Tiny Cabins in the Vermont Woods Commune With Nature

Architects Joan Soranno and John Cook of HGA developed five site-specific cabins that tread lightly on the land at Marlboro College in rural Vermont. These deceptively simple structures update the regional vernacular. Every year, Marlboro College hosts the Marlboro Music Festival in which classical musicians join together to hone their craft. These cabins help support the musicians that live, work, and rehearse together.

The new cabins reduce the key form of the Cape Cod–style structures found on the campus. They sport the telltale pitched roof, wood exterior, and central chimney, but feature a more contemporary feeling. The interiors are restrained, yet comfortable and warm thanks to white pine walls and a slate tile floor.

Soranno and Cook used energy-efficient construction and modern mechanical systems in the designs and furnished the interior with pieces from Blu Dot and Knoll.

While the windows are larger than what one would find in a traditional Cape Cod structure, they were essential in establishing a connection with the forest.