Daria Sheina Studio has unveiled The Nest, an innovative off-grid cabin featuring cedar-wrapped rotating volumes that offer breathtaking panoramic views of Howe Sound along the British Columbia coast. The 1,063-square-foot residence sits majestically on the highest point of a 10-acre site on Keats Island, a secluded retreat home to only 50 full-time residents near Vancouver.
The Vancouver-based design practice created this eco-friendly, self-sufficient home as a model demonstrating how thoughtful architecture can create profound connections between people and their natural environment. "From the outset, the site context played a central role in shaping the design," Sheina explained. "Perched atop the island's highest elevation, with panoramic views of Howe Sound, the location offered a rare kind of luxury – the sensation of having the entire island to yourself."
The angular structure emerges dramatically from the rugged terrain, surrounded by moss-covered bedrock and a dense evergreen canopy. Sheina was immediately drawn to her clients' proposed name for the project, as it "captured the essential qualities we were already exploring: shelter, intimacy and a sense of belonging." The design team interpreted the nest concept not merely as a symbol, but as a spatial concept shaped by circular movement and deep connection to place.
The architectural design features a sculptural interplay of two rotated volumes, creating a compact yet playful three-level living experience. Constructed from mass timber, the ground level houses the communal kitchen, dining room, and living area within a rectangular form. The third-floor bedroom presents the most striking feature – rotated 90 degrees horizontally and 45 degrees vertically, appearing as if tipped on its corner beneath the pitched roof. This rotation creates a unique second level that serves as a small lounge with outward-sloping walls and views of the public spaces below.
"Compact in footprint yet expansive in spatial perception, The Nest maximizes its small building area while maintaining a light touch on the land," the studio noted. The merged architectural forms are clad in western red cedar, designed to age naturally and blend seamlessly into the surrounding forest environment. The minimalist interior design combines exposed wood elements with distinctive green marmoleum flooring, creating a warm yet contemporary aesthetic.
Large lift-and-slide doors open the ground floor completely to the outdoors, while strategically placed bands of windows on either side of the slanted roof provide stunning views of the Keats Island landscape. The studio emphasized that "the client's selection of distinctive homeware adds a playful, joyful touch, balancing the pronounced architectural forms with unique character."
The cabin operates entirely on renewable energy through a roof-mounted solar panel array and includes sustainable features such as an incinerating toilet and comprehensive rainwater filtration system. Daria Sheina Studio collaborated with BC Passive House to prefabricate the mass timber components, which were then transported to the inaccessible island location via helicopter airlift – a logistical challenge that required precise planning and execution.
"The process was an intricate puzzle of design, engineering, and logistics, but the result is a home that feels both intentional and effortless," Sheina reflected. "It's a design I'm incredibly proud of, made possible through close collaboration with the client." The project represents a growing trend in sustainable architecture, joining other notable off-grid cabins recently completed in locations ranging from Helsinki, Finland, to Victoria, Australia, and Romania's Carpathian Mountains.
The Nest demonstrates how innovative architectural design can create luxurious living experiences while maintaining minimal environmental impact, setting a new standard for remote, sustainable residential construction in challenging natural environments.
