The traditional Dalsland cottage from the 1800s is not only the starting point, but also the inspiration for the proposal ‘Cabin Barn Hut’. The compact house with clear character doesn’t need a replacement, but rather a transformation into a contemporary accommodation to create a new identity for Dalsland region. To integrate the house successfully in natural protected areas it needs to be adaptable to its specific context. Cabin Barn Hut is a concept, based on a modular system, rather than a standard house. The project is built up from three clearly recognizable parts to create on one hand a strong identity, but on the other hand the adaptability to specific locations.

Shell
The shell provides the house its typical expression by creating a sharp silhouette. The shell refers clearly to the traditional cottage from the 1800s with a clearly marked asymmetric entrance on the long facade. The shell protects the house from climate and weather. Unlike the more traditional closed cottage is the short façade opened up. It shows the interior, the life, the body of the house, which reflects contemporary society's openness and transparency. But it also opens up to nature and creates contact with the landscape.

Body
The ‘body’ of the house is based on equality between the the different functions. Swedish functionalism has through the years evolved standard room sizes to a minimum. This project on the other hand refers to the romantic period (the time of the original cottage) with a sequence of similar rooms where each activity or function gets its own space in the house. The rooms are large enough to use it for more than the requirements. It generates flexibility and creates new ideas for the use of spaces. The system involves a house without corridors. This means that the rooms are placed directly next to or on top of each other depending on customer requirements and the plot conditions. The openings are always located in the centre of the module and allow visual lines outwards.

Limbs
So-called 'limbs' are introduced to raise the flexibility of use. Some limbs are a necessity like the staircase, entrance deck and technical space. Others are optional, like a balcony, an orangery, porch, sauna or extra storage. Limbs stick out from the body, but remain within the shell. It creates an interesting volumetric shape within the shell without disturbing the building's simple expressions.