Set within a wooded estate above the Capilano River in West Vancouver, Burgers Architecture organizes this single-level family residence around a series of gardens and courtyards.
Rather than treating the house as a single object within the landscape, three gabled pavilions divide the program into smaller volumes, allowing five distinct gardens to occupy the spaces between them and become part of the home’s daily circulation.
Photography above by Ema Peter.
The three pavilions take cues from stone-gabled European farmhouses, reinterpreted for the West Coast through simplified forms and a horizontal composition.
Private bedrooms and home offices occupy separate wings, while generous shared spaces are concentrated at the centre of the home.
The landscape, designed by Skookum Landscapes, is divided into five gardens, each corresponding to a different use: a welcoming entry garden, a bedroom flower garden, a pool courtyard, a bocce and sculpture garden to the north, and a sports court positioned discreetly within the property.
This arrangement gives different parts of the house their own relationship with the outdoors, shifting between spaces intended for arrival, recreation, gathering and retreat rather than surrounding the residence with a single continuous garden.
At the center of the plan, the pool courtyard acts as both an outdoor gathering space and a source of daylight for the surrounding interiors.
A covered connection extends from the main house to an outdoor pavilion designed as a year-round living space.
Its tall gabled ceiling and central fireplace give it the proportions of an interior great room while leaving it open to the forest and gardens.
A full outdoor kitchen with an integrated barbecue and preparation surfaces allows the pavilion to accommodate both everyday family meals and larger gatherings.
Movement between these spaces is largely horizontal, taking advantage of the property’s gentle slope and expansive ground plane.
Floor-to-ceiling openings connect interior rooms with courtyards, gardens and long views across the property.
This arrangement allows family life to expand into the landscape or contract into the home’s more private wings depending on weather, season and activity.
Natural stone, zinc, glass and white stucco define the exterior, while warm wood, textured stone and detailed metalwork carry a restrained material approach indoors.
Sophie Burke Design paired muted natural tones with black accents and selected durable, stain-resistant finishes for a family with two teenagers and a new puppy.
The material choices allow heavily used spaces to accommodate everyday family life without requiring the interiors to become visually utilitarian.
Burgers Architecture is a multi-generational architecture and interior design firm based in West Vancouver, British Columbia.
The studio specializes in single-family residences, townhomes and vacation properties throughout the Pacific Northwest, with an approach centered on warm, livable spaces, energy efficiency, health and wellness, and a close relationship between architecture and its surroundings.
Founded in 1981, the firm is led by principal architect Cedric Burgers alongside a multidisciplinary architecture and interior design team.
CREDITS:
Architecture: Burgers Architecture
Interior design: Sophie Burke Design
Construction: E2 Homes
Landscape: Skookum Landscapes
Photos: Ema Peter Photography
