoteness with little connection to neighboring properties. The pioneering resourcefulness of the clients, stepping outside their comfort zone to embrace an alternative, landscape-driven lifestyle, follows the true spirit of the nearby original historic Pine Flat community – a boomtown that briefly flourished in the Mayacamas Mountains during the quicksilver and mercury rush in the 1870s.

The preserved concrete foundation is half buried into the hillside, juxtaposed with the outstretched protective structure elevated above. The new concrete chimney mass anchors the main floor, creating a focal point at the center of the living spaces. Driven by the clients’ preference for future wheelchair accessibility, the entry ramp extends outward as an expressive form toward the west hillside. The artesian water basin fosters a visual and poetic dialogue to honor the site’s spring water. The off-grid site utilities support a home that embraces passive survivability. An abundant connection to nature promotes healthy well-being, while the restorative landscape approach enhances biodiversity through a wildfire protective strategy.