Next to the renowned Pacific Spirit Regional Park lies a family home that harmoniously combines Western and Eastern architectural styles. Designed by the BLA Design Group, Feng House exemplifies the possibility of merging cultures in a way that elevates every moment of daily life. ‘By reintroducing memories from the past into the present, the house combines West Coast modern architecture with traditional Chinese design details in a personalized way that elevates the owners’ daily comfort and experience,” says Jerry Liu, co-founder of the studio. ‘As cultures influence each other, different architectural styles merge, creating new ideas and trends of modern living.’

Considering Vancouver's climate and lifestyle, the BLA team designed a comfortable, bright, and cosy house with a layout that maximizes natural light in the interior while shielding the exterior from the region's constant downpours.

With floor-to-ceiling windows, the house features a gable that extends over the main floor, forming a cantilevered roof above the recessed patio at the entrance. In direct response to the climate, the metal cladding with standing seams enveloping the entire house acts as a protective shield against the rain. The front and back of the building are clad in cedar, naturally dyed to resemble the tones of the surrounding forests. The large sliding glass doors at the rear open outwards, creating an expansive, interconnected space composed of the living room, dining room, kitchen, and patio. The layout and spatial arrangement of the interior celebrate the connection with the outdoors.

This project celebrates two cultures, reflecting the family's Asian heritage through the furniture, design details, and color palette. At the entrance, slatted wooden panels showcase a personalised work of art - a topographical sculpture of Hangzhou, the owner's hometown. In the living room, wooden slatted walls create distinct spaces, enhancing the flow of natural light. These partitions reinterpret the traditional Chinese ‘ping feng’, a room divider that fosters a tranquil setting surrounding the entrance, tea table, and dining table. The furniture and decorative pieces were directly sourced from China, which, according to the designers, imparts ‘a unique sense of cultural elegance to the space.’

The design team used warm tones and earthy colours such as browns, beiges, and greys, reflecting Vancouver's climate and the property's surroundings. The material palette includes metal cladding for its durability and wood cladding for the warmth it conveys.

Casa Feng is a thoughtful piece of modern architecture, showcasing how the intentional blend of styles can elevate a house to a new time and place. This result would not have been possible without the collaboration of the owners. ‘One of the priorities was a want for a space that combined functionality and aesthetics,’ says Jesse Basran, co-founder of BLA Design Group. ‘Significant time was spent collaborating with the client on each aspect taking many hours but resulting in a complete and thoroughly thought-out design package.’