olson kundig's tofino beach house captures both forest and ocean views

olson kundig has realized a beach house in the small town of tofino on vancouver island in canada. designed around two contrasting landscapes — the forest and the ocean — the 232 sqm (2,500 sqft) dwelling offers both refuge and drama, coziness and openness.

images by nic lehoux

nestled between the trees, tofino beach house is raised off the ground, affording space underneath for vegetation to grow, namely ferns and beach salal. for the elevational treatment, the north-facing side is solid and restrained. in contrast, the south side that looks toward the ocean is wrapped in floor-to-ceiling glazing, providing inhabitants with calming views of tree trunks in the foreground and water in the distance.

‘the emphasis was not on framing a single focal point view, but rather on capturing a panoramic view of the ocean beyond,’ says jim olson, principal and founder of olson kundig.

the floor plan is composed primarily of one large room, which is lined with a perimeter of glass. this social heart of the home is also bookended by two fireplaces that anchor the space and provide a feeling of refuge. olson explains, ‘the roof is held up only by the two chimneys on either side of the living space, which gives the feeling of the roof floating. there are no columns or interior structural systems to obscure the panoramic view; instead, it feels almost like you are outdoors in a big open space with two cozy campfires at either end.’

informed by the natural landscape, the interiors are characterized by warm, natural tones. dark woods and slabs of concrete combine with pieces of contemporary art from the owner’s private collection. the two large artworks above the fireplaces were specially created for the design by sam francis and diego singh. jim olson also designed a furniture collection specifically for the beachfront house. pieces include a walnut sofa that’s built into the hearth of one fireplace, creating in a unified architecture and design.