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Project Name: Collingwood House

Location: Vancouver Canada

Date Completed: Spring 2020

Architect: BLA Design Group & Campos Studio

Interior Designer: BLA Design Group

Construction Company: Vantac Management

BLA Design Group is an emerging design studio based in Vancouver, Canada. Campos Studio was invited by BLA Design Group to collaborate on their first commissioned project, bringing professional design expertise to the team. Working internationally, the practise of Campos Studio is built upon Critical Regionalism; an approach to architecture in which each project is led by the specific conditions of a local context. With this project, BLA Design Group and Campos Studio have collaborated to create a context-sensitive property with breathtaking views of Downtown Vancouver.

Collingwood House is a single-family home in Vancouver Canada. The site is located in a traditional residential neighbourhood comprised of diverse architectural styles. The Collingwood House is a sensitive and contemporary response rooted in local context, climate and culture. The project draws from initial craftsman housing stock. Typologies such as the porch, cover, and textural facade typical of this style led the form of the dwelling. Seamless transitions between interior space and garden help ground these details into more of a West Coast Modern style.

Transparency, texture, and light became leading counterpoints to the design. The quality of light in Vancouver changes drastically with the seasons and so BLA Design Group had to consider the impact of this on the property. A blackened gable roof wraps the dwelling, defining its form amongst the winter’s dull grey skies, with windows letting in light from above. As the seasons change and the trees begin to blossom, this defined form remains but the textured cedar facade blends into the trees. This colour palette allows the contemporary aesthetic to maintain a sophisticated, yet humble appearance year round.

The Collingwood House is a unique local collaboration between an established practice and an emerging studio to create a living accommodation that is responsive and personal. The tone and colour scheme of the exterior is carried inside with naturally stained wood floor and cabinets, white walls, and black hardware and detailing. The interior of the house feels airy and bright as a result of this light, warm and soft material palette, and creates calm and relaxing living spaces during the winter. Big corner windows by the entry combined with a floating staircase allows the view to extend from the front to back gardens and enables natural light to flood the entire length of the living spaces. The glass railing creates transparency between inside and outside, visually expanding the living spaces. The wood and concrete textures create a cosy yet modern aesthetic. The white kitchen cabinets and walls evenly dissipate natural sunlight. It is a successful example of small-scale residential architecture which utilizes its immediate context and the local climate as design tools.