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Priest Lake Cabin

A resilient, high-performance family retreat designed with sustainability in mind

Priest Lake Cabin viewed from the exterior entry. Beautiful vertical wood siding and low sloped roofs can be experienced from this side.
Priest Lake Cabin living room with a generous window wall with views to the lake and a high clerestory window to the upper right of the frame. The dining room is to the right in this image.
Priest Lake Cabin living room, featuring all wood walls and an upper clerestory window that follows the gentle slope of the ceiling.
Priest Lake Cabin deck with patio chairs in the foreground and a lower portion of deck accessed by stairs. The cabin is in the frame and has wood siding and dark, reflective windows.
Priest Lake Cabin living room with a view out to the lake. The wall in the frame is a full window wall with a gently sloped wood ceiling.
Priest Lake Cabin living room, featuring an operable wood wall that conceals the TV.
Subject: Priest Lake House; Location: Priest River, ID; Client: Green Hammer
Priest Lake Cabin
Subject: Priest Lake House; Location: Priest River, ID; Client: Green Hammer
Subject: Priest Lake House; Location: Priest River, ID; Client: Green Hammer
Subject: Priest Lake House; Location: Priest River, ID; Client: Green Hammer
Priest Lake Cabin detached garage with dark siding and upper clerestory windows made of polycarbonate.
Subject: Priest Lake House; Location: Priest River, ID; Client: Green Hammer
Priest Lake Cabin viewed from the lake. The cabin seems to blend into the surrounding trees.
Project Scope
Architecture, Construction, Custom Home
Project Stats

Design: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms | 3,048 square feet

Energy, Carbon and Indoor Air Quality

Projected annual energy savings: 100%

Projected energy use intensity (pEUI): 0.18 kBtu/sf/yr

Passive House design principles: Super insulated with cellulose insulation, triple-pane windows, continuous air barrier, triple-pane tilt-turn windows, CO2 heat pump hot water heater, heat pump air-to-air heating, balanced heat recovery ventilation, all-electric systems, Water Sense-certified plumbing fixtures, daily MERV13 continuous air filtration, extreme air quality event filtration with HEPA and carbon filters, low to no-VOC building materials and finishes,

Resiliency: Fire-resistant rain-screen and metal roof, bioreactor lake water filtration system for all domestic water, rooftop solar system and 42-kWh battery backup system

Healthy Materials

FSC-certified interior pine cladding, shou sugi ban siding

Collaborations: Landline Landscape Design; photos by Lara Swimmer

 

Project Description

Nestled on a ridge with stunning views of Priest Lake in Idaho, this zero energy retreat is a secluded haven designed for family gatherings. The cabin is thoughtfully positioned beneath a canopy of ponderosa pine trees, framing picturesque views of the lake beyond. Natural light floods the interior through the clerestory, providing enchanting views of the treetops.

Outside, the striking shou sugi ban siding adorns the exterior. Crafted from charred Japanese cypress, the siding has been brushed, treated and finished to create a durable and visually captivating facade. The use of natural material continues inside with pine wood walls and ceilings, reinforcing the connection to nature.

Designed and built with Passive House principles, the cabin offers a comfortable and clean living space, reducing allergies by minimizing dust, bugs and drafts. Floor-to-ceiling triple-pane windows and super-insulated walls contribute to a sustainable, resilient and comfortable environment.