The Brief

Convert a century-old rural train station into a four-season sleeping cabin for guest accommodation. This required navigating significant site and structural constraints. The primary hurdles were addressing the drainage to improve long term durability, introducing modern electrical and mechanical services into a historic shell, and improving the thermal envelope without compromising the building's vintage character.

Our Approach

Engineering: We focused on long-term site stability and building longevity. This involved engineering a new drainage strategy to move water away from the heritage structure and developing a low-impact services plan that integrated modern systems into the existing fabric without invasive structural changes.

Design: The design was based on the idea of "restrained intervention." We prioritized the repair of original elements, specifically the restoration of the ticket booth, and the integration of salvaged doors and reproduction trim and windows. Every new addition was chosen to be honest to the building’s history, utilizing site-finished flooring and traditional materials that feel original to the space.

The Result: Time Stands Still

This compact, four-season cabin feels like a time capsule, yet it functions with modern reliability. By solving the fundamental issues of drainage and thermal comfort first, we ensured the building’s past remains protected while its future is made comfortable.