A declaration of love In Canada, a remote holiday cabin is dedicated to one couple’s devotion to each other and the landscape

Built on a remote spot close to Vancouver, this holiday cabin is dedicated to one couple’s devotion to the landscape and each other

A‘house should be a world, unto its own, that emerges from the meeting of the experienced environment and the story of the inhabitant,’ says Patrick Warren, partner at Frits de Vries Architects + Associates Ltd. ‘This home is a deeply personal exploration of that idea.’

Located on a one-acre waterfront plot in Halfmoon Bay, British Columbia, it was built as a retreat from city life in Vancouver for him, marine biologist Kevin Kaufman, and their labrador Taavi (meaning beloved in Hebrew). ‘The Sunshine Coast can be reached by a 40-minute ferry ride across the stunning Howe Sound,’ says Patrick. ‘It feels remote, but is close to the city.’

‘Kevin and I are both spiritually drawn to nature,’ he explains. ‘As an architect from the Canadian west coast, I think that building a cabin in the woods was inevitable for me. Building it by the ocean was inevitable for Kevin. So when we found this spot we knew it was the one. We actually camped on the site after we first bought it and marked out our favourite places.’

The best view of the nearby lighthouse became the living room, while the dining room, oriented to the south, is located to catch the sunrise from the east. The bedroom occupies a spot very close to where the couple spent their first night when the structure did not yet exist and, where later, Patrick proposed to Kevin. ‘Working on this house together inspired us to get married,’ says the architect. ‘In a way, merging our stories on this land has been a marriage, too.’

A large, gently sloping roof protects the living spaces and outdoor patio, while the small guest wing is set under a smaller roof on the opposite side. Designed as a single-storey property, it is divided into three levels, separated by three steps each, that follow the natural topography of the land. Inspired by 1970s American coastal architecture and traditional Japanese ryokans (or inns) that the couple visited on the island of Kyushu, the materials used for the build are both simple and tactile: Douglas fir for the structure, window frames and stair treads, and cedar for the interior and exterior cladding.

Reflecting Patrick and Kevin’s affection for the landscape, eco ideas were integrated into this project from the start. The eye-catching roof maximises solar exposure that powers passive heating in the winter, while all of the wood used is from managed, renewable forests. Furniture choices focused on preloved pieces. ‘Sustainability,’ says Patrick, ‘should not be something that is an added technology at the end of the design process. This home is a place to remember our essential connection to nature.’ frits.ca

Living room A painting by late artist Eva Wynand, who was a friend of the couple, complements the natural tones in this room. From the cedar cladding on the ceiling to the cement floors and soft-grey of the bespoke sofas, the palette here is muted. A Morsø stove sits in the corner, beside a bean bag chair – for similar try the ‘Mighty B’ by Haus Direct. On the coffee tables (bought on Facebook Marketplace) are a bronze sculpture of a horse by Elza Mayhew, a vessel from Kathleen Tennock Ceramic Studio and pieces picked up on holiday on the Japanese island of Kyushu

Exterior The swoop of this home’s roof was designed to best drink in the sun’s rays, which are used to power heating Dining area Preloved dining chairs surround a secondhand glass table – for a similarly sleek design try the ‘Hub’ by Piero Lissoni for Glas Italia. The ceramic sculpture on top is a piece by Liz de Beer. ‘Studio’ pendant lights from Sistemalux hang above. Patrick Warren sits on a ‘Womb’ chair by Eero Saarinen for Knoll, with Taavi the dog