In a unusual occurrence, our client approached us to re-conceptualize a house mid-way through construction as she took over management of the project from her parents. This direction led us to consider material and geometric clarification of the exterior planes of the house, and how these ideas are to be reflected at interior spaces.

The house sits on a floodplain formed by sediment deposits in the delta of the meandering Fraser River. This land is vulnerable to periodic flooding, particularly when heavy rainfall coincides with high tides. Accoya, a naturally treated pine developed in the Netherlands for ground-water contact applications (such as canal wall lining), is used extensively as exterior cladding. The unique variegated "sticker" marks, artifacts of their industrial processing, serve as a visual reminder of the wood’s acetylation process which renders it durable, stable, and long-lasting in waterlogged conditions. The wood was left to naturally weather to soft grey tones that are reminiscent of the site’s retained hemlocks.

Conceptually, the landscape is an extension of the surrounding wetland and consists of folded layers: sedimentation, wetland vegetation, and floating elements. The first layer represent the river's sedimentary deposits, integrated subtly into the landscape as the driveway, functional surfaces, and on-grade stairs. The second, connected by wetland vegetation, consists of an unfenced carpet of sedges mixed with native and native-like plants, which transition into conifers and deciduous shrubs. And the third layer introduces constructed elements, like walkways, boardwalks, and benches which are elevated above the other layers.

The project mediates the interrelationship between the natural world and the object, where design interventions try to re-imagine a family home in a very particular location. Folding, whether on the land, with the house, or with its material language plays a role in reflecting an understanding of this place its inhabitants.