Ship's Passage House

Salt Spring Island

British Columbia

Project Team:

Pete Sweetnam Woodworking Ltd.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

This modern, nature inspired, west coast home is built into the rock. A radial wood post and beam structure supports, wide, passive solar designed overhangs that protect 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

Spending time on the site we saw the potential of a wedge shaped bedrock outcrop. 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 dug into the jagged cliff. It roof is covered in solar panels. The bending green roof links the two wings to the each other and the ground.

Ferry from Victoria to Salt Spring Island

First ideas in the sketchbook

Visualize and demystify post and beam construction

Construction Starts

Down by the waterfront

Site meeting by Kayak

West coast modern home design at its best using principles of organic architecture inspired by Frank Lloyd wright Bruce Goff and John Lautner