Circled by cool waters, engulfed in ragged natural beauty and green woods, yet only a short trip from Vancouver, Bowen Island makes for the perfect weekend escape. With this in mind, when a young family of city-dwellers picked a sloped site on the island to build their vacation home, an extraordinairy escape they called upon British Columbia architects omb (office of mcfarlane biggar) for help.
The result of their collaboration is Bowen Island House, a contemporary home conceived as a modern, all mod cons interpretation of the humble cabin in the woods. Nestled at the top of a steep slope on the island's dramatic north side, the residence was designed to be open and bright, orientating views towards the blue sea and embracing the lush nature around it.
At the same time, while the house feels comfortable and generous, it sits lightly on the land, attempting to disturb as little as possible its delicate natural surroundings through a long yet slim footprint. Working with simple forms and details and keeping a low profile from the water's side to blend in with the context as much as possible, the structure is also able to function entirely off the grid to minimize its environmental footprint.
A dark, timber clad upper level helps the volume disolve into the landscape when seen from the outside; but from inside, carefully placed openings frame views and connect the residents with the outdoors at every turn.
Spread across two levels, the house features a flowing piano nobile that hosts the main living and entertainment spaces, as well as the two family bedrooms. The lower level, semi-submerged into the slope, includes a guest bedroom suite and storage for leisure equipment. Glass expanses on both floors reflect the views and direct the gaze towards the water, underlining the main protagonist of this summer home - the island's calming, natural landscape.
INFORMATION
-
Utilitarian men’s fashion that will elevate your everydayFrom Prada to Margaret Howell, utilitarian and workwear-inspired men’s fashion gets an upgrade for S/S 2024
-
Gerhard Richter unveils new sculpture at Serpentine SouthGerhard Richter revisits themes of pattern and repetition in ‘Strip-Tower’ at London’s Serpentine South
-
Vipp’s Scandinavian guesthouse offers a sleek setting amid a wild landscapeVipp Cold Hawaii is a Scandinavian guesthouse designed by architecture studio Hahn Lavsen in Denmark’s Thy National Park
-
Downs House II inspires West Coast Modern campaign in VancouverDowns House II, currently on the market in Vancouver, inspires a West Coast Modern campaign to save the modernist landmark
-
Toronto’s Rolex boutique wows with dynamic façadeThis Rolex boutique in Toronto features a dynamic, wavy façade in CNC-cut limestone created by local architecture studio Partisans
-
Promenade Samuel-de Champlain is a riverside boulevard championing urban greenPromenade Samuel-de Champlain in Quebec gives the city’s river back to its community, transforming a previously neglected urban space
-
Chez Léon is a contemporary Canadian retreat in the Quebec countrysideThis Canadian retreat, an elegant update of the classic cabin in the woods, is part ski lodge, part tree house, combining traditional materials and stunning views with a light footprint
-
House in High Park is a Toronto home to be discovered slowlyHouse in High Park by Ian MacDonald Architect is a new-build home in Toronto that takes a problematic plot and transforms it into an exhilarating, contemporary residence
-
This Québec school evokes a calming atmosphere in tune with natureThis redesigned Québec school inspires a new paradigm in its architecture genre by creating a welcoming, home-like and nature-inspired environment
-
Canvas House’s wavy brick façade stands out in its suburban Toronto contextCanvas House by Partisans brings a wavy brick façade to its sleepy Toronto suburban neighbourhood
-
Discover Dyde House, a lesser known Arthur Erickson gemDyde House by modernist architect Arthur Erickson is celebrated in a new film, premiered in Canada
