We found an overgrown lot covered in brambles and old growth … a testy site with a creek that was central in an urban landscape (and walking distance to work and city amenities) despite its feeling of being an abandoned spot in the woods,” remember Cedric and Mary Burgers, who are established in West Vancouver, British Columbia, in Canada. This was the starting point of a personal project that quickly turned into the dream of creating a family, net-zero house that merged both high performance and cosiness. “We asked each other: How far could we take this? Not just aesthetically, but what would it look like if we built something time-proof that also addressed a lot of the issues our kids could face in their lifetime, such as climate change and sustainability?” asks Mary, the creative director of Burgers Architecture. Cedric leads the firm as principal architect.
Preserving the unique site proved to be one of the biggest and immediate challenges. The endeavour implied both preserving all native species and planting new vegetation to support habitat for pollinators. The duo also had to adapt to the topography, which featured a steep slope that called for a layered, three-level home featuring a spacious courtyard at its centre, bordered to the west by a solar-heated swimming pool. “The home’s light footprint sits in a robust, living, breathing environment,” Mary says.
Designed with entertaining in mind, the main floor acts as a fluid system of living spaces defined for separate experiences. The space connects to the lush surrounding landscape through expansive floor-to-ceiling windows that invite more natural light and create a backdrop of evolving natural ‘art installations’ all year round. “It is like a well-orchestrated play,” describes Mary. “From one mood to another, subtle interior shifts will allow guests to feel a change of pace between experiences: moving from the kitchen island for appetisers and a glass of bubbly to a seated dinner, and then enjoying an after-dinner drink in front of the wood-burning fire.”
The bedrooms, each with their ensuite bathrooms, occupy the upper floor. Meanwhile, the lowest level, which comprises a secondary suite and media room, opens to the garden and orchard that hosts apple trees, plums, pears, figs and peaches.
A mix of contemporary pieces and family objects gives character to the carefully curated and authentic interior spaces, which feature a restrained palette of concrete floors, oak, marble, natural linens and soft whites for a peaceful atmosphere.
“Our goal was to see within our practice of architecture where we could push toward sustainable design without compromising beauty,” says the duo, who installed a renewable energy solar photovoltaic system that addresses all the building’s energy needs. “The rushing creek, protected old-growth trees, working vegetable garden and fruit orchard create dependent bonds between the home and its stewards of the land, a daily sensory and exploratory relationship that goes past the technical requirements of sustainable living while maintaining architectural integrity
Photography by Martin Tessler
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