Wittman Estes has completed the Wenatchee River Cabin, a compact one-bedroom home hidden among the dense forests of Plain, Washington. The project emerged from a decade of the owner camping on the site, developing intimate knowledge of seasonal water levels, shifting sunlight patterns, and the land's unique characteristics. This extended period of direct observation directly informed the building's careful placement and modest scale. The cabin sits on a nearly half-acre parcel shaped by river movement, floodplain limits, and forest cover. What began as seasonal weekend camping evolved into full-time residence once construction finished during the pandemic.
The cabin rises ten feet above the ground on six concrete columns due to its sensitive position within the river's active floodplain. This strategic elevation protects the structure against seasonal water flow and ground moisture while creating a sheltered parking and workspace zone underneath. A vintage Bronco fits comfortably in this ground-level area, with enough clearance to allow mechanical work during harsh winter months. The underside remains open to air circulation, preventing moisture accumulation and reducing the building's overall footprint. This practical engineering solution simultaneously minimizes environmental impact and maximizes usable space.
Material selection prioritized durability and natural weathering over cosmetic perfection. Concrete and steel form the structural core, chosen specifically to withstand the wet Pacific Northwest climate without constant maintenance. Architect Matt Wittman describes their approach simply: they wanted tough, durable materials that age naturally and gracefully. The restrained palette reflects both challenging environmental conditions and the owner's direct involvement in construction. Straightforward assemblies and legible detailing made on-site building more feasible for the owner, who is a lifelong metalworker with fabrication skills.
The three-level design stacks functions vertically to minimize horizontal footprint while maximizing river views. The ground plane functions as covered outdoor space, the main level organizes kitchen, dining, and living areas plus a full bathroom in a single volume, and the upper level holds the bedroom, compact office, half-bath, and loft. A twenty-foot-wide by twenty-four-foot-high window wall spans the living space, directing views toward the river while carefully limiting sightlines from neighboring properties. From the bedroom, a framed opening looks down into the living area and outward to the water, creating visual connection between stacked spaces.
The owner personally fabricated several interior elements by hand, including raw steel kitchen surfaces, a hemlock and steel dining table, and metal mesh guardrails formed from tube steel. A wood-burning fireplace sits beneath a fir-framed loft, providing essential heat during colder months. Interior finishes remain deliberately pared back, placing emphasis on changing natural light and seasonal colors visible beyond the glass. The tiny footprint supports experiences over possessions, reflecting the client's personal philosophy about simplified living.
Zoning constraints from riparian and wetland buffers limited the cabin's footprint, which aligned perfectly with the owner's desire for less stuff and a simpler life. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, the owner became accustomed to wood structures rotting quickly, so using steel and concrete provides peace of mind that the house won't soon return itself to the earth. From the river, the façade presents a narrow profile marked by the dramatic vertical window wall and sharp knife-edge roofline. As a completed work, Wenatchee River Cabin functions as a full-time residence shaped by long-term observation, direct making, and sustained engagement with place.
