A Pacific Northwest Home Where Modernism Meets Japanese Minimalism

On Vancouver Island’s Saanich Peninsula, a contemporary coastal modern home rises gently from a forested site, embracing a philosophy of living in harmony with nature. Seven years in the making, the single-storey residence and its two ancillary buildings — the guest house and an amenity pavilion — span 929 square metres of elegantly minimalist living. Every curve of the home’s form follows the land’s natural contours, preserving mature trees while guiding the eye from intimate forested corners to sweeping coastal views.

“The home is designed in a contemporary West Coast style, emphasizing a strong connection to nature through clean lines, natural materials, and open floor plans,” explains Don Gurney, principal of Openspace Architecture. “Influenced by Japanese architecture, it features deep eaves, low-pitched roofs, and Japanese timber frame construction.” Walls give way to glass, patios double as living rooms, and terraces, lookout points, and an anchoring pavilion provide spaces for interaction and shelter, seamlessly blending interior and exterior life.

The material palette reinforces this connection to place. Western red cedar clad ceilings and siding, oversized limestone slabs cover floors, and Café Canal sandstone accents provide grounding textures that age gracefully over time. “We focused on simplicity, balance, and flow. Every decision — from the orientation of the home to the detailing of materials — was guided by the desire to cultivate stillness and serenity,” says Gurney.

Landscape architecture by Paul Sangha Creative mirrors this careful orchestration. “Meandering paths reveal subtle twists, sheltered niches, and framed corners, each offering a moment for contemplation or future artistic placement,” says Mohit Srivastava, Senior Landscape Architect. Planting zones respond to the natural ecology, moving from woodland species along the driveway to formal gardens near the home, then softening into coastal edges with locally adapted wildflower mixes. A bespoke koi pond, carefully designed for both habitat and aesthetic, provides a contemplative focal point amid the shifting seasonal landscape.

The collaboration between Openspace Architecture, Paul Sangha Creative, and builder M Knight Construction ensured that the home’s indoor and outdoor spaces flow cohesively. “The biggest challenge was fitting a large, single-level home into a forested site while preserving as many existing trees as possible,” Gurney reflects. “The most demanding aspect became the execution — achieving a minimalist, finely detailed design that also met the highest standards of performance in the Pacific Northwest climate.”

Here, Japanese influence extends beyond architecture to garden and interior layouts, where proportions of the tatami mat guide window grids, floor patterns, and the framing of art. Light, shadow, and seasonal change create a dynamic, ever-evolving backdrop. “We aimed to reflect calm, tranquility, and quiet awe — allowing the owners and their visitors to feel grounded within the site and its natural context, while also introducing moments of surprise and delight,” Srivastava adds.

The result is a home that is simultaneously meditative and lively — a contemporary retreat where minimalism meets nature, where Japanese precision meets a raw, coastal landscape sensibility, and where every corner is an invitation to pause, observe, and appreciate.

Credits

Architecture: Openspace Architecture, Instagram: @openspacearchitecture

Landscape architecture: Paul Sangha Creative, Instagram: @paulsanghacreative

Builder: M Knight Construction, Instagram: @mknightconstruction

Interior Design: Kristen Totah from Studio K Kitchens

Photos: Ema Peter, Instagram: @emaphotographi