Garden House
Garden House may be physically situated on the sylvan shores of Saanich Inlet, just north of Victoria on Vancouver Island, but the waterfront residence exists metaphysically somewhere between the West Coast of America and the refined minimalism of Japan.
Conceived and constructed over a period of seven years, Garden House is as much a part of the landscape as the forest that surrounds it. The property comprises three buildings – a single-storey main house of 929 square metres, a guesthouse and a small annexe for amenities. The main residence, consisting of the primary suite and a guest bedroom, follows the land’s gentle gradient like a river in motion, while glass walls and luminous terraces and patios invite the eye to question where, or indeed whether, the outdoors end and the indoors begin.
The home nods to contemporary West Coast style, with clean lines, organic materials and fluid floor plans. “Influenced by Japanese architecture, it features deep eaves, low-pitched roofs and Japanese timber frame construction,” says Don Gurney, principal of Openspace Architecture. The layout, materials and plantings take inspiration from the Japanese tatami mat and garden principles, with perfect proportions that emphasise rhythm, restrained palettes and a balance of formal and organic elements.
The home embodies a quiet material honesty that feels drawn directly from its surroundings. “The goal was a retreat-like atmosphere,” says Gurney. “Simplicity, balance and flow guided every choice – from the orientation of the home to material selection – so the site itself cultivates calm and serenity.” His words ring true across the home. Western red cedar defines the ceilings, siding and structural elements, while oversized limestone slabs stretch across floors on either side of the threshold. “The home seamlessly blends innovation, sustainability and a deep connection to its setting,” says Mike Knight, CEO of M Knight Construction.
If the architecture is thoughtful on the inside, so too is it on the outside. The garden is a living, breathing composition that masquerades as a work of art. Elegant sculptures stand sentinel along meandering paths, while petite alcoves play peekaboo between larger-than-life vistas. The greenery unfolds like a deep exhale – from woodland species along the driveway to luxuriant gardens near the residence, and finally to naturalised coastal edges –blending cultivated and wild landscapes. A maple garden, a domed area encircling the hot tub, and a charming koi pond complete with a deep basin, planting ledge, and protective deck and bridge, complete the Eden-like setting. “We aimed to create spaces that feel grounded yet alive, offering moments of surprise and framed views through the trees. Exceptional natural light animates the gardens throughout the day and across the seasons, giving the landscape a dynamic, ever-changing character,” says Mohit Srivastava of Paul Sangha Creative.
Garden House is less a building and more a meditation on stillness and flow. It bridges land and water, structure and garden, the seen and the unseen. Rooted in its site yet transcending it, the home stands as a quiet testament to the possibility of architecture that listens –to nature, to material and to the passing light.
Architecture by Openspace Architecture. Interior design by Studio K Kitchens & Design. Build by M Knight Construction. Landscape design by Paul Sangha Creative.
