Element House

Walden, MA

Element House derives its organization from an evolution of Thoreau's cabin to a modern place of shelter. The gable structure represents the historical memory of built structures on the site while the rectangular frames on the opposite end of the project represent the unknown future structures that could occupy these grounds.  The materiality of the structure also recalls the simple materials used in the famous cabin that occupied these woods.  Visitors will come to Walden to experience nature first hand, as Thoreau came, and to find what simplicity and solitude can teach.  In order to constantly be reminded of nature the program is distributed in a detached manner encouraging the visitor to experience the outdoors when walking from space to space.  All the detached structures are covered by a single continuous roof in order to still provide some manner of shelter.  The spaces in between the structures are narrow and are meant to frame views of the woods or the water.  Windows within the enclosed spaces also provide framed, uninterrupted views to the surroundings.  These large windows are meant to evoke the idea of beautiful landscape paintings.  The serenity and stillness of Walden provide real yet ever changing vignettes through these large windows that will linger in the visitor’s mind as a memory of a painting.