house on bowen island

This weekend home is for a return Sturgess Architecture client, whose city home is in Calgary. The house is for the couple and their two older children, their visitors and extended family. The programme divided the main house from the guest accommodation and linked them under one roof.

The steep cliff site faces north overlooking Howe Sound. The remnants of the up-thrusting rock face left a six-meter-wide ledge with a 100-meter drop to the water below. The house is located on the ledge and tied to the rock face for lateral support; therefore, view-facing living areas are predominantly glass. Approaching from the south, only the roof is visible above the rock ledge. The entrance leads through the blasted rock to a sheltered deck. The elongated bow tie plan of the house maximizes the amount of glass and view. The material palette is comprised of naturally finished slate, cedar shingles, and a copper colored roof. Landscape features are left in their original state.