A House in the Woods

08/2017 architecture & interior

This contemporary cabin, affectionately known as Tom’s Hütte, exists as a peaceful retreat into the Polish woods for its owner, an Austrian songwriter. The form is simple: The building appropriates the skeleton of a previous structure. While the ground level of the interior is outfitted with a surprisingly spacious kitchen and living area, a slight ladder leads into a private loft looking out to a patio built into the sloping hill on which the cabin is based. Built by Heike Schlauch and Robert Fabach, the cabin has received international attention and acclaim. It’s part of an architectural movement that embraces the forest and promotes a return to the simpler times of life outside the city. See more in our book The Hinterland.