The principles of parkitecture — respect for nature, the use of authentic materials and a focus on lasting beauty — are intrinsic to log and timber homes. See how providers are infusing the spirit of the wild into today’s residential designs.
THE ROOSEVELT by MossCreek
Rendering courtesy of MossCreek
Square Footage: 3,464
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2 full, 1 half
Aptly named, the Roosevelt evokes the spirit of parkitecture with clarity, blending rustic charm and modern functionality. “The Roosevelt Lodge is a tribute to the legacy of national parks today. Log, stone, timbers and glass create a home that embodies the heart of the American outdoors,” notes MossCreek President Allen Halcomb. Outside, the exterior’s distinctive mix of heavy-timber details, stone, wood board-and-batten siding and square, chinked, dovetailed logs create a harmonious connection to nature. Inside, the single-story design features three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and all the must-haves for a modern-rustic getaway, like an open-concept kitchen, a spacious dining room, a great room with a cozy fireplace and a loft overlooking it all. Don’t miss the dual stone chimneys which anchor the home and tie it to the national park tradition.
THE DOBIE MOUNTAIN LOOKOUT by Winterwoods Homes
Photo courtesy of Winterwoods Homes
Square Footage: 3,200
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 3 full, 1 half
Winterwoods Homes’ designs pay exceptional tribute to the architectural legacy of the National Park Service, resulting in homes that seem to emerge organically from their natural surroundings. Specifically, the Dobie Mountain Lookout, designed by owner Jeffery Caudill, draws inspiration from the iconic fire towers that grace the peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains. “Growing up in these mountains, one was very familiar with the National Park Service and its buildings’ parkitecture style,” Jeffery explains.
This 3,200-square-foot design is a masterful blend of logs, stone, heavy timbers and wood, creating a rustic aesthetic with modern comforts, anchored by a striking 45-foot-tall tower and a timber-framed portico. The main level includes an open great room, dining room and kitchen, and a comfortable primary suite. The lower level houses two additional bedrooms, each with its own bath, and a cozy living room that opens onto a patio. Covered decks with Douglas fir timber frame arches, a timber-and-stone porte cochère and a covered breezeway complete the rustic style.
MLH 079 by Montana Log Homes
Photo courtesy of Montana Log Homes
Square Footage: 1,288
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2 full
Inspired by the rugged beauty of the Montana mountains, this cabin design showcases locally sourced materials and fosters a strong connection to its natural surroundings. Constructed from 12-inch round lodgepole pine logs, the 1,288-square-foot, single-story home draws upon early 1900s styling to conjure the spirit of parkitecture.
Prairie-style windows and doors with live-edge trim, along with horizontal dormer windows, bring in abundant natural light. The rustic simplicity of the open kitchen and great room is emphasized by a wood-burning fireplace constructed from massive natural stones.
“It has the feel of a trapper’s cabin,” observes Montana Log Homes owner Brad Neu, who created the plan for a client desiring a cabin compatible with other historic properties on existing land. Designed for both indoor and outdoor living, wide, covered porches offer an additional 1,100 square feet. Outside, an intricate log rafter system crafted from lodgepole pine logs enhances the covered porch, with a portico that extends over the entry steps to provide protection from snow. Neu notes that the low-pitched roof is engineered to manage heavy snow loads as well as to blend the cabin into its landscape.
