Words by Adrienne Dyer. Photos by Jody Beck.
When architect Gail Jaeger and Frank McHugh of Wilco Construction came together to build their clients’ retirement dream home, the vision was to embody the quintessential Gulf Islands style that takes its earthy palette and architectural cues directly from the landscape.
“I call this area the ‘Canadian Riviera,’” says Jaeger. “The design for this home is about living with your landscape; living with the water.”
Indeed the water, forest and the steep, rocky terrain all played an integral role in this home’s design and build. “When the homeowners purchased the property, it had already been excavated and there were existing stone walls and a lot of loose stone,” says Jaeger. With the help of the owners, much of that stone was repurposed into the landscaping and the home’s exterior siding. “Each stone had to be individually mechanically fastened to the wall–no small feat!”
One of the initial design challenges was the sizable but narrow and steeply sloping proportions of the property on the cliffside with no room on either side of the house for the homeowners to drive their Gator utility vehicle. Jaeger’s creative solution became the home’s most stunning feature: the bridge structure above the driveway that runs beneath the house.
“The site’s original excavation allowed us to really nestle the house down into the site, providing a nice scale as you approach the house,” says McHugh, who adds that it was Wilco’s project manager, Ian Wilson, who was the lead on the build of this west coast masterpiece. “From the inside, it’s literal walls of glass to take advantage of that amazing view.”
At about 3,400 square feet with a master suite on the main floor, two guest rooms and a media room below, the floorplan is modest yet offers an airy sense of spaciousness. Floor-to-ceiling windows embrace the landscape, from the bird’s eye ocean views to the wrap-around forest. A full wall of accordion glass doors open the entire living area onto the deck, which spans the full width of the house.
Carefully studying the path of natural daylight throughout the day, Jaeger set the kitchen to reap the morning sunlight with the bedrooms in the west while capitalizing on the views of the natural surroundings from all sides. Clear cedar siding, soffits, and ceilings with recessed lighting complement softly-hued recessed baseboards and kitchen cabinetry in vertical grain fir with recycled glass countertops. Together with the entryway slate tile, stone fireplace hearth, and porcelain tile in the master suite, the finishing materials enhance the sense of harmony with Saltspring’s natural terrain.
“This home centres around creating an inside-outside relationship with the land,” says McHugh. “There’s a continuity in all the interior doors, ceilings, and cabinetry that tie together ever so beautifully.” With the floorplan’s open concept and liveable proportions, the home is imbued with a balance of what Jaeger calls “prospect and refuge”—creating a contemporary cabin vibe that is simultaneously cozy and intimately connected to the landscape.
