Tinyleaf / GO’C Studio

Architect: GO’C
Size: 1,000 ft²
Year: 2024
Photographer: Ben Lindbloom
GO’C Project Team: Jon Gentry (AIA), Aimée O’Carroll (ARB), Ben Kruse
Structural Engineer: J Welch Engineering
Location: Mazama, Washington
Country: USA

Tinyleaf, a residential cabin designed by GO’C in Mazama, Washington, functions as a small outpost for outdoor enthusiasts, integrating seamlessly into a steep slope with mountain bike and cross-country ski access. Completed in 2024, the cabin’s design maximizes its connection with the natural environment, offering a practical and efficient living space. Emphasizing harmony with the topography and seasonal changes, the cabin blends concrete and wood elements in its interior, and steel and concrete in its exterior. This design ensures that the cabin evolves with its surroundings over time.

Tinyleaf is located in Mazama, Washington, in the heart of the Methow Valley. The dramatic views and opportunities for year-round recreation drew the client to this region. The design strongly relates to the topography and responds to the drastically different seasons.

Tinyleaf serves as an outpost for the site and future guest studio before further development. This approach allowed the client to use the site sooner in their planning. GO’C was tasked with designing a roughly 15’x22’ cabin bermed into the hillside. Maximizing the connection with the outdoors was crucial due to the small footprint. The south facade features large glazed sliding doors, that integrate the landscape. The flat roof provides additional space and holds snow in winter for improved thermal mass. The cast-in-place concrete exterior walls enable Tinyleaf to blend into the natural topography.

The interior palette of concrete and wood ties the space together. Designed like a ship’s cabin, the interior includes clever, hidden storage solutions. The kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom are designed efficiently, with shared storage volumes separating spaces. The bed is raised, allowing large drawers to pull out for daily items, with occasional storage extending the full depth of the bed. Pull-out side panels from the thickened wall between the kitchen and bathroom provide a pantry and utility storage for the main space and bathroom. A bookcase at the head of the bed creates a cozy reading corner. Natural light enters through the exterior glazing and a linear skylight, illuminating the rear wall.

The exterior palette was chosen to change and grow with the landscape. Steel cladding and awning panels age and patina to earth tones. The concrete walls reflect the tones of the rocks emerging from the hillside. The cabin is designed to age gracefully and appear as if it has always been part of the site. Whether in the dry summer or deep winter snow, Tinyleaf merges seamlessly with its surroundings.