Aerie House

Aerie House is conceived as a restrained geometric form on a flat inner-city lot, designed to fulfill the client’s wish for a private retreat that also stands as an art piece. The exposed site makes privacy the primary challenge. The front yard, raised above the sidewalk, is layered with concrete walls and continued wood slats that filter sightlines while admitting light. At the rear, the house opens fully to a generous yard, where a projecting overhang extends living spaces outward and provides year-round shelter.

The architecture is defined by two deliberate cuts through an otherwise restrained massing: a central east–west skylight and a courtyard carved into the upper floor. The skylight penetrates all three levels, pulling daylight deep into the plan and animating circulation, while a second-floor bridge dramatizes the crossing between bedrooms. The courtyard, veiled by vertical wood slats, creates a private aerie for the master suite — gathering morning light from the east and midday light from the south while shielding from the street. A single feature tree anchors this space, marking the passage of seasons and reinforcing the house as a place of retreat.

Durability and timelessness are key client demands, as the family spends large portions of the year outside Vancouver. These priorities are addressed through a restrained palette of architectural concrete and Accoya wood cladding. Inside, concrete and wood floors pair with white walls and natural finishes to create interiors that are clean yet warm. Aerie House balances the clarity of its geometric form with the richness of its cuts and courtyards, transforming a constrained city lot into a private sanctuary shaped by light, material, and retreat.

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