In the creation of a truly successful mountain experience it is important that the designers are not overwhelmed by the dominance of any of the specialized technical aspects of design, while recognizing the needs of each one of them. This is why the total architecture, that is, the overall plan of a design, particularly in the mountains, is so important.

Oberti Resort Design is a division of Oberto Oberti Architecture and Urban Design Inc. and a member of the Pheidias Group of companies. Oberto’s work in mountain resort design began in the early 1970s in Whistler, in collaboration with Asbjorn Gathe, a gifted architect and planner and a close associate of Franz Wilhelmsen, one of Whistler’s founding figures.

Oberto’s design approach has been shaped by a lifelong engagement with mountains and skiing. From early childhood through national-level alpine ski racing, and later through professional practice, extensive experience skiing and visiting resorts across Europe and North America has informed his understanding of mountain environments and the qualities that make them memorable.

His professional perspective was further enriched through close collaboration with many of the pioneers of North American resort planning, alongside the growth of a Vancouver-based design office that has now been in continuous practice for more than forty years.

Today, Oberti Resort Design is led by Oberto’s son, Tommaso Oberti, also a former ski racer and a twenty-five-year veteran of resort design.

Following Oberto’s early work in Whistler and the establishment of his firm, the practice completed a wide range of resort planning and design projects that closely mirrored the growth of the resort industry, particularly in Whistler. These included the planning of Twin Lakes, the design of the first development in Village North, and the comprehensive redesign of Creekside in 1996 for Ballast Nedam International. That project was intended to be anchored by a Hyatt Resort Hotel on the site later developed by Intrawest as the current Creekside Lodge.

When Intrawest acquired Whistler Mountain and assumed control of the Creekside redevelopment, Oberti Resort Design explored alternative opportunities with Ballast Nedam International. This work led to the identification of the Whitetooth ski area near Golden as a suitable location for a new destination resort. From this process emerged the vision for Kicking Horse Mountain Resort—a concept centered on gondola access to the mountaintop, a signature resort hotel, and the ability to experience an entire mountain in an exceptional climate for skiing and sightseeing, adjacent to Canada’s national parks.

Over the years, Oberti Resort Design has reviewed and studied most of the master plans for ski areas in British Columbia, along with numerous international projects for a wide range of clients. Through this breadth of work, the firm has developed a planning philosophy that views the mountain experience as an integrated whole, rather than a series of independent technical solutions.

While technical performance and operational efficiency are essential to any successful resort, they do not, by themselves, create a meaningful mountain experience. Just as a building is not designed as a collection of isolated elements, a mountain must be conceived through a clear overarching vision, with every component reinforcing that intent.

Mountain and resort design therefore requires the careful coordination of many specialists, including geotechnical, structural, mechanical, and electrical engineers, as well as landscape architects and environmental consultants. These disciplines provide the analytical tools and verification necessary to implement a project. The role of the coordinating design office is to integrate these contributions into a coherent whole and ensure that the original vision remains intact.

A successful mountain experience depends on balancing technical requirements without allowing any single discipline to dominate. This is why “total architecture”—the organizing idea that gives structure and meaning to a place—is especially critical in mountain environments.

Many of the world’s most enduring mountain descents, such as Parsenn, Corviglia, Lauberhorn, and Gornergrat, originated as routes from peaks that were initially accessed for sightseeing rather than sport alone. The Gornergrat railway, for example, has remained one of the most profitable mountain lifts ever built for more than a century, demonstrating that a powerful mountain experience can transcend any single activity.

Equally important is the integration of skiing with views, landscape, and moments of arrival, so the experience is not reduced to a purely athletic pursuit. Well-considered arrival points, particularly at summits, reinforce orientation, heighten anticipation, and enrich the beginning of mountain descents.

Providing access to a mountain summit not only reveals expansive views of surrounding valleys and ranges, as exemplified at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, but can also open extensive terrain in an intuitive and efficient manner. While summit environments often present challenges such as wind exposure and steep topography, their experiential value frequently outweighs these constraints.

An integrated approach is equally important in aligning the mountain experience with real estate and commercial development. Resort villages should not be conceived merely as collections of buildings or traffic solutions, but as vibrant, walkable places that support year-round activity and deepen the relationship between visitors and the mountain.

The total mountain experience encompasses everything from the character of mountain restaurants and cafes to viewpoints, pedestrian streets, and village spaces—elements that complement sporting activities while remaining meaningful on their own. This is where architecture and mountain planning combine to create a richer and more complete resort environment.

Engineering and construction expertise then ensure that this vision is delivered in a manner that is economical to build, efficient to operate, and durable over time.

For more than thirty years, the Oberti Resort Design office has cultivated the vision, experience, and professional depth required to deliver the complete mountain experience—from master planning through architecture and implementation. The practice brings together a highly qualified planning and construction team, supported by some of British Columbia’s most respected sub-consultants. Core collaborators on many projects include Pheidias Project Management, Golder Associates, McElhanney Consulting Services, and Enkon Environmental, alongside other specialized firms as required.