Union Street Residence

Strathcona, Vancouver, BC

Private Client

In this residential landscape design project, a studio, a workshop, a garden patio, and a child’s playground unify both space and family at the back of this 120 year old home in Strathcona.

The multi-use design achieves a lot on this 25-foot wide lot. The clients wanted a space for their son to play and imagine; storage for their vintage canoes; a woodshed; an office; and a simple lawn area and patio for entertaining.

The house dates back to the early 1900’s but the clients, a graphic designer and an industrial designer, each had a strong love for early modernism.

Wanting a space that reflected their tastes while also respecting the heritage of the house was a challenge that was solved with a simple, geometric layout of the lawn, paths and patios as a nod to modernism. Distressed wood was used in the design of the playhouse and fence, and paving was done with stone to embrace the heritage of the property.

A modern mix of plantings and furnishings further blend with the heritage brick house and garage to create a space that fits seamlessly within its surroundings. It is a residential landscape that is meant for work, play, entertainment and family.