Little Giant's Forest Studio: A Dark Cedar Cabin on Vancouver Island

Canadian architecture studio Little Giant has completed Forest Studio, a 90-square-metre gable-roof cabin on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The two-storey structure, clad in a darkened cedar screen, sits on a recessed concrete base to float over the forest understory. Currently serving as an office for the Calgary-based firm, it is designed for future use as an artist or musician studio, guest house, or rental space. The design draws on the spirit of a treehouse and Pacific Northwest vernacular, with a muted palette of hemlock ceilings and travertine countertops for luminous neutrality. At night, the dark shell recedes, creating a translucent lantern effect. The project prioritizes minimal landscape disruption, ocean views, and privacy from the main residence. Little Giant founder Mark Burkart describes the studio as a philosophical movement away from city noise, technology, and AI, embracing nature by touching the ground lightly. Photography by Chris Amat.