W O V E N perches L-shaped retreat above pristine lake in BC canada

hugging a rocky landscape, the ‘vertes retreat’ offers a dramatic escape from city life

‘vertes retreat’ is a vacation home for a family of four, located on the sunshine coast of BC canada. completed in 2020 by W O V E N architecture and design, the residence is perched 30′ above a pristine lake in the form of an L shape plan that hugs the existing rocky landscape. its flat roofs hover above two wings, providing large overhangs and covered outdoor spaces. ‘the home is at one with the landscape and provides its occupants with a place to play and rest during their escapes from urban life,’ comment the architects. 

a two-wing and daylit vacation home with stunning lake views

a one-story wing at the ‘vertes retreat’ contains what W O V E N (see more here) calls the ‘great room’, while a two-story wing holds the garage, media room, and bedrooms above. skylights, meanwhile, extend the entire length of the circulation paths at both wings, flooding these areas with much-needed natural light during the long rainy winters of the pacific northwest. as a final touch, and positioned in select locations, large glass openings throughout the home frame stunning lake views with glimpses of the rocky landscape behind.

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project info:

name: vertes retreat

location: sunshine coast, british columbia, canada

project area: ± 382 sqm 
architecture: W O V E N architecture and design

collaborator: phillip van horn design

construction: jenkins construction 
photography: sama canzian, dolf vermeulen creative

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