"Sunset Magazine" asked David Wright Associates, A.I.A. to design a modest, affordable and multiuse cabin, which is adaptable to many climate zones and lifestyles. This 400 sq. ft. (20 ft x 21 ft.) cabin design, visualized as an efficiency dwelling unit for a small family, incorporates Living/Sleeping Space/Kitchen/bathroom/Small Loft and Storage. Sunset Vacation Cabin Copyright 2002 The architectural style, initially designed afer a one-room miner's cabin, is adaptable to most any exterior form and finish. The basic form incorporates a covered porch on two sides to provide outside living opportunities, a place to sit work or play on a sunny or stormy days. The porch can also be built on any or all sides; for warm climates a surrounding porch will act as a veranda to protect from excessive sunlight. For cooler climates the porches can be located on the North side to protect from snowy conditions, allowing the winter sun to warm the south side of the cabin. You can create your cluster or small village using this basic cabin form. Coupling of cabins can create common shared, shaded, or covered deck areas or even a quadrangle with a centralized courtyard for outside living Many variations of form, grouping and placement are possible. (please see the modifications page.) The basic core of the "Sunset Vacation Cabin" is a pre-fabricated shell made up of Structural Insulated Panels (S.I.P.'s). The building panels are exceptionally strong, energy efficient, and easy to build with. The wall and roof package is ready made to assemble with door and window openings precut A crew of 2 or 3 can build the basic cabin shell in a weekend. The pre-fabricated wall/roof package can be transported to the site by pickup, helicopter or mule back! The separate floor structure can be concrete slab on grade, wood framed, or S.I.P. construction, and adapt to flat, sloping or irregular terrain. The working drawings include three basic types of foundation/ floor platform design to suit most any site situation. Floor Plan Exterior finishes and textures are left to the imagination of the owner or builders. For the Miner's Cabin style, the exterior materials might be comprised of: corrugated metal roofing of most any color with board and batten type siding made from a cement based, fireproof, low maintenance material such as Hardi-Panel. Each is attached directly to the outside of the Structural Insulated Panel shell. The roofing could also be composition or wood shingles, tile, slate, or any type suitable for design or location. The exterior finish could be lap siding. (Hardi-Plank or wood), vinyl, brick, stone or stucco. The choice and pattern is yours. David Wright contact for more info: david@dwrightaia.com