Vancouver's Whistler Ski House is a Rustic Boreal Dwelling

Set amidst the quaint snow-laden hillsides of Whistler, a town north of Vancouver, B.C., is a large mountain cabin designed by American architect Tom Kundig of Olson Kundig. It’s a spacious structure with a robust exterior built to last through harsh winters and rough mountain environments, whilst offering the ambient interiors of a warm cabin.

The living areas of the architecture is elevated ten feet from the ground, presenting a façade that’s safely propped up above potential snowdrifts and floods from a nearby lakeshore. A connecting 80-foot-long glass-walled bridge separates the house into two structures: a private wing and communal quarters positioned among a wide tree canopy. Each window is equipped with a custom triple-tier shutter system comprised of glass, semi-exposed raw-edged Douglas fir louvers and a weathered steel shield layer for complete environmental protection as well as privacy. With a flick of a switch, the covers can be lifted offering a wide floor-to-ceiling view of the nearby lake and boreal forest as well as the vast mountains in the distance — distinctive features that make for a lavish family retreat.

Scroll through the images above for a look at the Whistler Ski House designed by Tom Kundig.

To see more well-designed architectures, check out Clive Wilkinson’s Home, meant to resemble “Spaceships on Stilts.”