Situated on a bluff above the sandy beach of Cadboro Bay on Vancouver Island, this house was designed for a young, growing family. Following studies and successful experimentation based on traditional Japanese techniques, the tongue-and-groove vertical western red cedar cladding was charred on-site prior to installation. The resulting textured black facade contrasts with the home's bright, simple interior. Large window walls and corner glazing frame expansive views of Haro Strait while integrated sliding doors allow the façade to open to the adjacent terrace. The living roof, planted with grasses and flowers native to the Pacific Northwest, sits low in the landscape and features operable ventilated skylights. Exposed board-formed concrete retaining walls and a wood and concrete pond fountain frame the entry sequence.
The tall ceiling of the main living / dining / kitchen volume combines cedar planks, perpendicular notched Douglas fir beams, and a recycled denim fabric for acoustic dampening. Heating vents from a high efficiency wood burning fireplace are integrated into the recessed steel C-channel above the board-formed concrete hearth. Hydronic heating is deployed in the exposed concrete floor slab throughout the wood-framed home’s living and service spaces, master suite, childrens’ bedrooms, and attached nanny suite. An existing garage was repurposed as a self-contained guest suite, overlooking the bay and beach below.
