After they grew weary of their existing home, located on a 400-acre farm in Yolo County near the town of Winters (a vibrant farming community in the Sacramento Valley), the owners of the Yolo Cabin asked their SF-based architect son Lewis Butler of Butler Armsden (and a Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory member) to create a modern, simple, and practical space from which to continue a long family tradition of farming; cultivating the land around them. Knowing they would eventually move the cabin to another part of the property, the owners requested that the cabin be mobile: the structure is based on two large glu-lam beams and can literally be picked up and moved by a truck, resulting in a very light footprint on the surrounding area. To see more, go to of Butler Armsden.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Above: The architectural forms are inspired by the local water towers and lean-to sheds that dot the agricultural landscape in the area. Butler's father took photos of water towers that were all along the outlying areas of the farm for inspiration.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Above: The main room of the cabin is housed in the lean-to section and is elevated off the ground to enhance the view and capitalize on air circulation during the hot summers.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Above: The entire cabin is a mix of two very distinct farmhouse styles. "Its design is kind of a mash-up between two local farm forms," says Butler. "On one hand, you have this very classic water tower. On the other, you have this single, almost chicken-coop-like main building." The building has a very defined industrial feeling, part of which is due to Butler's use of standard farming materials throughout the structure.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Above: The neat loft tucked away in the living area functions as a sleeping area for overnight guests. The interior is clad in vertical grain Douglas fir.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Above: Butler used Douglas fir framing material on the porch and Alaskan yellow cedar for the decking.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Above: An open deck on top of the tower provides 360 degree views of the surrounding farmland.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Above: Looking at the open deck from below.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Photography by David Duncan Livingston.
