Set deep in the historic Shaughnessy neighborhood of Vancouver, British Columbia, Paul Sangha Creative organizes a series of gardens beneath an established canopy of mature trees surrounding a renovated heritage estate.
Originally designed in 1912 by architect Thomas Hooper for Eric Hamber, the former Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, the residence features a renovated secondary dwelling that was constructed in 2004 as an infill addition to the heritage property.
Photography above by Ema Peter.
Organized around distinct outdoor rooms, the site is divided into several zones containing formal entry gardens, woodland gardens, terraces, and lawn areas.
Connecting these elements, a network of pathways guides movement through varying degrees of enclosure and garden character.
Viewed from within the residence, floor-to-ceiling black-framed glazing establishes a direct sightline to the South Courtyard, where bluestone paving and a cast bronze sculpture by artist Al Stinson form the focal point.
Restored masonry walls, historic stone elements, custom planters, pergolas, and water features contribute to the courtyard’s material composition.
Planting is organized into zones that retain and strengthen the mature tree canopy while introducing formal hedging, layered understory planting, seasonal flowering species, and textural contrast.
Taxus hedging, clipped boxwood, Rosa ‘Strawberry Hill’, and Hydrangea petiolaris are woven throughout the landscape, creating a layered composition that balances structure, enclosure, and seasonal change.
Throughout the site, dense planting defines individual garden rooms, while lower vegetation preserves views toward the estate’s historic architectural features.
Landscape lighting fixtures by Inverlight, Flos, and Bocci are integrated throughout the garden, subtly illuminating pathways, planting, and architectural elements after sunset.
Seasonal flowering displays, evergreen structure, and carefully framed views contribute to the character of the garden throughout the year, while the mature tree canopy provides a consistent backdrop across the seasons.
Together, the architecture by Evoke International Design and the landscape by Paul Sangha Creative establish a sequence of indoor and outdoor environments shaped by the property’s mature vegetation, historic setting, and contemporary additions.
STUDIO ABOUT
Paul Sangha is a Vancouver-based landscape architect and founder of Paul Sangha Creative.
Since establishing the studio in 1999, he has led the design of residential, public, and institutional landscapes distinguished by their integration of architecture, planting, and site-specific context.
His work explores the relationship between built form and landscape through carefully composed environments that respond to climate, culture, and place.
CREDITS
- Landscape Architecture: Paul Sangha Creative
- Architecture: Evoke International Design
- Interior design: James McIntyre Interior Design and Evoke International Design
- Builder: Linden Construction
- Landscape Contractor: Fossil Landscape Construction
- Photography: Ema Peter
