Syndicate Smith Wins Small Modern Cottage
We’re taking an indepth look at Icicle House 03 by Syndicate Smith, the winning home in the Small Modern Cottage category of our 2025 Your Modern Design Awards Competition. This category celebrates new modern cottages that are small and efficient but still accommodate a very comfortable, modern lifestyle. We capped cottages in this category at 1,600 square feet.
Tucked into a forested hillside near Leavenworth, Washington, Icicle House 03 is a compact vertical retreat that rises through the trees with quiet confidence.
The 1,077-square-foot structure turns site constraints into assets, offering a model for small-scale living rooted in resilience, efficiency, and a deep respect for place.
The challenging terrain—a narrow, boulder-strewn slope with limited access due to easements and two private bridges—inspired a slender, three-story form that minimizes excavation while maximizing views and livable space. A protected pedestrian bridge connects the home to the road, reinforcing the experience of retreat without sacrificing accessibility.
Durable materials were chosen with purpose. Charcoal siding and Corten steel accents blend into the surrounding forest, while maple plywood brings warmth and brightness to the interior.
Expansive windows frame views of Icicle Creek and the canyon beyond, anchoring the home to its alpine context.
Inside, the layout stacks shared living spaces above two compact bedrooms, culminating in a rooftop deck that functions as an outdoor living room with space to dine, lounge, or sleep under the stars.
Given the remote location and infrastructural limitations, the design team embraced a self-sufficient mindset. Concrete was pumped across the bridge to lay the foundation, and a rooftop rainwater collection system supplies a 1,600-gallon cistern in the basement, circumventing the lack of a viable well to ensure a seamless domestic water supply.
Icicle House 03 exemplifies Syndicate Smith’s site-specific, client-responsive approach to design—one that embraces constraints, responds to context, and creates meaningful places to live, even on the most demanding terrain.
"A unique project starts with a curious client. This project had a client that was open and interested in creating something truly unique and it shows in the final outcome. We're excited with how the house was able to nestle into the site and create an incredible atmosphere for everyone who experiences it,” says Steven Booher, AIA, Partner, Syndicate Smith.
This project is a compelling example of how thoughtful design can turn challenges into opportunities.
Vertical and compact, the structure fits naturally into the wooded landscape. The rhythm of the window patterns mirrors the trees, reinforcing a treehouse-like feeling that’s playful yet serene.
Inside, the interiors are warm and simple. Wood tones, minimal detailing, and framed views create a sense of refuge. A modest deck offers connection to the outdoors without distraction. “It’s restraint done right. Every detail feels intentional,” says one juror.
Photography: Will Austin Photography
