The Prospect structure is an exercise in design and build. This multipurpose structure prototype situated on MacKenzy Mountain in Margaree Forks, Cape Breton, shelters hikers and skiers from the Les Suêtes winds. It is important to engage with the material culture of this place. The architects have undertaken a life-long critical study of local buildings including barns, farmhouses, fishing sheds and vernacular houses. The studies’ material culture involves both an understanding of the local building tradition and its typical materials and methods of construction.
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The architects led groups of students from Dalhousie University faculty of Architecture and Planning in the design and build of the structure. The Design conversations focused on form, materiality, and construction sequencing. Research themes of wood construction, prefab vs shop fabrication and material culture framed the design discussions and direction.

The project was designed and built in a two week period as part of the architecture students' free-lab studio. Prospect is situated at 1000 ft elevation at the top of a trail to overlook the valley, complimenting and referencing the nature surrounding it. In order to achieve this, the architects and students studied the natural properties of various wood species as they are used in agricultural and shipbuilding constructions to explore and determine which to use for the various structures. Prospect is made of a mix of hemlock and naturally preserved cedar. It resembles a forest of birch trees, naturally aged and grayed wood spaced and notched, cladding the exterior of the structure. Together with the architects, the students studied various configurations for the cladding and developed a design for prefabricated wood cladding panels that emulate the mottling of the existing birch trees on the site. Cedar boards stand on edge in a seemingly random, but very intentional pattern to achieve this.