“Less, but better.” The maxim by German industrial designer Dieter Rams—whose work is said to have influenced the streamlined look of Apple products—is the same one architect Michael Leckie references when talking about the black cabin rising up from the rocky ground of Newfoundland’s Fogo Island. “That’s been our north star from day one,” he says. “We’re designing based on utility, functionality, and a refined essentialist approach.”

He’s not just talking about this 625-square-foot purpose-built rental property in Barr’d Islands, an early-1700s fishing community nestled between Shoal Bay and Joe Batt’s Arm on Fogo’s northern side. Leckie is also referencing The Backcountry Hut Company (BHC), a venture that grew from his Vancouver-based firm Leckie Studio Architecture + Design. Founded in 2015, BHC was born of a simple goal: to create sustainable and affordable prefab cabins that can be installed virtually anywhere. The modular cabins can be assembled by a team of builders in several weeks or via a DIY process that can often take longer but is speedy by today’s drawn-out construction timelines. In the last 10 years, BHC has expanded its offerings to four systems that are scalable from 107 to 3,000 square feet.

“These kits, or what I call ‘component-based architecture,’ were intended to solve a couple of pain points that I was seeing in traditional architecture and construction: lack of certainty around cost and schedule,” Leckie says. “Not only that, but also the notion of trying to help people and organizations who want to be actively involved in the process of the design and construction of their project. It’s a very personal kind of investment, and we can steer them towards a successful outcome.”

It was BHC’s aesthetic and flexibility that made its work a fit for the Fogo Island Hut’s clients, a Toronto developer named Oldstonehenge. The company had completed mixed-use and residential projects in Toronto and was looking to chart new territory in the hospitality sector.

Completed last year, the Fogo Island Hut is made from the BHC System 02 kit. With a covered deck and two modules that can be configured in different ways, the System 02 is one of the most versatile kits, according to Leckie. “It has a high degree of adaptability,” he says. “And in this case, the client was quite inventive, creating a lofted sleeping space on the second floor. This project has an abundance of utility packed into a very small footprint.”

“The modular cabins can be assembled by a team of builders in several weeks or via a DIY process that can often take longer but is speedy by today’s drawn-out construction timelines. In the last 10 years, BHC has expanded its offerings to four systems that are scalable from 107 to 3,000 square feet.”

The materials for the build aren’t unique to Fogo Island, though they seem well-suited to a landscape that now includes Fogo Island Inn, owned by local-born entrepreneur and philanthropist Zita Cobb and designed by architect Todd Saunders. “I understand that there is a rich tradition in the community and an authenticity that comes through in the engagement of local craft,” says Leckie, who’s an admirer of what Cobb and Saunders have created. “Much of the architecture itself isn’t literally derived from the local vernacular, however it has set the stage for an appetite for architecturally ambitious structures like ours. So we’re really delighted that the client decided to go with our structure.”

As with all its cabins, BHC specifies robust materials that can withstand the elements. The exterior is clad in black standing seam metal with a wood accent at the entry. “We typically specify western red cedar at any point where there’s a more intimate relationship with the structure because it’s softer feeling,” Leckie explains.

In this version of the System 02 kit, the inset entrance façade, which is positioned facing the most dramatic view, rises to an asymmetrical peak and is wrapped by horizontal cedar boards—a warm and welcoming counterpoint to the black cladding.

“Overall, we’ve achieved our goal of taking the traditional cabin typology and modernizing it to be a tight building envelope that’s low-maintenance. The design encourages snow or rain to pile up on the metal, not the wood.”

That the developers at Oldstonehenge intended this to be an experiential rental points to what Leckie considers a growing trend: micro-hospitality. He’d been noticing a lot of BHC projects turning up on popular rental sites like Airbnb. Why not curate the booking process and have the company’s own site act as a “matchmaker” with prospective renters? Now, fans of contemporary architecture can visit BHC Getaways to explore stays at huts in locations like Colorado, California, Minnesota, Ontario, and British Columbia.

The process of creating the Fogo Island Hut also encouraged Leckie to reexamine the BHC business model and think about how to optimize the product. The usual 10-foot modules have been expanded to 12 feet, which allows for greater flexibility with interior layouts. “I’m excited to be launching these hospitality-driven projects because it’s ambitious everyday architecture at a reasonable price point,” Leckie says. “We’ve focused on design, procurement, and delivery process so people don’t have to take shortcuts.” The new expanded floor plans will be launched later this summer and be featured at the Interior Design Show Vancouver in September.

Reflecting on Fogo Island Hut, Leckie muses that the modern structure looks right at home on the rugged rocks—the perfect embodiment of new meets old. “The hut feels like it fits quite naturally in that landscape,” he says. “From the colour palette to the form, there’s a sense of confluence of place, purpose, and aesthetics.”

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