This compact weekend house is sited in the Foothils of the Canadian Rocky Mountains withspectacular panoramic views of the Frank Slide, Goat Mountain and the Livingstone Range. It is sited to address these views and to capture the sun for passive heating.

The project is positioned to cope with mean wind speeds of +/- 9.0 metres per second from the south south west – winds speeds as high as 150 km/hr have been recorded at the site. The roof is used for a tatami room, a large open deck with uninterupted 360 degree mountain views, and a platfrom for active solar power generation. The stairway to the roof deck allows for thermal convection to cool the building. Raw exterior panels of Cor-Ten Steel and untreated cedar siding are durable materials in an arid climate – they reference the ranch out-buildings of the Rocky Mountain foothills. Birch plywood is used as a finish for all walls and ceilings, and the floor is covered in fir plywood.

The Crows Nest Pass House was prefabricated in Altona, Manitoba, and transported 1,400 km to the site in three modules. Set up time and connections were completed in four days on foundations that were prepared in advance. All finishes and fixtures were installed before the cross-country move.