This house embodies the owners’ desire to live outdoors and immersed in nature. Conceived as a garden pavilion, the house offers refuge from occasional harsh weather while keeping the outdoors as the primary living space in southern British Columbia’s mild climate. A breezeway roof, exterior curtains, and deciduous planting extend the seasons of use, moderating rain, sun, and wind.
A compact above-grade footprint preserves views of Howe Sound Inlet for neighbouring homes by locating much of the program below ground. The design balances privacy, outlook, and solar exposure, ensuring comfort for both the owners and their neighbours.
Materials are locally sourced—Western Hemlock, gabion stone, and Vancouver Island marble—chosen for their natural finishes and connection to place. The partly subterranean construction and robust exterior also improve resilience in wildfire conditions.
The house and landscape are designed to evolve. Walls are intended to weather like rockfaces, becoming entwined with their surroundings. Interiors are flexible, with multiple layouts embedded in the design, allowing spaces to scale as needs change. Provision has also been made for future expansion within the existing foundations, enabling the owners to age in place without altering the overall footprint.
