Olson Kundig

Rolling Huts

Rolling Huts
© Chad Kirkpatrick / Olson Kundig

ROLLING HUTS

Olson Kundig

ARCHITECTS
Olson Kundig

CONSULTANTS
MCE Structural Consultants

MANUFACTURERS
Milgard, Rais, Recla Metals, Stonco

PROJECT MANAGER
Jerry Garcia

PHOTGORAPHS
Tim Bies / Olson Kundig, Chad Kirkpatrick / Olson Kundig, Derek Pirozzi / Olson Kundig

SIZE
440 sf/per hut (200 sf interior space, 240 sf exterior deck)

CONTRACTOR
Tim Tanner

DESIGN PRINCIPAL
Tom Kundig

AREA
200.0 ft2

YEAR
2008

LOCATION
Mazama, WA 98833, United States

CATEGORY
Cabins & Lodges

Text description provided by architect.

Responding to the owner’s need for space to house visiting friends and family, the Rolling Huts are several steps above camping, while remaining low-tech and low-impact in their design.

The huts sit lightly on the site, a flood plain meadow in an alpine river valley.

Rolling Huts
© Chad Kirkpatrick / Olson Kundig
Rolling Huts
© Chad Kirkpatrick / Olson Kundig
Rolling Huts
© Chad Kirkpatrick / Olson Kundig

The owner purchased the site, formerly a RV campground, with the aim of allowing the landscape return to its natural state.

The wheels lift the structures above the meadow, providing an unobstructed view into nature and the prospect of the surrounding mountains.

Rolling Huts
© Tim Bies / Olson Kundig
Rolling Huts
© Chad Kirkpatrick / Olson Kundig
Rolling Huts
© Chad Kirkpatrick / Olson Kundig

The construction of each hut is simple. It is, in essence, an offset, steel clad box on a steel and wood platform.

Living occurs not only in the 200 sq ft inside the box, but on the 240 sq ft of covered deck space surrounding it.

Interior finishes – cork and plywood – are simple, inexpensive, and left as raw as possible. 

Rolling Huts
© Chad Kirkpatrick / Olson Kundig
Rolling Huts
© Tim Bies / Olson Kundig
Rolling Huts
© Tim Bies / Olson Kundig

Exteriors are durable, no-maintenance materials – steel, plywood and car-decking.

The huts are grouped as a herd: while each is sited towards a view of the mountains (and away from the other structures), their proximity unites them.

They evoke Thoreau’s simple cabin in the woods; the structures take second place to nature.

Rolling Huts
© Tim Bies / Olson Kundig


Rolling Huts
© Chad Kirkpatrick / Olson Kundig
Rolling Huts
© Chad Kirkpatrick / Olson Kundig
Rolling Huts
© Chad Kirkpatrick / Olson Kundig
Rolling Huts
© Chad Kirkpatrick / Olson Kundig
Rolling Huts
© Chad Kirkpatrick / Olson Kundig
Rolling Huts
© Chad Kirkpatrick / Olson Kundig
Rolling Huts
© Chad Kirkpatrick / Olson Kundig
Rolling Huts
© Tim Bies / Olson Kundig


Rolling Huts
East Elevation © Olson Kundig
Rolling Huts
South Elevation © Olson Kundig
Rolling Huts
North Elevation © Olson Kundig


Rolling Huts
Sketch © Olson Kundig
Rolling Huts
Section © Olson Kundig
Rolling Huts
Floor Plan © Olson Kundig

Olson Kundig
T +1 206 6245670 F +1 206 6243730
Olson Kundig
159 S Jackson St # 600, Seattle, WA 98104, United States