Alchemy Architects

Cumberland weeHouse

Cumberland weeHouse
© Geoffrey Warner
Cumberland weeHouse
© Geoffrey Warner

CUMBERLAND WEEHOUSE

Alchemy Architects

PHOTOGRAPHS
Geoffrey Warner

AREA
2400 m²

YEAR
2016

LOCATION
Cumberland, United States

CATEGORY
Houses

Text description provided by architect.

The Cumberland weeHouse is a year-round lakeside retreat for a family of four and their guests. The tower interior is wrapped in local aspen, and what is usually a junk wood:

spalted pine. Corrugated, corten steel wraps the main floor, providing additional texture and delineation between boxes.

Cumberland weeHouse
© Geoffrey Warner
Cumberland weeHouse
© Geoffrey Warner
Cumberland weeHouse
© Geoffrey Warner

The sloped, wooded lot provides a foil for the weeHouse’s elegant, horizontal form, its strong, overhanging roof, and the accompanying lakeside walkway.

The basement level walk-out leads directly to the lake and includes two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a flex living/sleeping space with a cozy, wood-lined sleeping alcove.

The “tower” provides a staircase, main floor entry and storage, 1st and 2nd floor bathrooms, and is topped off with a sleeping loft and roof deck overlooking the shoreline.

Cumberland weeHouse
© Geoffrey Warner
Cumberland weeHouse
© Geoffrey Warner

A spacious deck, wrapping around two sides, extends the living areas into the outside, making the most of a floor-to-ceiling window wall.

An attached, screen porch merges with the deck and provides a comfortable, protected dining and conversation space.

The open kitchen/living area, a half-bath, the master bedroom, and porch access make up the main floor.

Cumberland weeHouse
© Geoffrey Warner
Cumberland weeHouse
© Geoffrey Warner

Alchemy’s “corncrib” siding (rough sawn, locally sourced wood) is applied vertically on the tower and horizontally on the base and porch.

The tower interior is wrapped in local aspen, and what is usually a junk wood: spalted pine. Corrugated, corten steel wraps the main floor, providing additional texture and delineation between boxes.

Cumberland weeHouse
© Geoffrey Warner


Cumberland weeHouse
Ground floor plan
Cumberland weeHouse
1st floor plan


Cumberland weeHouse
Elevation 01
Cumberland weeHouse
Elevation 02
Cumberland weeHouse
Elevations with fundations

Alchemy Architects
T +1 651 6476650 -
Alchemy Architects
856 Raymond Ave, Suite G Saint Paul, Mn 55114, United States