You wouldn’t think a 7,000-square-foot West Coast modern home would settle in so perfectly on a historical site above the West Vancouver oceanfront. But Openspace Architecture made sure of it, relying on an ultra-minimal material palette of wood, concrete, and glass that lets the project not just mirror the surrounding nature, but seemingly float among the trees.
Photography by Ema Peter
The clients—two empty nesters ready for their forever home—had a strong vision, explains Eric Pettit, senior associate at Openspace Architecture. They were dedicated to a modern minimalist aesthetic that could embrace its environment while standing in stark contrast to it. But those design ambitions created even greater challenges in reconciling the super-thin, compact structural assemblies with stringent seismic requirements and the high-performance envelope demands of the Canadian climate.
Photography by Ema Peter
This three-story sanctuary features long, horizontal massing across the site. The open-plan, main floor houses the living, dining, and kitchen areas framed by floor-to-ceiling glass. Sliding doors connect to a pool terrace and outdoor dining. The primary bedroom suite is perhaps the star of the show, with its own lower level, garden access, and even a manufactured stream that runs past it, filling it with sound when the sliding doors are open. The upper level—which cantilevers dramatically above the main floor—houses the remaining four bedrooms.
Photography by Ema Peter
“It took meticulous coordination and a concentrated effort across our dedicated team of consultants and trades to make sure this all fit programmatically,” Pettit says. That same attention extended to the home’s material selection and craftsmanship.
Photography by Ema Peter
The board-formed concrete walls are a perfect example—crafted by creating a form from wooden planks over which the concrete is poured, capturing an impression of the wood’s grain and texture. The team spent extra time selecting the most beautiful planks for locations where people would interact with the concrete most. These surfaces are double-poured with rigid foam thermal breaks, ensuring the walls read as solid masses while performing as high-efficiency thermal envelopes.
Photography by Ema Peter
From the walls to the CNC-milled, ribbed hemlock ceilings, the attention to detail is evident. The deep walnut stain took 35 samples to perfect, and the ribs align through the glass, with all lights, speakers, and sprinklers perfectly centered, which is no easy task. Upstairs, engineered fumed oak flooring complements the concrete’s gray tones.
Photography by Ema Peter
The home’s wood tones were inspired by the trees and bark on the property, with all exterior cedar siding and louvers custom-stained and mixed specifically for the site. “We varied the combinations depending on the expected light and shadow,” Pettit explains. It’s another way the architecture blurs the lines between indoor and out. Expansive glazing and polished concrete floors bring the sunlight in and help it dance throughout the home.
Photography by Ema Peter
The site itself has roots stretching back a century: In the 1920s, it belonged to one of West Vancouver’s original land barons and included a small farmhouse that was ultimately too deteriorated to preserve. For the new residence, Openspace Architecture took a decidedly contemporary approach, using transparency, natural materials, and carefully framed views to keep the surrounding landscape at the center of daily life.
