basic pleasures

Overlooking the wooded waterfront of Howe Sound and adjacent to a protected, forested waterway and private cove, the secluded home is only accessible via the water. Nestled into the rugged bush, the remote and difficult access drove the design solutions.

The Gambier Island House by Canadian architecture and design studio MGB is a weekend home for young Vancouver couple with two children, peacefully perched atop a steep rocky cliff along the northeast coast of Gambier Island in British Columbia. Its design is a contemporary version of a cabin in the woods, offering the basic pleasures of a modern home, while also touching lightly on the ground to minimize its environmental impact.

Design decisions minimized material requirements, specifically the sparse use of concrete and the prefabrication of certain elements offsite, and reduced the number of barge trips required to deliver the construction material and remove waste. This strategy ensured the construction process had the smallest environmental footprint and brought minimum disruption to the landscape.