Geddes House
West Vancouver, British Columbia
2005 / Complete / Residential / New Build / House / 4800 ft2
- Awards
- IDIBC Award of Excellence
- Publications
- Canadian Interiors, September/October 2009
As one approaches this house from the street, a commanding 70’-0” foot wide horizontal roof line punctuated with a deep 7’-0” overhang dominates the view above the tree flanked property line. Beneath the cedar soffit, the exterior walls push in and out, creating a varied composition of light and shadow.
While the irregular pie shaped lot precluded many options for siting the house, it served as one of the main forces in shaping the design. To maximize the sites broad southern exposure and landscaping potential, the house sits tight against its rear setback to the north. Clad in corrugated galvalume panels with punched openings, the northern wall gently curves as it conforms to the setback, creating a unique formal and material departure from that of the rest of the house.
Juxtaposed to this distinct shape and materiality, are two cedar clad rectilinear volumes with tall windows and doors that open up to capture the southern light and ocean views. A double height breezeway and circulation zone, which runs the full depth of the house, separates these two volumes and provides natural cross ventilation and becomes the social hub of the house. Spanning the tall open space is a steel stair bridging the two main levels of the house. The top landing of the stair opens onto a large, south-west facing, outdoor room and sundeck, complete with a sink and food preparation area.
While the interior is open and inter-connected, undulating wall planes, and changes in floor and ceiling elevation effectively define spaces. Every member, in this active family of five is afforded their own private space. Large sliding panels offer a level of flexibility to many areas in the home, rendering a space public or private, large or small, depending on their open or closed position.
- Credits
- Build / Canafornia Builders
- Structural / Ennova Structural Engineers
- Photography / Michael Boland