November 30, 2016

Chancellor Residence by Frits de Vries Architect

Designed by Frits de Vries Architect, Chancellor Residence is a contemporary two-storey home located in Vancouver, Canada.

Modern, minimalist home with sleek glass walls, wooden slat accents, and a dog in the foreground.

Sleek modern architecture with clean lines, glass walls, and wooden accents.

Spacious open-concept living room with sleek modern furniture, floor-to-ceiling windows, and integrated kitchen.

Sleek modern kitchen with minimalist white cabinetry, black stone countertops, and floor-to-ceiling glass doors offering a view of the outdoor landscaping.

Bright, minimalist kitchen with sleek white cabinetry, dark marble backsplash, and large windows overlooking greenery.

Spacious modern bathroom with freestanding bathtub, vanity, and vertical blinds.

Sleek, modern architecture with glass walls, wooden accents, and lush landscaping.

Modern, sleek architecture with large glass panels, wooden accents, and a lush garden.

Striking modern home with clean lines, glass walls, and carefully curated landscaping.

The modern, geometric building features clean lines, wood accents, and large windows.

A modern, two-story residence with clean lines, large windows, and a prominent wooden entrance.

About Chancellor Residence

Located in the ‘Little Australia’ neighborhood of the UBC Endowment Lands in Vancouver, this 4,750 sq.ft (442 sq.m) residence was designed as an exclusive market home.

Design Inspired by Nature

The FdVA design team took inspiration from the forest setting adjacent to Pacific Spirit Park. They envisioned the house as a pavilion in a park, with simple, bold elements floating in a natural atmosphere.

Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Living

The design emphasizes outdoor living, with ample garden and courtyard spaces. It offers strong visual and physical connections to the forest landscape while balancing privacy and views.

Distinctive Architectural Elements

The stone-clad “solid” half of the house contains bedrooms, kitchen, bathrooms, and other services. The transparent “pavilion” half includes living and dining rooms and an upper-floor roof terrace. The house’s eastern siting maximizes natural light and allows the garden to wrap around the house, blending it with the parkland.

Integrated Outdoor Spaces

An excavated, landscaped garden courtyard connects the pavilion’s lower floor to the garden. A structured rear garden courtyard brings natural light to lower-level guest bedrooms. The garage/studio at the rear uses similar slatted wood cladding and a cantilevered roofline, visually connecting it to the main house. The green roof provides a visual link to the parkland from the upper floor.

Sustainable Design Achievements

This LEED Gold for Homes Certified project uses a holistic approach to sustainability. FdVA employed both passive and active strategies, avoiding reliance on bolt-on technology. This integrated approach created a vibrant, sustainable home for modern living.

Photography by Ema Peter

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- by Matt Watts