Britannia Beach House

Set against the dramatic backdrop of Howe Sound and surrounded by towering mountains and dense forest, the Britannia Beach House is a warm, minimal sanctuary that embraces its extraordinary natural setting. Tucked at the end of a quiet drive, the home is thoughtfully positioned to frame some of the most breathtaking views in the province.
Designed to heighten the experience of place, the house inverts the traditional residential layout — locating the main living spaces on the upper floor and the bedrooms on the entry level. This strategic reversal allows the kitchen, dining, and living areas to float above the treetops, capturing expansive ocean and mountain views, while the more private, forest-facing bedrooms remain nestled below in a quieter, sheltered zone.
Expansive glazing and large operable openings dissolve the boundary between interior and exterior, inviting the landscape into everyday life and allowing for an evolving relationship with the changing seasons. A secondary suite adds versatility, offering space for guests or future multi-generational living.
The material palette is grounded in simplicity and authenticity. Exposed Douglas Fir rafters and matching plywood ceilings in the vaulted living areas bring a tactile warmth and a sense of calm to the interior. Natural materials such as wood and concrete create a sense of quiet permanence, while the exterior — clad in vertical 2x2 Cedar slats and contrasted by a matte black standing seam metal roof — blends softly into the forested hillside.
Britannia Beach House is both a retreat and a responsive architectural gesture — one that balances the serenity of its surroundings with the lived rhythms of family life.