THIRD HOUSE
size
205 m² / 2205 ft²
Residential character retention renovation and addition
type
location
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Bright fishscale shingles clad the rear addition and echo the shingles found on Victorian-era homes
Durable fibre-cement lap siding replaces deteriorating stucco cladding that had obliterated the home's original character
A timeless white oak handrail with tapered balusters and contemporary wood hooks contrast the dark atmosphere of the entrance
A passageway painted pink offers a contrasting transition between the dark entry and bright, contemporary kitchen
The entry's porcelain tile is laid in a herringbone pattern as another subtle nod to the home's heritage
A new, compact powder room fits discretely between the entry, living room and kitchen
Floor-to-ceiling cabinets offer an incredible amount of kitchen storage
The cabinets, open shelving, tiles and stone ledge all wrap tightly around the kitchen window, lending it a picture-like quality
The kitchen bar with its deep counter is the centre of the family home, where most meals are prepared and eaten
The home's bay windows were fitted with triple-glazed double-hung windows and feature more classically-styled trimwork
Operable skylights illuminate the primary bedroom and also offer passive ventilation
The angles of the existing bell roof were extruded to create a high vaulted ceiling in the primary bedroom
The spacious wetroom-style primary ensuite stays dry thanks to a large glass partition
Subtle pinks, purples, reds and yellows add some playfulness to the kids' bathroom
The lower level multi-purpose room features a linear kitchenette bar for entertaining
The lower level entry also functions as the family's mudroom
The backyard was designed for multiple nodes of use: access paths, elevated lounge deck, lower dining patio, and multi-use lawn
Precast concrete pavers wrapped in weathered steel step up to the rear yard
Large openings, no overhangs, inset gutters and trimless detailing define the rear addition
A new landscape path meanders between sideyard planting
CREDITS
consultants
Chiu Hippmann Engineering Inc.
landscape steel
photography
contractor
millwork
DESCRIPTION
This Edwardian home, built in 1912, had been subject to a multitude of renovations over it’s lifetime, obliterating any original detailing or finishes that could be salvaged both inside and out. The exterior, including the soffits, had been covered in stucco, some windows had been boarded up, and the floor plan had been divided into three apartments with a couple of unpermitted additions tacked onto the rear. Our aim with this character-retention project was restore the essence of the home’s original aesthetic, but with modern detailing and durable finishes for contemporary family life.
Reconstructing the foundations necessitated a whole-house lift and relocation on site. The original partition walls at the front entry were maintained, but those dividing the living, dining room and kitchen were removed to create a unified, open space filled with natural light from two restored bay windows and a new large rear sliding door.
Upstairs, the partition walls between the two front bedrooms remain, while the remainder of the existing rooms were reconfigured to fit two bathrooms and spacious primary bedroom with walk-in closet and vaulted ceilings.
The lower level functions as a multi-purpose media room, playroom and guest wing, but is designed to be easily converted in the future into a rentable secondary suite.
To drastically improve it’s energy efficiency, the house was thoroughly insulated, including the addition of outboard exterior insulation, high-performance triple-glazed windows, high-efficiency electric furnace, heat pump and HRV.