Courtyard House Client

I am from Ontario, moving to British Columbia, and, with my wife, have had a house built in the Highlands of Saanich Peninsula designed by Bruce Greenway. I am writing regarding the quality of the services I received during the design and implementation of a project completed largely at a distance, while I was still working full time in Ontario.

Bruce came up with an original design for our house based on several principles: a previous house design of his that we greatly admired, numerous ideas of our own, and a passion of Bruce’s, to make the house fit in the surroundings, and include design features echoing the ambient landscape.

Over the months we communicated with Bruce by video, or, when possible, in person on site, developing the design. He has a flair for drawing quick sketches to augment the models and formal drawings he created to bring the house to life for me. I was able to see ideas take shape, and participate in the changing formulation.

Bruce combines a sensitivity and perceptiveness to our wishes with a firm practicality about structure, and a wealth of original ideas in keeping with our general principles.

He spent hours on the site before construction began, checking the light at various times of the day and year, and adjusting the layout accordingly. He worked well with our contractor, and the design changed as we incorporated new ideas and budget constraints. Bruce impressed us with a thorough knowledge and understanding of materials, from both a structural and aesthetic point of view.

Participating in the design and building of a house at a distance has been difficult. Bruce made the visualization much easier for me, and spent the time to sketch out various possibilities and to make things clear. He has the patience and affability to keep a client calm, up to date, and involved in all aspects the project.

The end result is a home with which we are thrilled, and that our friends and family find beautiful, and strikingly in harmony with the natural setting. There are many features, such as a masonry fireplace, striking whole log support posts, a myriad of shelves and spaces for books and art, and contrasting areas of space and access to the outside with nooks of coziness and comfort, that people comment on. They ask us where the ideas came from, to which we answer

“Bruce figured out what we wanted,” (or “would like”). He really brought our varied ideas and preferences to life.

I have a strong sense of Bruce’s commitment to his work and his clients, and his ability to combine his understanding of their wishes with his experience, original ideas, and fertile imagination. I would highly recommend him as an architect.

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Joel and Paula