LMR Cabin

2000 sf. house on Lake Mary Ronan, MT

Completed in 2015 by my family

The Lake Mary Ronan cabin was originally designed as my master’s thesis project in 2002 at Montana State University. After graduating, I moved to the site, lived in a wall tent, and built the garage with much help from my dad, mom, sisters, and friends on the weekends. Building the garage was as much a learning process as school!

In 2008, I lived onsite with my father, Tom, and 3 builder/contractor friends to build the cabin. We finished the exterior shell that fall. Our family then continued to build out the interior, including designing and building cabinets, interior doors, and furniture until 2015. The cabin features locally milled timber and passive solar design and will have hydronic heat, an HRV system, low VOC finishes, and Energy Star components. Additionally, we used salvaged materials from other job sites, including a solid mahogany 4’-0 wide front door and 8’-0 french doors.

The intent of my thesis was to explore the relationship between humanity and place through the built form.

Photographer: Steve Shepro