This spectacular hilltop home nearly didn’t happen. Twice. Restrictive fire separation requirements on adjacent property lines, extreme slope, and exposed bedrock outcroppings created regulatory and construction challenges that would have defeated conventional approaches. Through persistent code analysis and creative compliance strategies, the design navigated setback restrictions and fire-rated assembly requirements to unlock a site most builders had dismissed as unbuildable.
The result captures 180-degree views spanning the Saanich Peninsula, downtown Victoria, and Olympic Mountains beyond. Cascading rooflines step down the granite slope, reducing apparent mass while creating varied ceiling heights that dramatize interior volumes. Exposed timber outriggers and deep overhangs root the design in West Coast tradition, while horizontal cedar banding and charcoal masonry anchor the composition to its rocky foundation.
Close collaboration between architect, builder, and client maintained rigorous budget discipline throughout design and construction—delivering architectural quality and spatial generosity at a cost-per-square-foot that challenges assumptions about custom home pricing. Strategic material selections, efficient structural solutions, and phased decision-making proved that intelligent design maximizes value rather than inflating it.
For clients facing sites others have rejected—whether due to code restrictions, terrain challenges, or proximity constraints—this project demonstrates how architectural expertise transforms obstacles into opportunities. Throughout Greater Victoria and British Columbia’s challenging topography, the right design approach unlocks exceptional homes where conventional thinking sees only problems.
Coast+Beam is an award-winning architecture studio based on Vancouver Island focussed exclusively on West Coast Modern homes and cabins.
