=
Mountaintop Layover
Kanin Winter Cabin

One of the main draw cards of travelling is that it allows you to always take in a different view, and those views only get more spectacular the higher you go. When you are on a mountain, the scenery is nothing short of breathtaking. The clouds and the stars are just over your shoulder, and the crisp, clean air provides near-infinite visibility; there is a sense of freedom up high that just cannot be found at ground level. Kanin Winter Cabin, the latest project by OFIS Architects following the successful Alpine Shelter Skuta last year, is place for climbers to take a break before attacking a further stage in their long journey.

The cabin is located on Mount Kanin in Bovec, a small town in Slovenia known for its World War I battlefields and remains that attract history lovers in addition to the usual climbers. The weather is hostile, with heavy rain and snowfall causing snow cover for half the year, not to mention the frequent earthquakes. The site can only be reached by climbing or helicopter, therefore transporting the pre-built cabin to the site was the biggest challenge of the project. OFIS also needed to adjust the cabin according to the extreme weather and rugged terrain.

The exterior of the Kanin Winter Cabin is built with white aluminium panels, giving it a distinctive look. The interior is finished with wood to provide a sense of warmth. The three floors of resting platforms can accommodate up to nine persons at the same time, while the floor-to-ceiling window offers views of Triglav, the Soca Valley and the Adriatic Sea. The cabin acts as a wonderful stopover for travellers to recover and prepare themselves for the rest of their journey.