Hugh Hayden

The Johnson Atelier worked with frequent collaborator Hugh Hayden on his first permanent outdoor public artwork at the deCordova Museum. We worked with the artist from the inception of the idea, through the design and engineering phase, and into the final fabrication phase. We visited the original cabin site foundation at Walden Pond, as well as the replica that has been rebuilt there for visitors to experience. This visit, along with the original plans for the cabin and all of Thoreau's in-depth notes on its build, helped us recreate the original cabin tilted 15 degrees in two different directions: south and west. We worked directly with the studio to make the cabin build as true to the original as possible. We sourced local pine for the structure and shingles of the cabin. We even worked with a local brick manufacturer to create custom 15-degree bricks that were used to build out the fireplace at the corresponding 15-degree angle. After about months of strategic planning, design, and sourcing of materials, the cabin was built in prefabricated sections in our shop. The piece was then transported to Boston and reassembled permanently at the entrance of the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in September of 2023.