Inside the outside world in B.C.

Vertes Retreat sits in the middle of Sakinaw Lake and has its own bay. ‘We really wanted to bring the outside in and the inside out,’ says the owner

The first challenge for homeowner Steve Vertes was to get his hands on the property he loved. The second was to connect with the right architect to make his dream home come true. Then they had to build it.

Vertes had originally built himself a home on Sakinaw Lake on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast in 2011, but he spotted another property that stole his heart.

“Everyone drives their boat around and sees what projects are going on and what properties come up for sale. Because this one is right in the middle of the lake and has its own bay, it’s hard to miss — very unique.”

When the property came up for sale in 2017, Vertes snapped it up.

Then residential designer, Phillip Van Horn, connected Vertes with architect Julian Carnrite of Woven Architecture and Design. Van Horn and Carnrite worked together on the project’s early stages. Vertes was very involved.

“The great thing about Julian is he allowed me and my wife, Selina, to be part of the design process from start to finish,” he said. “We began by meeting for site visits, walking and analyzing the undeveloped land and debating where the ideal location would be for the main house.”

The couple originally favoured a spot closer to the lake, but Carnrite advised choosing a location higher up. Says Vertes: “Where the house ended up was not at all obvious; it required significant blasting to get the house located at the perfect west-facing vantage point to maximize the overall use of the lot.”

The 4,110-square-foot home is Lshaped and has a single-storey wing that encompasses the living areas and it also has a double-height wing that consists of the bedrooms, media room and garage. The home has concrete floors, white drywall walls and cedar ceilings.

“We were really trying to make the architecture fade away and showcase the natural surroundings. There’s no human artist that can compete with the artistry that nature produces, so complex, so beautiful. We really wanted to bring the outside in and the inside out,” Carnrite says.

Vertes says he feels a part of nature. “Aside from the trees and the lake and mountains in the distance, there is an incredible amount of wildlife hanging around all the time: deer, geese, beavers and the occasional bears, who really enjoy raiding my beer fridge!”

DOLF VERMEULEN PHOTOS “The one side of the house facing the water is a bit more of an expansive experience. Then you turn around and have a more intimate experience because the rock is creeping up toward the house and almost touching it in some areas,” architect Julian Carnrite says.

“When you’re looking out towards the water through the trees, it’s more of an experience of freedom, whereas when you are looking back towards the rock where it’s kind of nestled in, it’s just a more intimate and sheltered experience,” says Carnrite.

All of the exterior floors are concrete with a bit of a texture to it so it has some grip. “It gives your foot something to grab onto,” says Carnrite.