Strathcona House is a project designed by Waissbluth Architecture Office (WAO). Situated in one of Vancouver’s oldest neighborhoods, this 3,000 sf single-family residence was commissioned for a family with two children who had purchased a 100-year old 3 unit building and wanted to convert it to their long-term home. Photography by Andrew Latreille.

.

The three level building sits on a unique site where the street level entrance connects to the second level of the house, while the first level faces the backyard landscape. Due to the poor condition of the building, the project consisted of both rebuilding the structure of the home while also opening up the house to allow for a open-plan.

In order to capitalize on views and daylight, the home has an inverted plan that sees the kitchen and living spaces located on the upper floor and bedrooms on the main floor. Dining and kitchen are combined into one large open area that integrates with a covered patio for outdoor cooking.
All floors are connected vertically with a linear staircase allowing natural light to flow through all levels. While the upper floor provides a stage for active and connected family life, the ground floor anchors the home with bedrooms, and the lowest level contains a working studio for the home owners.