At the edge of a protected nature sanctuary, Olympic View House is shaped by a tension between privacy and openness. Facing the street and a dense townhouse development to the east, the front and side elevations are deliberately quiet and understated. To the west, the house opens toward the forest and wetland beyond.

The home is comprised of two volumes: a linear single-storey volume containing the primary dwelling, and a two-storey volume accommodating the garage with a secondary suite above. Together, the volumes form a simple L around a southwest-facing courtyard. The plan is arranged to provide privacy between the primary and secondary suites, offer respite from the street and neighbouring homes, and strengthen the connection to the nature reserve at the rear.

Inside, a compressed entry sequence gradually gives way to generous living spaces oriented to south- and west-facing light. In the kitchen and dining room, floor-to-ceiling glazing frames views into the forest and wetlands, creating a direct connection to the landscape while the more enclosed street-facing elevations preserve privacy.

Weathered red cedar cladding and warmer yellow-cedar accents reinforce the quiet geometry of the house. Over time, the architecture is intended to recede into its setting, changing with the light, seasons, and surrounding landscape.

Photography: Jody Beck

Construction: Story Construction

Interior Design: Colin Harper Architect / Client