This Modern A-Frame Cabin Is a Gateway to Adventure

This modest, modern A-Frame built for a family of avid outdoor enthusiasts is the latest to inspire our daydreams here at Field Mag HQ. Set into a rock bluff in a quiet residential area north of Whistler Village—part of world renowned ski resort Whistler Blackcomb—the 1,900 square foot A-Frame is designed to bring the family together to snowboard in winter and mountain bike and hike in the summer. What's not to love? (You already know we can't pass up a proper A-Frame.)

Take a look around any mountain resort town and you’ll likely be looking at obnoxious “chalets” larger than most suburban homes, perhaps inspired by traditional Swiss alpine motifs but more likely the result of more money than taste. I'm talking faux river rock, brightly stained knotty pine, and enough bedrooms to sleep an army.

Built by Vancouver, B.C. based Scott & Scott Architects, this handsome A-Frame does well to ignore the current new-money trends, aiming instead to fit in with the area’s more modestly sized cabins dating back to the 70s.

Of course, the A-Frame design is classic. Here though, the husband and wife design team decided on the shape for more reasons than simply aesthetics—it’s peculiar site played a role. As did the natural and obvious benefits of a steeply slanted roof in a region that receives high double digit snowfall each winter.

“The design was driven by the slope of the site,” explains architect David Scott. “And the A-Frame and exposed lumber frame allowed for detail repetition and to achieve three stories with a roof form that directs the snow to the ground away from the doors.”

The building’s exposed beams and repeating lumber joinery is rough sawn locally sourced Douglas fir, while the ground floor poured concrete anchors directly into the bedrock. To further cut down on the environmental impact of materials, the inner cabinetry was built on site using construction grade plywood, while the beautiful dark marble countertops are from a Vancouver Island quarry. The exterior uses more concrete and red cedar shakes that will in time weather to the same hue as the surrounding rock.

Inside you’ll find a cozy main floor complete with wood fired stove and deck area with impressive views of nearby Green Lake and the surrounding mountains. The top floor features a bedroom, bunk room, and guest room/den with private, east-facing terrace, while the ground floor houses perhaps the most important area in the house, the gear storage room.

For us, as NYC residents, a proper wet/dry room for everything from bikes and snowboards to backcountry gear and hiking equipment is the real dream.