Cabin fever - innovative cabin designs

Sunset, March, 1999 by Daniel Gregory, Peter O. Whiteley

The site had been used by owner-architect Kevin Gordon and his family for picnics; its only structures were an outhouse and a shack at the edge of the hill. When the Gordons decided to build their getaway cabin here, they realized that the best view of the lake was from the top of the outhouse. To capture that view, he says, "we wanted the main living space to be up high so it would feel you were in a lookout tower."

The design draws inspiration from Montana's many fire lookouts - one of the most famous is replicated at the Smokejumper Visitor Center in Missoula - and from the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. "He became my hero in high school," says Gordon. The Wright influence is visible in such details as the ribbon of glass wrapping the upper floor, the long roof overhang, the warm cherrywood palette of the interior, and the dramatically cantilevered deck.

Other details show special care. Hidden vents preserve the simplicity of the roof profile. With no ground-floor windows, the house is easy to secure - from black bears as well as other trespassers.

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION: Kevin Gordon, Gordon Construction (406/549-0782)

WINDOWS: Architect Series with prairie-style muntin bars by Pella (800/847-3552)

COST: $125 per square foot

TIME LINE

1990: Bought 10-acre site ($58,000) and started researching kit houses

1991: Septic system installed ($5,382)

1992: Son Max is born; well installed ($8,031)

1993: MARCH: Kit components arrive on-site and are stored

APRIL: Continuous concrete foundation poured ($2,646)

AUGUST: House framed over two-week vacation

SEPTEMBER: Windows and doors added during one week ($5,005)

1994: Interior framing, wiring, rough plumbing, insulation added on weekends

1995: Son Drew born: drywall ($2,698), sink, toilet, temporary kitchen added

1996: Woodstove installed ($2,269); interior painted

1997: Deck built over one week, with 5-year-old Max as helper ($1,418)

1998: Kitchen cabinets built and installed

TOTAL EXPENSES (not including land): $46,747, or $42 per square foot.