Two neighboring lots in North Vancouver, British Columbia, were combined into a single ground plane where a main residence, a pool house, and a greenhouse sit not as standalone buildings but as moments within one continuous landscape. Designed by Garret Cord Werner Architects with interiors by HB Design, landscape by Donohoe Living Landscapes, and built by Meister Construction, the project treats architecture, interiors, and terrain as a single continuous material argument – one where no element claims hierarchy over the others and every threshold between inside and outside is deliberately blurred.
Roughly 6,100 square feet of built space splits between a three-level main house at 4,235 square feet and a 1,870-square-foot pool house. No corridor or breezeway connects them – only an alley that the landscape plan transforms into a true threshold. When the interior gates open, a view corridor cuts cleanly through both properties toward the North Shore mountains. The greenhouse and vegetable planters face the public lane, while boulevard plantings extend beyond the property line, softening the transition between private residence and neighborhood street.
For Ryan Donohoe, founder of Donohoe Living Landscapes, that gesture was intentional. “I’m quite opposed to landscapes that completely block out the neighbors,” he says. “Treating the laneway as part of the design allowed the landscape and its functionality to anchor into the local community rather than shutting it out.” Instead of a conventional fence line, the team developed a layered system of clipped hedging and sculptural metal screening that modulates privacy while guiding views through the site.
Materially, the garden mirrors the architecture’s restrained palette. Basalt paving and concrete define the pool deck, red cedar fencing adds warmth, and powder-coated steel forms pergolas, gates, and fire elements. A metallic bronze finish ties these elements together. “It’s a bit of a chameleon,” Donohoe notes. “From some angles it reads almost black, while from others it shifts toward a light brown that harmonizes with the brick and greenery.”
Planting reinforces the sense of a landscape still unfolding. Native species dominate much of the site, while the pool garden introduces a layered composition of Japanese maples, tassel ferns, forest grass, smoke bush, and switch grasses. Over time, these plantings will thicken into a lush envelope around the architecture. “The hardscape is extremely precise,” Donohoe says, “but the softscape is designed to grow into itself, creating layers that cool the ground and bring a sense of calm away from the busyness of modern living.”
The modern farmhouse vocabulary of brick, wood slat, and expansive glazing finds its counterpoint in HB Design’s interior strategy. Partner Shannon Bradner led the interiors alongside principal Jennifer Heffel, joining the project at an advanced stage yet delivering a remarkably coordinated drawing package.
“The architecture already had a strong presence,” Bradner explains, “so our goal was to soften that rigor through layers of natural materials and subtle tonal shifts.” The palette remains neutral and earthy, drawn from the surrounding North Shore landscape, but the interiors reveal themselves through texture rather than color alone. Porcelain tile, quartzite, and carefully selected woods were chosen for how they capture and shift light throughout the day while complementing the brick exterior.
The sourcing process stretched across several months, calibrating undertone and grain so that materials feel timeless rather than trend-driven. Custom millwork integrates storage directly into the architecture, minimizing visual clutter while highlighting natural surfaces.
The three-level main house organizes family life across an open-plan ground floor with bedrooms above, while the basement introduces a guest suite for visiting family and friends. Across the alley, the pool house acts as a social hub, its sliding glass doors opening onto a sunken lounge and pool deck. A gym, spa, and private office occupy quieter corners of the structure.
For Meister Construction, maintaining the clarity of the design intent was central to the build. “Our objective was to protect the design vision while delivering a home that feels calm, coherent, and enduring,” says owner Gordon Gildemeister. Close coordination between consultants and trades allowed details to be resolved through mockups and sequencing rather than on-site improvisation.
Durability also guided many decisions. Natural materials were selected not only for their character but for how they weather over time in the Pacific Northwest climate. “Assemblies need to manage water and movement properly,” Gildemeister explains. “Our goal is a house that performs reliably and becomes easier – not harder – to own over time.”
Seen together, the architecture, interiors, and landscape resolve into a quiet thesis on West Coast living – one that privileges light, durability, and a generous relationship to the outdoors. Or, as Donohoe puts it: “modern living set into a West Coast vernacular where outdoor life matters just as much as what happens inside.”
View more information on HB Design’s website.
Photography by Ema Peter.
