The Passive Retreat

Location: Oregon Coast

Typology: Vacation Cabin

Sustainability: Passive House Strategies

Comfort and Performance

In the Pacific Northwest, the forest is defined by its deep, saturated greens. For this remote retreat, we didn't want to interrupt that palette; we wanted to join it.

The cabin is clad in vertical tongue-and-groove siding painted a custom "lichen green," allowing the volume to visually recede into the surrounding Douglas Fir and fern understory. It creates a building that feels like it has always been there—quiet, humble, and rooted.

But under this modest skin lies a Passive House engine. Because the site is remote and prone to winter power outages, the building had to be thermally autonomous. The super-insulated envelope means that even in freezing temperatures, the cabin holds its heat for days with nothing more than the warmth of the sun and the occupants inside. It is the ultimate survival tool, disguised as a simple cottage.

• The "Picture Box" Windows: The deep, wood-lined window surrounds act as "lens hoods" for the view. They provide crucial shading from the high summer sun while creating cozy, habitable window seats on the interior.
• Thermal Resilience: Certified Passive House performance ensures that the cabin remains comfortable year-round with near-zero energy input—critical for a site with limited utility infrastructure.
• The Warm Core: While the exterior is cool and camouflaged, the entry and window reveals use clear-finished Douglas Fir to create a "warm lantern" effect.