Cookie-cutter architecture doesn’t do us many favors. It may be easier to design and build, but it’s rarely well suited to its environment, intended purpose, and the people who will be using it. When you drop a structure in place without considering things like the local climate, culture, and architectural vernacular, you’re missing opportunities to truly connect with the setting in ways that are beneficial to everyone.

Inside, Refugio Matanzas enjoys a large common space surrounded by windows that can be opened wide to create a virtually seamless transition to the deck. Bedrooms and a bathroom are tucked into the back of the cabin, toward the hillside. The architects also left open the possibility of future expansion, just in case the client decides to grow his family and needs more room.
The result feels cocooned without being closed off. It’s especially cool that even its outdoor space is contained within the sloped roof, so you can enjoy the sights and sounds of the location without being fully exposed. All of that pine wood complements the natural setting, too, and both the shape and materials of the house fit right in with other structures in the area without feeling conformist.

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