Explore how this minimalist home blends with its surroundings

The Vista House by BLA Design Group in North Vancouver, Canada bridges modern living with the great outdoors through innovative design

Perched on the steep inclines of North Vancouver, Canada, where the city’s bustle gives way to a calm mountain backdrop, the Vista House emerges as a subtle surprise nestled in the surrounding landscape at the edge of a large forest.

Designed by international award-winning design studio BLA Design Group, the new West Coast modern build appears as a humble one-storey bungalow from the front, but expands into a two-storey contemporary architecture.

Spanning 4,900 sq ft, the full-time residence comprises an attached garage that links to the main floor, where the main bedroom is afforded the same sweeping views of Stanley Park and Burrard Inlet as the living area.

Meanwhile, the other bedrooms and baths are on the basement level opening into a lush backyard that blends into the surrounding context.

Photo 1 of 2 The Vista House emerges as a subtle surprise nestled in the surrounding landscape

Photo 2 of 2 The new West Coast modern build appears as a humble one-storey bungalow from the front

The Vista House emerges as a subtle surprise nestled in the surrounding landscape

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While a huge challenge that called for an eight-month long design process, the irregular funnel-shape and steep topography of the site informed the architectural design and spatial layout of the house.

The Vancouver-based design studio drew inspiration from many legendary West Coast mid-century modern architects, such as Ron Thom, Arthur Erickson and Olson Kundig, focusing in particular their sensitivities towards materiality and the desire for buildings to connect humans closer to nature, or to embrace nature as part of everyday living.

Photo 1 of 2 The two-storey contemporary architecture that blends into the surrounding context

Photo 2 of 2 A home that resonates deeply with the rhythms of nature and life

The two-storey contemporary architecture that blends into the surrounding context

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“From early on, we worked closely with the clients–[a husband-and-wife duo with two boys in college]–to design a modest home, which unfolds into an expansive celebration of space that balances introspection and openness,” say Jerry Liu and Jesse Basran, principal architects of BLA Design Group.

“We picked out moments on site with them, where the feeling of being outside and in nature could be translated into physical space, materiality and functionality.”

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Above The main living area balances introspection and openness

The main living area balances introspection and openness

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Above Wooden slats that offer privacy between the living room and the fully-glazed main entry

Above A combination of cedar wood, beige tones and concrete in the bright and open interior

Wooden slats that offer privacy between the living room and the fully-glazed main entry

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The sleek black exterior grounds the architecture into the wedge-shaped site, descending from the street level to the main entry to bring a sensation of compression, particularly when coming down the curving driveway and walking under the large wood soffit.

Here, the glass entryway with a series of wooden slats was designed based on the homeowners’ needs for privacy from the street and balancing that with their desire for a strong connection to the surrounding environment.

The linear open-plan layout flows seamlessly into the dining and kitchen areas

The outdoor dining area with afforded views of the sky and foliage

The boundary between indoors and out becomes less pronounced through the large glass windows

Photo 1 of 3 The linear open-plan layout flows seamlessly into the dining and kitchen areas

Photo 2 of 3 The outdoor dining area with afforded views of the sky and foliage

Photo 3 of 3 The boundary between indoors and out becomes less pronounced through the large glass windows

The linear open-plan layout flows seamlessly into the dining and kitchen areas

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Above The black cabinetry echoes the sleek façade of the home

Above A playful interplay of light and shadows penetrates the space

The black cabinetry echoes the sleek façade of the home

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Using detailed drawings and models, thoughtful considerations were put into the orientation of the house: how light interacts with the structure in various weather conditions and the angle of sunlight at different times of the year; and how the wooden slats could be spaced to best achieve the desired effects.

The choice of materials is not an afterthought either, as wood offers warmth and complements the natural setting, while large glass windows ensure that the interior remains bright and connected to the outside.

“It was a fascinating feature to conceptualise and execute,” comment Liu and Basran. “Solving practical problems in beautiful ways to enhance the experiences of people who live in and interact with the space is a key method of our design approach.”

Above A sense of serene openness in the main bathroom

Above The persisting design theme of wood and concrete

A sense of serene openness in the main bathroom

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Tastefully juxtaposing the heavy and integrated exterior is a bright and open interior with a combination of wood and beige tones, alongside concrete walls that extend from the exterior–a striking feature in the expansive interior that’s an integral part of the structure.

The boundary between indoors and out becomes less pronounced through the astute placement of large glass windows throughout the linearly arranged space, oriented to capture the far-reaching panoramic views, and enhance the connection to the environment.

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Above The main bedroom shares the same sweeping views as the living area

The main bedroom shares the same sweeping views as the living area

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Furthermore, cedar ceilings anchor the open-air home, exuding a grand yet cosy atmosphere with an overall sense of serenity alongside furnishings by King Living and Lightform fixtures.

“The Vista House is a modern architectural expression that beautifully interprets its surroundings,” conclude Liu and Basran. “It is a space where the spirit of the site is reflected–a home that resonates deeply with the rhythms of nature and life.”

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Credits

Photography

Andrew Latreille

Topics

Indoor-Outdoor Nature Contemporary Architecture Contemporary Design Minimalism Mid-century Inspired

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