Modern house with black exterior walls and large windows, surrounded by tall pine trees in a forested area.

mh5

erris valley modhouse
princeton, bc

When aspiring owner-builders approached us with the goal of building a modest cabin on a rural, mountainous, and well-treed property, we were keen to share our knowledge on the subject. They wanted to focus their budget on construction, so we proposed a 2020 modhouse mh-5 design. Though the site is rugged, a road was established to a knoll affording a relatively flat site. We recommended a single-level design, minimizing construction heights and scaffolding for owner-builder ease and maximizing connection to the garden-scape. We identified an option to expand later with a two-storey tower and designated space for that future addition in our siting plan.

We customized this modhouse by exposing laminated veneer lumber (LVL) beams, to be finish sanded. LVLs have an edge grain similar to plywood, so we designed matching plywood cabinetry for a simple, durable, warm, and woody interior

designed by f2a architecture
owner built, completed 2024

learn more about the modhouse building system here.

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Two people standing outside a wooden house under construction on a dirt lot with trees and a blue sky in the background.
 
A black modern house surrounded by trees, with snow piles in the yard and a blue sky with wispy clouds overhead.
Living room with large windows showing a forest view, beige sofa with a book on it, kitchen area in the background, and new wooden framing around the windows.
A bedroom with white walls, large windows showing trees outside, a black bed with white bedding, a black ceiling fan, a colorful painting on the wall, and a black armchair with a framed picture resting on it.
Modern kitchen with light wood cabinets, black handles, a black faucet, green tiled backsplash, and two bottles on the counter.
Interior view of a house hallway with a bedroom on the left and a row of wooden cabinets on the right, leading to a glass door at the end with windows showing a wooded outdoor view.
Interior view of a living room with large picture windows showing a forest outside, a white sofa, and a black stove in the corner.