Whistler Hideaway

Janis Nicolay

• Designers

Applied products

Stûv 21 Stûv

Stûv 21 - Un foyer à la fois ouvert et fermé - FR 2.79 MB

Stûv 21 - Fire, both open and closed - EN 2.93 MB

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Below mossy green roofs cascading down a rocky escarpment, Whistler Hideaway by Bricault Design is a small sanctuary tucked inside a canopy of conifers. With a form inspired by the surrounding mountain landscape, the highly detailed custom design folds new fabrication techniques into traditional craftsmanship, bringing a timeless feel to a contemporary build.

Principal Marc Bricault—who began his career as a woodworker—brings an intuitive understanding of material craft to a design defined by its surrounding forested landscape. The 1,268-sq.-ft. home is adorned with complementary creative touches that evoke sculptural elements: an etched copper screen with a Japanese floral motif, and bespoke furniture with fluted and turned wood legs.

photo_credit Janis Nicolay — Janis Nicolay

“We love working with natural materials, as they are often resilient and bring a unique warmth and timelessness to a project,” says Bricault. “This approach is actualized in Whistler Hideaway through the extensive use of edge grain Douglas fir, showcasing its quiet grain pattern and warmth. We were also excited to locate FSC-certified Pacific madrone for the second floor bedroom and ensuite floor, stairs, handrail, and side tables. The wood from this iconic tree of the West Coast—known locally as Arbutus— glows with pink and deep reddish-brown tones.”

A walkway covered with a green roof shelters residents from Whistler’s snowy winters and shades from hot summers. A thoughtful path winds along the rockface framing extensive views of surrounding mountains. Upon arrival, expansive entryway windows with views into a fern garden create a sense of calm, integrating the exterior and interior while maintaining privacy and an intimacy with native flora. Douglas fir is used on the soffits of the covered walkways, extending into the ceiling of the house, folding down, and overlaying walls with hidden doors to the nearby powder room, pantry, and mechanical room.

The living room is punctuated by a floating staircase above a glazed ceramic tile fireplace, which also provides secondary heat. A singular multi-function rail system independently supports several fixtures such as the shelving along the wall and the staircase itself, exemplifying the strategic use of integrated design. Upstairs, the same rail system reaches upwards to support the primary bedroom’s bedside tables and copper screens flanking the headboard inscribed with Japanese floral patterns etched by Vancouver printmaker and long-standing collaborator Peter Braune of New Leaf Editions.

Sourcing not only local materials but local makers and fabricators was a priority for both the firm and the client. “Our more than 20-year collaborative friendship with Ted Belch is built on a shared love for craft. His work on this project—from the fluted, tapered legs of the dining table and vanities to the form-bent mirror frames—highlights an exceptional talent for fine detail and expressed joinery,” says Bricault.

It’s these artisan touches that create the feel of a personal art gallery with one-of-a-kind, meticulously made pieces integrated throughout the home. Despite its small footprint, Whistler Hideaway is invitingly spacious, prioritizing natural and durable materials that reflect the hillside forest. Each custom element has been crafted with care to create a home that feels uniquely rooted in its site and perfectly tailored to reflect the client’s personal, eclectic style.