West coast architecture

An overview of projects, products and exclusive articles about west coast architecture

Project • By STARK • Private Houses

Passive House Forest Retreat

Nestled within a mature forest in British Columbia's Coast Mountains, the Passive House Forest Retreat is a private residence designed to exist in dialogue with its landscape. Sited on a sloped lot surrounded by old-growth canopy, the home was conceived as both an act of environmental responsibility and architectural restraint. Ema Peter Photography Ema Peter Photography The massing is organized around a gently cantilevered volume that reaches toward the mountain views, carving out a sheltered communal space below, a place to gather, rest, and inhabit the threshold between interior and forest. The treehouse-like form reads as crisp and contemporary, while dark cladding and the glazing orientation ground it firmly in its setting.... More

News • News • 23 Mar 2022

Floating home by Olson Kundig takes on a cabin sensibility in the heart of Seattle

Part of a community of floating homes in Seattle’s Portage Bay, the Water Cabin by Architect Olson Kundig takes on a cabin sensibility in an urban context. Sitting low to the water, the small home acts as a platform for engaging with the surrounding waterway. A delicate galvanized steel structure supports expansive roof planes and wide areas of glazing that open to dramatic 180-degree views. Aaron Leitz Organized to maximize connections with the water, the lower living space integrates dining, kitchen, and office functions with a hidden murphy bed for guests. Large sliding doors and a glass corner connect the space to the wrap-around exterior patios. Finished with Ipe wood decking, the patios feature generous roof overhangs that... More

News • News • 7 Sep 2021

Black Cliff House informed by the idiosyncrasies of Canada’s West Coast landscape

McLeod Bovell Modern Houses (MBMH) is a collaborative design firm known for creating custom residences on steep and often irregularly shaped plots of land. Their design process is informed by the idiosyncrasies of the site, the personality and lifestyle of the client, and the broader environment and landscape that the residence dialogues with. MBMH are full service, managing and integrating the design of the building, the interiors, and the landscaping.  Ema Peter A recent project emblematic of their work is BlackCliff House, a residence on the West coast of Canada sited on a granite cliff 40 metres above the Salish Sea. The client brief called for a residence to accommodate a dispersed family who live and work on multiple contin... More