Cottages
A Contemporary Cottage On B.C.’s Halfmoon Bay Is An Homage To Japanese Retreats
Updated on November 17, 2023
Patrick Warren and Kevin Kaufman searched high and low for a place to build a cottage that would reflect their free-spirited ethos. From the Gulf Islands to commuter community Bowen Island, nothing felt exactly right…until they found Halfmoon Bay on the Sunshine Coast. Their half-hectare lot overlooked the Georgia Strait, a historical lighthouse on a nearby island and a seal colony. Plus, it was an easy ferry ride to Vancouver.
They launched headfirst into the planning process — by setting up their tent. “We wanted to capture the sense of exploration you get by camping on the site,” says Patrick, who’s a senior associate at Frits de Vries Architects + Associates. As well as connecting them more closely to the land, camping also helped them orient the house (its footprint was designed to preserve almost all of the trees on the site), and influenced the interiors, too. Both sun and trees would impact where the cottage was sited; they soon figured out the best place for the principal suite in order to enjoy spectacular morning vistas. “We located the bedroom on our favorite part of the site,” says Kevin, who owns a custom aquarium company. “Now it feels like we’re waking up in paradise.”
Scroll down to see more of this stunning B.C. cottage!
A boxy, low-roofed entry leads to 13-and-a-half-foot-high asymmetrical interior ceilings, which help visually expand the 1,450-square-foot space. The high-efficiency woodstove was selected for its small size and performance (its double combustion reduces carbon emissions).
After visiting Japan and seeing the ryokans in Kyushu (traditional inns with pared-down amenities like tatami mats and futon beds), the couple was inspired. “We loved the way the dark buildings receded into the shadows of the forest,” says Patrick. “The natural materials created a unity with their environment, a soothing counterpoint that felt very restorative.” They aimed to create their own spaces with a more contemplative purpose.
Owners Kevin Kaufman (left) and Patrick Warren, with their English Labrador, Taavi. In 2017, after 20 months of construction, many schematic changes midstream and a long week spent hand-staining the second-growth cedar cladding with their team, Patrick and Kevin were ready to move in.
The open-concept kitchen allows Kevin and Patrick to entertain with ease. Granite counters match granite outcroppings at the beach.
The dining room juts out from the house and is angled south to catch morning and afternoon light.
An angled corner in the dining room is ideal for watching wildlife. Angles and corners loom large but are softened by the light cedar envelope. Floor-to-ceiling corner windows frame the view of the water in both the living room and principal bedroom and create indoor-outdoor flow.
Concrete steps lead from the living area to the principal bedroom. “We wanted something we didn’t have to fuss over,” says Kevin of the concrete floors.
The bedroom’s low ceiling evokes the feeling of sleeping in a tent. Patrick designed the plaster wall paneling and had it custom made.
In the principal bedroom, Douglas fir cabinets match the window frames.
The tub is inspired by a trip to Kyushu, Japan. The cottage’s dark wood bathroom looking out to the water was particularly influenced by the Japanese retreat. “Ryokans are minimally embellished and textural,” says Patrick. “People often associate minimalism with stark spaces but, really, it’s about reducing distractions and clutter.” A large window opens up to mimic “forest bathing” in a hot tub.
Although originally from Florida, Kevin tends to avoid the sun, while Patrick embraces it. The couple settled on southern exposure as the perfect solution: “The house is designed for natural shading in the hottest seasons, while letting in the sun in the cooler months,” says Patrick. Pebbles break up the patio and nod to the beach beyond. Purchased before the house was built, the fire bowl was part of the inspiration for the overall palette.
Installed for privacy, full-height cedar louvers filter in light.
The roof slopes opposite to the topography so that the interior becomes progressively taller, from the bedroom toward the kitchen. At night, the house glows. “West Coast design is very focused on light,” says Patrick.
As both architect and client, he found the process had its disadvantages (“Too many options!”), but the couple always worked it out. “Prioritizing being interesting over perfection allowed us to play and experiment,” he says. “We’ve created a world that we can retreat to, with rules that are different from the everyday life of the city.”
Ema Peter
House & Home July/August 2022
Architecture and Design: Patrick Warren