Four & Four House by Mcleod Bovell Modern Houses: Contemporary Waterfront Living in West Vancouver

Nestled on a steep, scenic waterfront lot in West Vancouver, Canada, the Four & Four House by Mcleod Bovell Modern Houses is a striking example of contemporary residential architecture that seamlessly merges mid-century post-and-beam design with modern functionality. Completed in 2019, this 6,600-square-foot home demonstrates how site-sensitive design and materiality can shape a luxurious, yet contextually grounded, living experience.

The house is strategically positioned on a wide, semi-naturalized site, allowing the architects to integrate four distinct courtyards that organize the home’s circulation and living spaces. Locally-milled yellow cedar clads the exterior, while four massive beams frame these courtyards, creating a rhythmic interplay of interior and exterior spaces that respond to both privacy and panoramic water views.

At the entrance, a sunken courtyard framed by concrete walls creates a spatial buffer between vehicular access and the guest arrival area. This subtle interplay of levels establishes both lateral and vertical separation, enhancing the sense of arrival and grounding the house within its terrain. A double-height garden courtyard, open to the sky, floods the interior with filtered southern light, fostering a natural connection to the environment while maintaining tranquility.

Adjacent to this garden, a sheltered outdoor living room allows for year-round relaxation and social gatherings, offering a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor living. Above, a lounge deck cantilevers over the concrete base, providing unobstructed views of the water’s changing conditions, creating a dynamic interface between the house and its stunning natural surroundings.

Internally, the home’s layout thoughtfully balances formal and informal living areas, with a central courtyard visually connecting the spaces while maintaining spatial separation. A fully glazed gallery functions as the pivot between the living spaces, sunken courtyard, and garden, creating a continuous flow of light and movement throughout the home. The upper floor, designed as a screened volume containing bedrooms, spans the outdoor living room like a bridge, maintaining privacy while preserving visual openness.

The south-facing monolithic façade ensures privacy from the street, while lowered window heads reduce perceived massing from the water, achieving a single-story aesthetic reminiscent of classic mid-century modern homes. This careful design approach illustrates the architects’ commitment to contextual integration, contemporary comfort, and material authenticity, making the Four & Four House a masterful example of modern residential architecture.

All photographs are works of  Andrew Latreille