Our Work in the Wild

A collection of projects where we've pushed the boundaries between built environments and natural landscapes. Each one taught us something new about designing for adventure.

Honestly, every project here represents months of hiking, site visits in questionable weather, and countless sketches on napkins during campfire talks. We don't just design from the office - we sleep on-site, test the views at sunrise, and make sure the structure actually enhances the experience rather than just sitting there looking pretty.

Eco-Resort Design

Cascade Ridge Retreat

Perched at 1,800m in the Coast Mountains, this was a beast of a project. The client wanted 12 luxury cabins but the site had zero road access. We ended up designing everything to be helicoptered in as modular pieces - which actually forced us to rethink traditional construction in a good way.

The main lodge cantilevers over a ravine (took forever to get permits for that), giving guests this insane view without disturbing the bear migration route below. Geothermal heating, rainwater collection, the whole nine yards. It's been operating for three years now and we still get calls from other architects asking how we pulled it off.

  • 12 modular guest cabins
  • Zero-impact construction methods
  • 100% renewable energy integration
  • Completed 2023 - Whistler, BC
Wildlife Observation

Salish Sea Bird Observatory

This one's special to me personally. Three viewing platforms connected by elevated walkways through old-growth forest, designed specifically for birdwatching without disturbing nesting sites. We worked with ornithologists for eight months before even breaking ground.

The platforms use locally-sourced cedar (all storm-fallen, no live trees cut) and the whole structure moves slightly with the trees during wind - which sounds scary but actually prevents stress on both the building and the forest. Kids love it, and we've recorded 147 different bird species from the platforms so far.

  • 450m of elevated walkways
  • No habitat disruption during construction
  • Accessible design for all abilities
  • Completed 2024 - Vancouver Island, BC
Adventure Park

Pemberton Trail Hub

Mountain biking's gotten huge in BC and the old trail centers couldn't keep up. This hub includes bike maintenance stations, a warming shelter, and emergency response facilities. Built it mostly underground to preserve the ridgeline views - you barely see it until you're right on top of it.

Pemberton, BC - 2023

Cabin Architecture

Kootenay Backcountry Cabins

Six sleeping cabins along a 40km hiking route. Each one's slightly different based on the microclimate and terrain, but all share the same DNA. They're basically weatherproof shells with huge windows - intentionally minimal so you're still camping, just with a roof.

Kootenay National Park, BC - 2022

Recreation Center

Squamish Adventure Base

Climbing gym meets outdoor education center. The wall is actually the building's structural element - no facade, just functional rock face. We integrated gear rental, classroom space, and a cafe that uses the climbing wall for natural cooling. It's weird but it works.

Squamish, BC - 2024

Trail Infrastructure

Capilano River Crossings

Sometimes the best architecture is the stuff you barely notice. These five pedestrian bridges replace older structures that were honestly kinda dangerous. We used tensioned cable systems and local timber - they flex with the river's movement instead of fighting it.

The tricky part was working around salmon spawning season, bear activity, and thousands of hikers who didn't wanna see construction. We did most of the work at night with minimal lighting. My crew hated me for about six months but the end result is pretty seamless.

  • 5 bridge structures, 180m total span
  • Minimal ecosystem disruption
  • 50-year lifespan design
  • Completed 2023 - North Vancouver, BC
Eco-Resort Design

Revelstoke Alpine Lodge

High-altitude construction is no joke. This 40-room lodge sits at 2,100m and had to handle serious snow loads, avalanche risk, and materials that needed to come up via snowcat. The owner wanted luxury but also wanted to be carbon-neutral, which honestly seemed impossible at first.

We buried half the building into the mountainside for insulation, used a biomass boiler fed by dead pine beetle trees (there's unfortunately tons of them), and designed the roof to shed snow naturally without mechanical systems. The windows are triple-pane but placed strategically to capture passive solar heat during the day.

It's been through two brutal winters now and performed way better than projected. Guests say it feels cozy without being stuffy, which was exactly the vibe we were going for. Plus the views are absolutely unreal - you can see three mountain ranges from the main lounge.

  • 40 guest rooms + communal spaces
  • Avalanche-resistant design
  • Carbon-neutral operations
  • Completed 2022 - Revelstoke, BC

Currently in the Works

We've got a few projects under construction right now that we're pretty excited about - a kayak launch facility on Haida Gwaii, an interpretive center in the Okanagan, and a backcountry ski hut that's gonna be a real challenge. Can't share photos yet but check back in a few months.

Let's Talk About Your Project
28

Completed Projects

6

Currently Under Construction

14

Provincial Parks Served

100%

Sustainable Design Commitment