triangular pool juts out from the phoenix house celebrating the canadian coastline

the Phoenix House by D’Arcy Jones Architects

D’Arcy Jones Architects has designed the Phoenix House, an ocean-view residence in West Vancouver, Canada.

Built on the grounds where a mid-century Ron Thom home once stood, the Phoenix House serves as an homage to the renowned Canadian architect, featuring many of his design principles, including the use of a hexagonal grid layout — a concept that was originally explored by Frank Lloyd Wright. This design choice represents a nod to the past while embracing contemporary aesthetics, creating a harmonious blend of architectural styles.

The Phoenix House exudes a balanced combination of tranquility and vitality, with its exterior emerging with natural cedar cladding and sculptural geometry, which adds an organic touch to its modern design. Inside, an angled plan is strategically designed to capture ocean views through large curtain-wall windows, an integration that also highlights the beauty of the forest and distant Burrard Inlet.

all images by Sama Jim Canzian

a modern home that reawakens mid-century modern ideals

The house plan includes four bedrooms and six bathrooms on a 9,016 sq ft lot that faces south and is surrounded by trees. Similar to the previous Ron Thom home, this dwelling by D’Arcy Jones Architects (see more here) is built using a hexagonal grid design, which avoids the traditional square corners and boxy shapes commonly seen in buildings. Instead, it uses a honeycomb-like pattern with wider 120-degree corners, creating a more open and spacious feel compared to its actual square footage.

The house is integrated into its natural surroundings, with oversized cedar shingles on the exterior that are custom-stained to match the nearby trees’ bark. The large windows frame picturesque views, while a triangular-shaped pool mimics the natural cracks found in the surrounding rocks. Thanks to the flexibility of the hexagonal grid design, the house juts out at various angles into the landscape, providing multiple vantage points for residents to enjoy the beautiful scenery. The residence is now listed by the West Coast Modern Real Estate agency (see more here), offered for $6,985,000.

‘The house is one of the earliest built examples of the hexagonal grid. Also called the ‘hex grid’ or ‘30-60-90’ grid, in reference to its acute and oblique angles, this unique design approach was pioneered by Frank Lloyd Wright and brilliantly harnessed by Ron Thom as an elective way to design homes on West Vancouver’s famously irregular topography,’ describes the team at nonprofit West Coast Modern League.