Cube house on the market for $14 million
A cube-shaped house on Vancouver’s Golden Mile that drew mixed reviews while it was being built is hitting the market Friday with an asking price of $14 million.
The 3,709-square-foot house on Point Grey Road has been described as “hideous” and a “box with a skirt,” because of the stark, galvanized-steel exterior on the upper levels and the lack of windows on the south facade.
“If there’s just one window on that facade, there won’t be any comments,” said architect Tony Robins, with a chuckle.
Much of the criticism he received about the house was focused on the absence of windows, he said, during a tour of the completed home Thursday. “It was an affront to many, a challenge to their preconceptions of what a house is.”
But Robins said he’d argue there’s more windows on this house than other houses, gesturing toward the generous bank of glass walls on the ground floor.
Even the second floor, which houses two bedrooms and two bathrooms, is unexpectedly bright, thanks to strategically placed windows and a large skylight.
An elevator connects all four levels of the home, from the four-vehicle garage to the rooftop balcony.
Robins designed the house for a previous owner, who gave him free rein “based on her needs, but doing what I wanted.”
The owner then had to sell the house, which was bought by the current owner, who told Robins to carry on with the original design.
The owner, who lives down the street, decided against moving in. The property is expected to be listed Friday for $14 million.
When the house was last purchased in late 2014, it sold for $3.5 million. The property was assessed at $6.2 million in 2017 — more than double the 2015 assessment. Realtor Loren Dunsworth said the future buyer will likely be “someone who likes architecture, who appreciates really fine things.” The house isn’t for everyone, she said. It would be a great fit for a single person or couple who loves to entertain. “You’re selling a lifestyle with this house.”
Nelson Hui, who also lives on Point Grey Road, thinks the house is a good addition to the neighbourhood. “Whoever built it built it for a specific reason,” he said. It’s not his cup of tea, but “it’s very wellbuilt. It’s an ultra-modern house.”
Robins said he’s happy with how the house turned out. Along with the criticism, he said, there has been much praise, including from other architects.
As an architect, it’s always a challenge to have the product you envisaged from the beginning, he said. “There’s a lot of compromises — the city, the client. This time, I got lucky. It’s exactly what I wanted.”