The Columbia River Valley Lookout is a ski cabin designed by Twobytwo Architecture Studio in British Columbia, Canada. Designed in 2023, the retreat is nestled in the Kootenay mountain range, aiming to connect family members with each other and the natural landscape. The cabin features a cantilevered steel balcony, douglas fir rafters, and an industrial staircase. Its design is inspired by the surroundings, utilizing a palette of wood and concrete for both the exterior and interior.

Family-Oriented Design
The Columbia River Valley Lookout is a ski cabin designed by Twobytwo Architecture Studio in British Columbia, Canada. Nestled in the Kootenay mountain range, the cabin aims to foster connections among family members and with the natural landscape.
Homeowner Sandra Bassett enlisted her sister and brother-in-law from Twobytwo Architecture Studio to design the cabin as a family retreat. Structural design was handled by Sandra’s husband, Chris Urbinsky, whose steel engineering background influenced many features, including a cantilevered steel balcony and a continuous industrial staircase that spans the cabin’s three levels.

Inspired by Natural Surroundings
Situated on a firm podium, the cabin’s simple rectangular footprint towers above the trees, capped with a shed roof to maximize the height toward prevailing views. A palette of wood and concrete is used both on the exterior and interior, reflecting the surroundings.

The common space, located on the u...