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Ship's Passage House

Down by the waterfront

Salt Spring Island

British Columbia

Project Team:

Pete Sweetnam Woodworking Ltd.

Blackwell Structural Engineering

Ryzuk Geotechnical

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Spending time on this amazing waterfront forested site we saw the potential of a wedge shaped bedrock outcrop to organize the building design around. Using boulders from the site the natural shape has been accentuated to become a 'prow' shaped outdoor living area. This organizes the site and roots the built form to the ground. The living space arcs from the top of the outcrop to another fold in the rock. The bedroom wing is fully integrated into the jagged cliff on the north side with views of the water to the south. Its roof is covered in solar panels to mitigate energy use and the battery backup provides resilience needed in rural areas. The green roof bends following the topography to links the two wings to the each other and the ground.

The result is that this modern, nature inspired, modern west coast home will feel like it is part of the rock cliff that is inhabits. The main living are is a light, radial, wood post and beam structure. This supports, wide, passive solar designed overhangs that control solar gain for  the curving window wall with its panoramic view of the sea. An organic green roof with native vegetation and walls made from stones collected from the site integrate the structure to the natural bedrock outcrop.

Completion in 2026

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