Eaves House
2021
West Vancouver
8,085 ft2
West Vancouver
8,085 ft2
The Eaves House exists at the interface between a residential neighbourhood below and an undeveloped forested ravine above. The long and narrow cross-pitched site is asymmetrical with a pan-handle shape. Views to English Bay, the Vancouver skyline, and the Stanley Park peninsula are spread across the horizon to the south and south-east.
Neighbourhood development in this area is regulated by specific design guidelines that encourage roof forms rather than strong volumetric expression. The house is formally comprised of a hovering concrete plinth at the main floor which sits underneath two broad eaves. The plinth forms a new “ground” in the air which obscures a large auto-court at the basement floor and creates privacy by masking the road and windows of adjacent houses below. The two extruded roof masses above similarly serve to edit out the suburban foreground while framing and focusing long distance water and horizon views.
The program at the main and upper floor is stretched along the length of site and is paired with expansive east-flanking outdoor spaces which allow indoor spaces to expand outward. Front to back, the house steps out of its own way in a sequence of “views behind views” that creates an unfolding cinematic experience when moving between spaces.
This design strategy results in an unconventional street-level elevation that, due to the low angle of view on approach, largely suppresses the conventional reading of wall, floors and windows. The house is primarily viewed as a set of paired floating planes. Between these eaves, an enhanced visual field is established that can be enjoyed from inside and out and draws the eye beyond the immediate neighbourhood.
Neighbourhood development in this area is regulated by specific design guidelines that encourage roof forms rather than strong volumetric expression. The house is formally comprised of a hovering concrete plinth at the main floor which sits underneath two broad eaves. The plinth forms a new “ground” in the air which obscures a large auto-court at the basement floor and creates privacy by masking the road and windows of adjacent houses below. The two extruded roof masses above similarly serve to edit out the suburban foreground while framing and focusing long distance water and horizon views.
The program at the main and upper floor is stretched along the length of site and is paired with expansive east-flanking outdoor spaces which allow indoor spaces to expand outward. Front to back, the house steps out of its own way in a sequence of “views behind views” that creates an unfolding cinematic experience when moving between spaces.
This design strategy results in an unconventional street-level elevation that, due to the low angle of view on approach, largely suppresses the conventional reading of wall, floors and windows. The house is primarily viewed as a set of paired floating planes. Between these eaves, an enhanced visual field is established that can be enjoyed from inside and out and draws the eye beyond the immediate neighbourhood.
PROJECT TEAM — Matt Mcleod, Lisa Bovell, Thomas Yuan & Alisha Maloney
BUILDER — Postle Construction
PHOTOGRAPHY — Ema Peter
BUILDER — Postle Construction
PHOTOGRAPHY — Ema Peter
LOWER FLOOR
01 — Driveway
02 — Auto Court
03 — Pool Above
04 — Garage
05 — Billiards / Bar
06 — Patio
07 — Reflecting Pond
08 — Foyer
09 — Mudroom
10 — Powder
11 — Hall
12 — Exercise Room
13 — Exercise Storage
14 — Elevator
15 — Bath
16 — Mechanical Room
17 — Theater
18 — Bath
19 — Guest Suite
20 — Guest Closet
21 — Lightwell
02 — Auto Court
03 — Pool Above
04 — Garage
05 — Billiards / Bar
06 — Patio
07 — Reflecting Pond
08 — Foyer
09 — Mudroom
10 — Powder
11 — Hall
12 — Exercise Room
13 — Exercise Storage
14 — Elevator
15 — Bath
16 — Mechanical Room
17 — Theater
18 — Bath
19 — Guest Suite
20 — Guest Closet
21 — Lightwell
MAIN FLOOR
01 — Bridge
02 — Family Room
03 — Office
04 — Pool Change Room
05 — Coat Closet
06 — Powder Room
07 — Kitchen
08 — Prep Kitchen
09 — Lightwell
10 — Elevator
11 — Primary Laundry
12 — Dining Room
13 — Dining Deck
14 — Living Room
15 — Pool Deck
16 — Fireplace
17 — Swimming Pool
02 — Family Room
03 — Office
04 — Pool Change Room
05 — Coat Closet
06 — Powder Room
07 — Kitchen
08 — Prep Kitchen
09 — Lightwell
10 — Elevator
11 — Primary Laundry
12 — Dining Room
13 — Dining Deck
14 — Living Room
15 — Pool Deck
16 — Fireplace
17 — Swimming Pool
UPPER FLOOR
01 — Second Laundry
02 — Hall
03 — West Deck
04 — Primary Closet
05 — Primary Closet
06 — Primary Bedroom
07 — Primary Ensuite
08 — Primary Deck
09 — Lower Roof
10 — Bedroom 1
11 — Bedroom 1 Ensuite
12 — Bedroom 1 Closet
13 — Bedroom2
14 — Bedroom 2 Ensuite
15 — Bedroom 2 Closet
16 — Bedroom 3
17 — Bedroom 3 Ensuite
18 — Bedroom 3 Closet
19 — Garden Deck
20 — Hot Tub Deck
02 — Hall
03 — West Deck
04 — Primary Closet
05 — Primary Closet
06 — Primary Bedroom
07 — Primary Ensuite
08 — Primary Deck
09 — Lower Roof
10 — Bedroom 1
11 — Bedroom 1 Ensuite
12 — Bedroom 1 Closet
13 — Bedroom2
14 — Bedroom 2 Ensuite
15 — Bedroom 2 Closet
16 — Bedroom 3
17 — Bedroom 3 Ensuite
18 — Bedroom 3 Closet
19 — Garden Deck
20 — Hot Tub Deck
SECTION
01 — Hall
02 — Powder Room
03 — Mudroom
04 — Foyer Beyond
05 — Lightwell
06 — Kitchen
07 — West Deck
08 — Hall to Primary Suite
09 — Bedroom 1 Closet
10 — Bedroom 1 Ensuite
02 — Powder Room
03 — Mudroom
04 — Foyer Beyond
05 — Lightwell
06 — Kitchen
07 — West Deck
08 — Hall to Primary Suite
09 — Bedroom 1 Closet
10 — Bedroom 1 Ensuite