US firm In Situ Studio has clad this rural North Carolina cabin in darkened wood and set it far back from the road to protect it from view (+ slideshow).

The Corbett Residence is located in Bahama, a rural town about 40 miles (64 kilometres) outside of Raleigh, the state's capital. The woodland property is located along a two-lane country road.

The dwelling is situated at the crest of a gentle hill. The rectilinear home rests on a base made of concrete block, with the upper portion clad in glass and blackened wood.

"The house is a low, black box that strikes a line across the slope, mimicking the horizon," said In Situ Studio, a Raleigh-based firm founded in 2010.

The home is oriented to maximise views and natural daylight, while also providing a sense of seclusion.

Visitors access the residence via a serpentine driveway that winds through the forest.

"The drive is thin and meanders between trees to protect the house from view," the firm said.

Encompassing 1,560 square feet (145 square metres), the home is divided into three distinct zones. One contains a carport, while the others house a bedroom and the main living area.

The interior features concrete flooring, wooden cabinetry and modern decor. Operable windows line both sides of the main living area and enable cross-ventilation.

The bedroom is located on the eastern end of the home. Its large glass wall overlooks a thicket of oak trees.

Other boxy homes in the US include a slim beach cottage by Ramsey Jones on the shore of Lake Michigan and a cabin in rural Wisconsin by Johnsen Schmaling Architects that features blackened pine cladding.

Photography is by Richard Leo Johnson/Atlantic Archives.