CONCEPT
Some may overlook Winnie the Pooh as just a lovable cartoon but there is certainly deeper ethics that the world may need more now than perhaps ever. This project celebrates some of the magic of Pooh - Taoist philosophy of enjoying life with simplicity and harmony. This concept of living in concert with the surrounding environment, with friends, a meteor for human nature.
SITE
The property - one hundred acres of woods with creek access in Shenandoah County, VA - takes its name from Winnie the Pooh’s forest. Much like A.A. Milne’s book, the project plays on the themes of imagination and exploration. The site, located a little over an hour outside Washington D.C., is used as a weekend retreat that encourages interaction with the natural enviroment. Hiking trails are scattered around - some lead to swimming holes, others to trampolines or private hot tub retreats. The layout draws inspiration from traditional summer camps, with a lodge that serves as the communal cooking and gathering space - a place to start and end the adventures of each day.
THE LODGE
The Lodge, centrally located, is the welcome center for all guests. Black siding and a gable roof help the structure blend with the surrounding farm vernacular of Shenandoah County. A full height glass wall greets all as they enter the Lodge and provides views of the communal courtyard, where a firepit, dining, and lounge area encourages gathering throughout the day.
THE CABINS
Flanking the Lodge are four Cabins - one for each of the three children and one for the parents. Each Cabin is 240 sq.ft. and contains a living area with a wood-burning stove to stoke the imagination, a reading nook to get lost in a good book, a sleeping loft with an operable skylight for stargazing at night, a hot tub to help recover from the day’s adventures, a full bathroom, and a front porch with adirondack chairs for informal interactions. The Cabins take inspiration from canvas wall tents, traditionally seen at summer camps, with a cantilevered roof forming the front porch.
