A Decade of Camping Led to This 747-Square-Foot Cozy River Retreat

"Dan Wheeler spent ten years sleeping in tents on his riverfront property before building anything permanent. The software engineer bought the land along Washington's Wenatchee River in 2010, drawn by years of rafting trips with friends through the area's rushing waters. Every camping trip reinforced what he already knew: this spot needed something, but only when the time felt right."

"Those years weren't wasted time but rather an extended conversation with the landscape, understanding how light moved through the trees, where water pooled during spring runoff, and which views mattered most when morning broke over the mountains. When Wheeler finally decided to build, he approached Seattle-based Wittman Estes with a clear vision. He wanted something modern and sculptural, a structure that would honor the decade he'd spent living simply on the land."

"The metal-clad wedge faces directly toward the river, its form shaped by the surrounding Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest. The angular design creates a striking profile against the forest backdrop while maintaining a compact footprint that respects the wilderness setting. Designer: Wittman Estes Architects Matt Wittman and Julia Frost designed the one-bedroom retreat to create what they call a harmonious relationship between shelter and nature, seeking interdependence between the ecosystem and the architecture itself."

Dan Wheeler camped on his riverfront land for ten years after buying it in 2010, learning light, water behavior, and key views through repeated stays. He hired Seattle-based Wittman Estes with a brief for a modern, sculptural retreat honoring years of simple living. The result is a 747-square-foot, two-story cabin elevated ten feet on concrete columns. A metal-clad wedge faces the Wenatchee River and is shaped by the surrounding Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest. The angular, compact form minimizes forest impact, protects against flood and snow, and preserves Wheeler's outdoor-oriented connection to the landscape.

Read at www.yankodesign.com