Mermaid Sanctuary

Designed in 1985 by architect John Kay, this house is part of an idiosyncratic body of work that could be described as geometrically paradoxical, combining simple, rational layouts with seemingly freeform shapes. From the street, the house appears as a low-slung, single-story structure with a strong horizontal emphasis. However, the house, in fact, sits at the precipice of a steep cliff overlooking expansive ocean views and the surrounding mountains. At the centre of the plan is an obtuse incision opening up all of the common living areas to an exterior deck overhanging the cliff edge and supported by a single, four-storey column. 

Occupied by a couple with a deep respect for the home's modernist roots, we have been tasked with reimagining the interiors of the home to accommodate for modern comforts, enhanced functionality, and to introduce a new, west coast material palette more congruous with the home's rocky, forested site. The project involved the reorganization and enhancement of spaces for cooking, leisure, recreation, and slumber, and a materiality that will assert a new character while seemlessly merging with the original architecture.