Colwood Renovation

North Vancouver, BC

The renovation on the 1950s mid-century Colwood Residence was initiated in back in 2017. The upgrades to this home are contemporary and measured, supporting the original structure while incorporating new design principles. This involved maintaining yet augmenting the original lines of the house through the creation of dramatic cantilevers. The home required a complete seismic upgrade, which included new supports for the original brick fireplace. A central goal of the design was to thermally break exterior and interior elements to create an indoor-outdoor space without compromising the building’s performance.

ASPECT was the structural Engineer of Record for this single-family, custom home. The two-storey plus one-storey basement structure is comprised of prefabricated light wood frame, steel beams and columns, and a concrete foundation, with many of the original existing materials creatively re-used in the home’s renovation. The home was detailed to minimize visible fasteners. New custom steel stairs and a guardrail were designed to blend into the original bookcase, and a large, cantilevering carport roof was also added — integrating seamlessly with the existing roof.

Photos by Ema Peter.

ArchitectOlson KundigStatusCompleted (2021)