Budget Breakdown: Their $464K Cabin Can Produce Way More Energy Than It Consumes

Set on a remote island in British Columbia’s Desolation Sound, this 500-square-foot off-grid cabin connects to its untamed landscape in more ways than one.

For starters, the cedar-wrapped cabin—designed by architect Laura Killam in collaboration with owners Dominica Babicki and Alastair Moore—is perched atop a 120-foot-tall bluff with unobstructed ocean views. An adjacent meadow and wetlands draw countless deer, wolves, and bird species, including bald eagles.

Then there’s the design approach, which Dominica and Alastair squarely focused on environmental stewardship. The couple have worked together in the sustainability field for more than 30 years, and they started Big Bad Wolf Resilience Design in response to the rapidly changing climate.

"We need buildings that don’t rely on fossil fuels," says Dominica. "With climate change, there are increased threats from wildfire, flooding, drought, smoke, and extreme heat." Their company works with builders, designers, and homeowners to create durable, adaptable, energy-efficient, and climate-friendly buildings.