Aquaterra — Seaside Serenity
Certain projects announce themselves quietly. Aquaterra does not rely on novelty to make an impression—it relies on integrity. Every element is considered, structural decisions are visible and the result is a home that feels both rooted in its setting and timeless in its design.
Situated on its own private bay, the residence was designed within a set of site-specific guidelines that limited the extent of two-storey perimeter walls. Rather than treating these constraints as obstacles, the design used them as organising logic, concentrating height and volume where it would have the greatest effect, allowing the rest of the building to breathe.
The two storey elements are deliberately placed: a covered outdoor living area with fireplace, a lowered seating terrace facing the water, the primary suite with its walk-out balcony above, and kitchen and dining rooms with vaulted ceilings with exposed timbers which adds volume and airiness. The building constraints didn’t limit the design - they shaped it.
The timber work is the heart of the home. Its precision was a large part of the expression of design language throughout this home. The process began with a set of precise drawings produced by the design team - specifications detailed enough to allow the structures to be fabricated off-site, assembled, disassembled, transported and re-erected in place. The tolerances were miniscule, the results were exact. There is great harmony when structural necessity and thoughtful design exist within the same elements - that is the timberwork at Aquaterra.
The absence of a ridge beam is the most technically demanding aspect of the project and is also its most quietly elegant. A skylight positioned directly over the ridge line made a conventional central beam impractical. The solution was to engineer the primary truss to span freely without central support, all while resolving the stress and pressures that a ridge beam would normally absorb.
The fact that the vault then turns a corner added further challenges to overcome. The truss system was designed to transfer load from one truss to its neighbor in a precise configuration - the end result, both successful in its purpose and a beautiful addition to the feeling of the design. Our partnership with Island Timber Frame in Comox BC was integral to the success of this unconventional truss system. To fabricate that amount of timber work, disassemble it for transport, and have it all go back together without a hitch was a feat of precision.
The aesthetic language of the timberwork is equally deliberate. Trusses are detailed with subtle reveals - each member set back from the next, allowing light to highlight the depth of the assembly, rather than it reading as a flat plane. Windows in the gable are stepped where a conventional approach would use an arch. Beamed ceilings run throughout. These are not decorative choices applied after the fact; they are the natural outcome of a structure that has been thought out completely.
Light is always a consideration in home design, and Aquaterra’s waterfront location was an asset. The home faces north so the light streaming in the multitude of windows is diffuse. The result is an interior that is bright without glare or feeling harsh, creating a palpable connection between indoors and out. Skylights were designed to not only add natural light to the space, but were positioned strategically to maximize sense of volume and oneness with the home’s environment. Aquaterra feels genuinely connected to its surroundings - not merely adjacent to the ocean, but in conversation with it.
The floor plan is laid out to maximize the ocean views. The main floor holds a kitchen and dining room that open fully to the exterior, a secondary prep kitchen with covered barbecue access and a powder room.
The upper level places the primary suite with ensuite and walk-out balcony in its own gable. It is separated from the secondary bedrooms by a mezzanine rather than a closed-in hallway. Coming out of any of the bedrooms, you are immediately immersed in an incredibly open and inviting space that draws your gaze past the beautiful timberwork to the ocean beyond. There is an additional bedroom with an ensuite, and two more that have built-in bunk beds which have a secret hatch through the adjoining wall - an imaginative way to add fun to children’s rooms.
Family was also a consideration on the lower floor. A large rec-room with skylights, home theatre, and a large gym join an additional bedroom with walk-out access to the garden.
Aquaterra is a contemporary expression of a traditional form. The timberwork is not merely an ornamental nod, it is a response to the design guidelines imposed and the natural surroundings of the home. The design philosophy is humble in its simplicity, complex in its engineering structure and demanding in its execution. These principles are evident in every detail of Aquaterra.
