yinjispace

ARCHITECTURE
Openspace Architecture
INTERIOR
Studio K Kitchens
LANDSCAPE
Paul Sangha Creative 
PHOTOGRAPHY
Ema Peter
EDITOR
Gina
Collection

On Vancouver Island, the waterfront house is nestled within a forested site, on the Saanich Peninsula just north of Victoria on the forested shores of Saanich Inlet, in British Columbia, Canada. The home is a single-storey structure accompanied by two additional buildings: a guest house and a small amenity building. The main residence spans 10,000 square feet / 929 square meters and includes the primary suite and one guest bedroom. Its gently curving form follows the natural contours of the land, creating a sequence of connected interior spaces that open effortlessly to the outdoors. 

The architectural material palette is simple and grounded in the natural tones and textures of the surrounding landscape. Materials were chosen for their authenticity, durability and ability to age gracefully, revealing the maker’s hand over time and creating a seamless flow between interior and exterior spaces. The garden materials were drawn from the surrounding natural landscape, including a palette of natural stone and wood designed to evolve over time. Large-format textured limestone pavers were used for outdoor terraces and matched with the limestone flooring inside, while crushed basalt defined soft garden paths. The colors are neutral and restrained to complement the surrounding landscape and avoid competing with the broader views. 

The vision for the garden is also rooted in principles of Japanese garden design, set within a distinctly West Coast context. This includes concepts of borrowed views from the surrounding landscape, the use of a restrained palette of wood and stone in various forms, and a mix of sculptural and looser plantings. The owners are avid art collectors, and their collection informed the garden’s layout and design—creating spaces, niches, and framed views where sculpture could sit naturally within the landscape while allowing for future pieces as the collection evolves.

Three sculptural Trochodendron trees are set within an entry water feature, creating a striking focal point. A series of maple trees forms the Maple Garden, framing the walkway from the main residence to the guest house. The Mounded Garden, surrounding the hot tub, is planted with clipped Olearia, Ramapo rhododendrons, and Pittosporum. Along the coastal edges, a locally adapted seed mix blends the cultivated garden into the naturally occurring plant communities.

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