Editor’s note: Today we introduce Brick and Mortar, MONTECRISTO’s new digital series highlighting the work of exceptional local architecture and design firms. Some are new, some are old favourites—but all retain a sense of purpose and refinery. Bask in the beauty of their vision, creativity, and class.

David and Susan Scott, the husband-and-wife duo behind Vancouver’s Scott & Scott Architects, focus on the minimal, creating spaces and buildings that speak loud and clear. It is not about being showy, but it is about showmanship: conveying a message or a theme through design. Scott & Scott have worked on local restaurants including Torafuku and Bestie, and won the 2016 Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s Young Architect Award.

Their Alpine Cabin, which won a prestigious Architzer A+ Jury Award in 2014 in the Architecture +Self Initiated Projects category, is a perfect example of the firm’s clean aesthetic. Built on the north end of Vancouver Island, the 100-square-metre cabin is heated solely by a wood stove. Made of Douglas fir and cedar, the small space is immediately welcoming thanks to its rich and warm tones, and large windows showing off the enveloping forest. Water is brought in to the cabin from a nearby source, and the entire structure was built without machine excavation, keeping its carbon footprint incredibly small. Its location makes it a fantastic getaway either in the winter, for snowboarding, or the summer, for hiking and exploring. Seamlessly tying its exterior to its interior, the Alpine Cabin champions its natural surroundings.

Read more architecture stories here.