Pear Lake Camp
Custom Home, New Build | Trego, WI
Connection to the Land
The Clients have a deep emotional connection to their wooded lakeside lot in Northern Wisconsin. As a kid from Chicago, the client went to a nearby summer camp and fell in love with the north woods. In a twist of fate after college, a neighboring lake lot became available and over the next few years, the client built a one-room timber framed cabin to decompress from the bustle of life. Over time a bunk house and the “Barn” were added to host friends and family for long weekends. Inevitably they outgrew the original one-room cabin and desired a larger lake home. The new home needed to respect the land and their established patterns of activities. The original cabin was relocated on the site further inland, and a new home was designed in that location with modern amenities while still maintaining a cozy cabin feel.
Outdoor Living
A flagstone patio spills out of the cabin with easy access to the Powder Room and Coffee Bar. The upper patio has an extra-long picnic table to feed friends and family staying for the weekend. The lower patio circles the firepit for outdoor cooking and campfire nights.
Entry
The Entry is nestled between two gables and opens to an inviting Dining Room table and a framed view of the lake.
Timber Framing
As a nod to the original cabin, the new cabin incorporates a hand framed timber structure (No nails or metal connections!) for the Kitchen and Great room. Taking advantage of the peninsula site, the cabin has precisely located windows to create 180-degree view of the water from the Great Room. Relaxed seating centers around a stone fireplace for fireside chats.
Kitchen
The Kitchen and Great Room are designed as the main social area/gathering space for guests, with food prep as a shared activity. The Kitchen has no upper cabinets which allowed for large windows. A nearby pantry has plenty of additional storage. The Great Room seating is open to Kitchen for easy conversation and bookended by a 1 ½ story stone fireplace on the other side.
Stair
The stairs have open risers and large windows at the landing to flood the Lower Level with natural light. No more dark basements!
Porch
A three-sided Screen Porch on the main floor has uninterrupted views of the lake. Motorized retractable screens drop down from the ceiling with the push of a button to keep the bugs at bay.
Exterior
The exterior is clad in vertical cedar siding lightly stained and natural stone compliments. The cabin is highly insulated to withstand the cold Wisconsin winters. Thick Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) are used on the roof and continuous exterior insulation on the walls to prevent thermal bridging and increase energy efficiency.
Project Collaborators: Indicia Interior Design, RPS Home Builders (contractor), Bunkers & Associates (structural engineer), Big River Timberworks (timber frame), Spacecrafting (photography),
Awards: Selected for the 2025 AIA MN Homes by Architects Tour