5 Undeniably Cool Projects Built by Designers and Their Dads

To honor Father’s Day, we’re spotlighting our favorite builds completed with the help of Dad. In the case of 12-year-old Hannah Cutler and renowned architect Jim Cutler, it was a chance for the older generation to pass on life lessons and spark a passion for architecture; in the case of Anthony Belluschi, who renovated his father Pietro Belluschi’s masterwork nearly 80 years after its construction, it was a way to carry on a family legacy. Whatever the case, the projects here suggest that sometimes, design is in the DNA.

A Father-Daughter Duo Lovingly Revamp a ’70s Airstream on Vancouver Island

On British Columbia’s Cortes Island, interior designer Markie Miller and her dad, Lance Price—the furniture builder behind Ironwood Furniture Co.—revived an "old tin can" they found for sale on the side of the road. "This was a special father-daughter project for a couple of people who have a habit of falling in love with things that need fixing," Markie says.

Today, the 1972 Airstream Sovereign Land Yacht calls Vancouver Island home. Appropriately named Cortes, the 31-foot trailer has been transformed, and its gleaming silver exterior makes for a dramatic contrast to its verdant surroundings. Lance’s wood-and-metal furnishings take center stage in the open-concept, 200-square-foot space. Wood and decorative touches were sourced locally to give the Airstream "an island vibe" that pays homage to its new location. This peaceful refuge is used by Lance and his wife Sharlene, who share that it was a safe haven particularly during the pandemic.

An Architect and His Preteen Daughter Built This Tiny Backyard Retreat Together

On an island in Puget Sound, 12-year-old Hannah Cutler and her father, architect Jim Cutler, built a small cabin that could serve as both his studio and her bunkhouse to use during sleepovers.