Yet more evidence that good design improves any kind of getaway: The American Institute of Architects (AIA) singled out camper cabins in Dakota County’s Whitetail Woods Regional Park for a housing award this year. Jurors for the prestigious awards recognized the trio of 227-square-foot rental cabins for their “beautiful simplicity” and light footprint on the natural habitat.
The cedar-clad cabins are more like modernist tree houses than standard rental fare at Minnesota parks. They are nestled in a stand of pines and perched 15 feet above the ground on concrete piers. Designed by architect Steven Dwyer of HGA in Minneapolis and constructed by participants in a local high school construction trades program (with supervision from county workers), the cabins are the first three of 20 to be constructed in the park.
The $70 per night cabins are stylish, but primitive—there’s a bathhouse nearby. co.dakota.mn.us
By Chris Lee
Photo by Paul Crosby, courtesy of Whitetail Woods Regional Park
