Coffou Cottage is situated on a two-acre parcel surrounded by protected meadows and forest in the northwestern corner of Indiana. The modern design of the 2,800-square-foot vacation house fuses with its rural environment. This cottage was designed with a simple structural system − a horizontal red cedar rain screen on the north and a wall of operable glass on the south. The open plan intensifies views to the south while also maximizing solar gain in the winter. A fireplace positioned in the front hallway divides the bedrooms from the living area, and a custom sofa set into the wall across from it creates a traditional fireplace inglenook. Red cedar establishes a material warmth and visual interest on the exterior. A board and batten-like pattern form an open screen, and tongue-and-groove siding establishes the solid form of the adjacent volume.