mcleod bovell wraps west vancouver residence in wood to resemble a beach house

a west vancouver residence by canadian firm mcleod bovell modern houses is designed to evoke the feel of a beach house: simple, casual and flexible. commissioned by an australian ex-patriate family, the g’day house supports a relaxed attitude toward daily life and helps its residents reconnect with a warm-weather lifestyle with indoor and outdoor space holding equal priority. 

entry bridge to front door

materials, form, and spatial relationships in mcleod bovell‘s design are intended to create a relaxed atmosphere with various open spaces. column-free sliding doors at the southeast corner of the house double the size of the living area when open, while a narrow floor-plate, the result of the combination of the dining room and kitchen into a single long space, offers a generous side-yard area, used for outdoor cooking. the design caters to the clients’ requests,  who, as avid hosts, felt that the kitchen should anchor the primary living spaces at the upper floor. a sequence of outdoor spaces from front yard to terrace encourages the direct exterior arrival of guests to the kitchen, while the dinning table and wood-burning fireplace can both be rotate to support a variety of arrangements depending on weather and number of guests. a reflecting pond and fence at the scale of house connect this space with an open terrace to the south and an enclosed garden to the north while creating privacy to the street.

path into front yard

front / side yard

front garden

front entry and side-yard connect along east wall

rear terrace with full-open sliding doors

rear terrace view

open sliding doors at rear terrace and living room

kitchen opening up to rear terrace

living room with suspended wood-burning fireplace

downstairs hall with owner’s library

master bathroom

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edited by: sofia lekka angelopoulou | designboom