Chapter 1

The Eagle's Nest

. . . rivals the summer chateaux of the French monarchs! It has romantic hanging balconies, enormous glass areas and a beautiful modern interior.

Design by Hermanovski

THE EAGLE'S NEST—designed espe­-cially   for  HOW  TO  BUILD   20  CABINS  is the country cousin to Egil Hermanovski's famous bird-in-flight home design The Eagle (lead story, today's woman low cost homes, Fawcett Book 217). In addi­tion to The Eagle's Nest, Mr. Hermanovski is also represented by the succeeding three cabins—The Hermitage, The Gypsy, and The Four Winds—all incorporating enough sheer verve to pick you up and keep you there through whatever vacation time you can afford to spend in them. The Eagle's Nest—as well as the others—brings a new and happy note into the vacation scheme. Stylized and modern, these are young ideas for  the young  in  heart—whatever  your physical age may be—at reasonable prices. For better orientation and to get the most out of the view very often a cabin or sum­mer house has to be placed on a steep hill. The design of the cabin, therefore, has to meet these requirements.

The Eagle's Nest is designed for a hill facing south. To protect the large window areas there are wide roof overhangs and balconies, features as attractive as they are practical.

The balcony at the living-dining level may be constructed of reinforced concrete, to create the most pleasing design, but al­most the same effect can be achieved by using wood construction as was done in the case of the upper balcony.  

The railing in both cases can be made of wrought iron. The general layout of the cabin is very simple and economical, with no wasted area for halls or corridors.

The main entrance with a carport and storage closet faces the up-grade. This is on the middle level for easy access to the living-dining room and kitchen level as well as to the upper level which contains a comfortably-sized bathroom and sleeping area.

This arrangement provides a most at­tractive interior with the very light and open stairs and balcony. The wrought iron-wire mesh railing is the high point of the house. The stone fireplace adds visual and physical warmth to the spacious living area.

The kitchen is 9 ft. 9 in. wide and 11 ft. 6 in. long and, due to the concentrated planning and continuous V-shape counter and cabinet arrangement, actually has more working and storage space than many kitchens twice the size. The counter facing the dining area is open to create a bar and pass-through.
The four module and post-and-beam system used in this design is more practical than the regular frame construction. The construction of The Eagle's Nest is also more economical for final touches, such as interior decoration. The structural mem­bers in themselves create a most interesting pattern eliminating the need for expensive decorative features.

As indicated on the drawings the solid walls between the posts can be finished even in asbestos board without losing the design value. Depending on the budget, the posts and beams can be finished in red­wood or left unfinished, varnishing or painting whatever wood is used.
The rustic stone effect is easy to create in areas where there is a lot of stone; other­wise brick or concrete brick can replace the stone.
There is no basement provided in this summer house but, if desired, cellar space can be added for the boiler and a flue added to the fireplace and barbecue chimney.

If the local ground conditions do not per­mit excavations for a cellar, the fireplace and the chimney may be moved to the kitchen counter corner, a small part of which may be enclosed for the boiler room.

Stain at left lead to sleeping area. Door opens to bath. Below is foyer equipped with large closet LiTing-dining area and kitchen are on lower leTel.

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