A waterfront home we designed was recently completed on the shores of Priest Lake in the Selkirk Mountains of North Idaho. Our client wanted a “mountain rustic timber-framed Arts & Crafts style home.”

I’ve designed a lot of family cabins as an architect. Each cabin is custom-made for each unique family and its individuals. I thought I’d share some experiences I’ve had in the family cabin where my siblings and I spent our childhood summers.

Sun orientation and the ability to control it are important in looking at specific sites. Whether it’s by architecture or other means, the power to harness the sun’s energy and limit the detrimental effects can make a huge difference between a good site and a bad one.

The origins of mountain architecture in America came from the earliest non native peoples who chose to venture into the untamed mountainous areas of the country. The structures they built were a direct response to the environment they were in.