“Arthur Erickson is by far the greatest architect in Canada and may be the greatest on this continent.” –Philip Johnson
The distinguished global architect and master planner Arthur Erickson (1924-2009) won the competition to design British Columbia’s Simon Fraser University, completed in partnership with Geoffrey Massey in 1963. Among his many other celebrated commissions are Robson Square in downtown Vancouver and the Museum of Anthropology at UBC. He was equally adept with private residential commissions.
In 1979, Erickson began a landmark residential development in West Vancouver, where he integrated 20 unique residences within the sloped and forested setting. The neighborhood was designed to feel like a park, with no formal property lines defined. Erickson employed posts and beams of equal size with strong horizontals to counter the strong verticals of the huge old-growth trees. The famous landscape architect Cornelia Oberlander was charged with the development’s natural setting.
Each house varies in size and arrangement, responding to the site. Many of the houses are on stilts but one just listed for sale, however, sits entirely on the ground. Built in 1981, the 2,456-square-foot post-and-beam abode sits on a plot of almost one-fifth of an acre. Like the other homes in the woodsy enclave, the green roof complements the mossy granite ledges found across the seven-acre site, while smooth glass and rough wood textures interplay.
And because the house sits on level ground, access to the outdoors is available from all the living areas. There are three bedrooms and two bathrooms arranged over two levels, and there are numerous decks and patios as well as a carport. There is room for a pool.
After entering through a glass-roofed and slate-floored entrance court, the main house spirals around a central dining room. On the left is a large bedroom suite, while past the dining room is the kitchen and family room with fireplace. The fireside living room, a patio, and the carport are on the right. Upstairs are the large primary bedroom and bath along with another guest bedroom with a fireplace.
Joseph Choi at listing firm West Coast Modern is asking $2.2 million for the property.
-
Image Credit: Courtesy West Coast Modern -
Image Credit: Courtesy West Coast Modern -
Image Credit: Courtesy West Coast Modern -
Image Credit: Courtesy West Coast Modern -
Image Credit: Courtesy West Coast Modern -
Image Credit: Courtesy West Coast Modern -
Image Credit: Courtesy West Coast Modern -
Image Credit: Courtesy West Coast Modern -
Image Credit: Courtesy West Coast Modern -
Image Credit: Courtesy West Coast Modern -
MONTIVERDI #8 floorplan
Image Credit: Courtesy West Coast Modern -
MONTIVERDI #8 floorplan
Image Credit: Courtesy West Coast Modern