Simply hearing the word “cabin” evokes a sense of tranquility and relaxation, a sensation many travelers associate with traveling or vacationing. A place to kick your feet up, sit back, and enjoy the surroundings and your companions. That is, of course, as long as you haven’t just scaled a mountain to arrive at the cabin, as visitors are required to do at the Mount Kanin-located Kanin Winter Cabin. The payoff for all that climbing? Gorgeous 360-degree views of surrounding Italy and Slovenia that are utterly priceless.
To be fair, those staying at the Kanin Winter Cabin do also have the ability to reach this mountain-topping abode via helicopter, but where’s the fun in that? Designed by Ofis Arhitekti — a Ljubljana, Slovenia-based architecture firm — Mount Kanin’s unique cabin is constructed almost entirely out of aluminum and wood. To achieve ultimate visual ecstasy, the firm opted to situate the cabin on a cliffside overlooking the Slovenian mountain Triglav, the Adriatic Sea, and the Soca Valley. The finished product provides some of the most breathtaking views imaginable, something mere pictures hardly do justice to.
“The cabin settlement and transportation was an extremely difficult task,” read the OFIS Arhitekti project site. “It was realized by the Slovene Armed Forces helicopter crew. Bad weather and unexpected turbulence led to the cabin being placed and fixed on site at the third attempt. However, the challenge of the project is to gain new knowledge through unexpected weather conditions.”
The Kanin Winter Cabin was prefabricated elsewhere and transferred to its perch with help from Slovenia’s Armed Forces. However, transporting the sections was no walk in the park as the Armed Forces helicopter attempted the delivery twice before successfully airlifting the cabin on a third try –the weather in the area (specifically strong rainstorms, wind, and, on occasion, earthquakes) can be an absolute nightmare.
Inside the cabin, OFIS Arhitekti fashioned three areas for guests to enjoy during their stay. Situated in the back of the residence past the living room is the designated sleeping area, outfitted with three raised beds. The inclusion of massive floor-to-ceiling windows allows for an abundance of natural light to flood the entire cabin during the day, while providing the priceless views which make the Kanin Winter Cabin a one-of-a-kind.
What’s perhaps even more impressive is the fact that the cabin was built entirely from donated money and materials, and was assembled, transported, and fabricated by volunteers. Thanks to this hard work, mountaineers courageous enough to brave Mount Kanin’s conditions will be met with a vacation experience unlike any other.
