Nestled into the trees, the simple forms of this waterfront hideaway designed by Turkel Design seem one with nature on beautiful Gambier Island, British Columbia, Canada. Designed to collect rainwater and exhaust the home’s warm air in the summer, the double-incline roof is defined by exposed beams of beautiful Douglas fir.

The original plan was designed with a growing family in mind but also works well for this client’s destination location and entertaining guests. The three-bedroom, three-bath home features en-suite bedrooms on both floors. In the great room, an operable wall of glass opens the house onto a shaded deck, with spectacular views of Center Bay on Gambier Island.

Above – the peninsula sitting area is the perfect tree-fort getaway, for conversation and relaxing. Open to the fireplace below and the trees beyond, it is an ideal go-away place to inspire and be inspired.

Description of the prefabricated home: “The first TD3 2490 to be completed in North America recently received two Gold Awards and one Silver Award for design and green-build features from the NAHB in its Waterfront Hideaway categories. Known as Gambier Island House, it is perched above the Strait of Georgia in British Columbia’s Gulf Islands. The unique conditions of this steep, remote site required a building system that could be delivered by barge; the Lindal Cedar Homes (LCH) kit-of-parts approach was the ideal solution.”

Orientation of the outdoor living space is in the primary view corridor of the home, providing an intimate seating group focused back to the centerpiece fireplace making the space feel truly part of the home. The tapered roof beam design motif is repeated by the custom glass rail’s aluminum powder coated posts. As a second story Deck, the ‘landscape’ is the airy feel of living among the trees and is augmented by the glass rail which disappears from view, creating a weightless, suspended feeling.

The house, an original design created by Turkel Design for Lindal as part of the Dwell Homes Collection, is adaptable to multiple site conditions and opens to views simultaneously in several directions. Turkel Design collaborated with a local independent LCH dealer, My House Design/Build, and positioned the house to open into a stand of old-growth cedars and out through the treetops to the opposite shoreline. The TD3 2490 collects its own rainwater, uses passive methods to self-ventilate, and can be delivered and constructed in almost any location worldwide.

Custom kitchen cabinets conceal appliances except for the Wolfe range stainless tile accents.

The master suite integrates bed and bath with translucent glass partitions.

Photos: Barta Photography