- Project: Rabbit Snare Gorge
- Architect: Omar Gandhi Architect
- Location: Canada, Inverness, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
- Year: 2015
- Area: 185 m2
- Photography: Doublespace
Rabbit Snare Gorge by Omar Gandhi Architect and Design Base 8 is a striking vertical cabin set within the rugged wilderness of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Conceived as both a contemporary retreat and a respectful intervention in nature, the project rises as a slender gabled tower above the Acadian forest. Its form not only captures panoramic views of ocean and gorge but also reflects the region’s vernacular architecture and heritage.
Built for a client deeply connected to the land and its history, Rabbit Snare Gorge has become a celebrated example of modern wilderness architecture, recognized with the Governor General’s Medal in Architecture in 2018.
Site & Narrative
The site is a 46-acre parcel of dense woodland and steep terrain, carved by a brook and framed by cliffs overlooking the Northumberland Strait. Family stories of the land inspired the design—ancestors once used the gorge to snare rabbits and a stone by the waterfall to wash clothes. The project sought to honor this narrative while creating a dwelling that minimized disturbance to the fragile ecosystem.
By building vertically, the design reduces the footprint on the land while reaching above the treetops to access sweeping views of both the valley and the ocean.
Architectural Concept – The Vertical Gabled Cabin
The design reinterprets the archetypal gable form in an elongated tower. This typology achieves multiple goals:
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Compact footprint preserves more of the forest floor.
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Elevated lookouts provide unique perspectives—one toward the ocean, another along the gorge.
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Efficient weather response: pitched rooflines shed snow and rain in Cape Breton’s demanding climate.
The home unfolds vertically:
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Ground floor: entry and bedrooms nestled into the slope.
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Second floor: a double-height kitchen and dining space forming the social core.
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Third floor: living room and lookout, offering the most expansive views of land and sea.
This sequence mirrors an ascent through the forest canopy, a deliberate journey from ground to sky.
Materials & Structural Resilience
Cape Breton’s Atlantic coast is notorious for intense storms, salt spray, and suêtes winds that can exceed 200 km/h. Rabbit Snare Gorge was engineered as a robust yet elegant response.
Key material and structural strategies:
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Local wood cladding connects the home to vernacular traditions.
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Weathering steel entry hoop functions as a protective windbreak and symbolic gateway.
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Redundant sheathing: every wall, partition, and surface contributes structurally, creating a tower capable of resisting extreme lateral forces.
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Compact footprint and deep anchoring minimize site disruption while stabilizing the vertical form.
These strategies create a resilient retreat that withstands the coastal climate while aging gracefully.
Interior Experience
Inside, the home balances warmth and minimalism. Natural wood tones, soaring ceilings, and expansive glazing define the spaces. Light filters through carefully positioned windows, animating interiors with shifting patterns throughout the day.
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Bedrooms on the ground floor provide sheltered, intimate spaces.
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The kitchen and dining area occupy a dramatic double-height space, encouraging gathering and social connection.
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The living space at the top opens to breathtaking views, reinforcing the feeling of floating above the forest.
The interiors prioritize experience over ornament, allowing the landscape to become the primary focus.
Sustainability & Environmental Sensitivity
The tower typology itself is a sustainable gesture—occupying less land while maximizing spatial efficiency. Other sustainable strategies include:
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Orientation for natural light and passive ventilation.
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Use of local materials for cladding and structure.
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Minimal excavation, preserving the steep topography and vegetation.
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Durable materials that require little maintenance in harsh weather.
This approach ensures that the project respects its ecological context while offering longevity and comfort.
Recognition & Impact
Rabbit Snare Gorge received the Governor General’s Medal in Architecture in 2018, one of Canada’s most prestigious honors. The project has been widely celebrated as a sensitive and innovative model of remote architecture, demonstrating how contemporary design can respectfully coexist with wild landscapes.
Its combination of vernacular inspiration, resilient engineering, and poetic storytelling has made it a benchmark for future wilderness retreats in Canada and beyond.
Rabbit Snare Gorge by Omar Gandhi Architect and Design Base 8 is more than a home—it is a towering sculpture in nature, a vertical retreat that tells stories of heritage, resilience, and connection to the land. By rising above Cape Breton’s rugged terrain while leaving a light footprint, the house proves that architecture can be at once bold, sustainable, and deeply respectful of place.
