Project: Collingwood Residence
Architects: Frits de Vries Architects
Landscape Design: Claire Kennedy Landscape Design
Location: Bowen Island, British Columbia, Canada
Lot Area: 9.9 Acres
Square Footage: 4,155 s.f.
Photo Credits: Ema Peter
Situated on Bowen Island’s West Coast, the Collingwood Residence by Frits de Vries Architects is located on a private 10-acre lot surrounded by forest.
The home is divided into three buildings connected by glass breezeways, which provide separation of public and private spaces while maintaining gorgeous ocean views.
Social experiences are centered in the open kitchen, dining, and living space located in the central building, while the master and guest suites are located in buildings to either side.
Floor to ceiling sliding glass doors in the kitchen and dining spaces open up to extend the living space outdoors to the covered patio with panoramic views of the ocean.
The local material selection is reflective of the home’s West Coast setting: cedar shingles clad the exterior, while the natural stone grounds the home firmly on its site.
The large cantilevered dual-pitch roofs, with cedar soffits and exposed structure, reflect the traditional forms of the remote cabin. The rooflines are given a contemporary feel with crisply detailed zinc fascias.
The building is highly insulated and airtight to limit the need for energy usage throughout the year. Appliances were carefully selected for energy efficiency and low water consumption.
Large, low-e coated windows and overhangs are sited to maximize solar gain in the winter months, while preventing overheating in the summer.
