When Diane and John Read moved from Edmonton, Alberta, to B.C. in search of a retirement home, two mighty voices called out to them: the mountain and the sea.
In 2004 they began looking for a building lot on southern Vancouver Island that would allow them to build a retirement home with a view of the Pacific Ocean, and maybe the mountains too – not an easy task. At one point they gave up their search and bought an existing home, but just before the purchase was finalized, they discovered a lot with a spectacular view on Triangle Mountain on Victoria’s West Shore.
By 2005, they had built “Castilla Magica” (magic castle.)
The Reads discovered that building a home on a narrow, 11,000-square-foot lot on a hillside comes with its share of challenges. “We wanted a view that was not obstructed,” says Diane. “Most of the lots we looked at had obstructions, which were usually trees. Most municipalities will not let you take the trees down. And then we were really lucky, and found this lot with no obstructions. It was an easy choice.” They got in touch with long-time friend and architect, Chris Laing, of PGA Architects Ltd. in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, about 70 kilometers south of Edmonton. Laing obtained site plans from the owner and created conceptual drawings from his base in Edmonton. The Reads served as General Contractors, and within six months, the 4,200-square-foot, four-storey, contemporary mountainside villa was completed. The multi-level, cube-shaped structure on the narrow and steep lot harmonizes perfectly with the spectacular view and surrounding cliff stones. The smooth charcoal stucco exterior and flat roof allow for maximum living space in keeping with the height restrictions.
The internal angles of a triangle always add up to 180 degrees so it is fitting that the owners enjoy a 180-degree view from their Triangle Mountain home. They can see the city of Victoria, and a sweeping gaze also takes in the Olympic Mountains, and Cascade Mountain. From one of many decks facing southeast, the Reads are able to watch sailing regattas, cruise ships and navy ships in the Juan de Fuca Strait, a body of water that forms the principal outlet for the Georgia Strait and Puget Sound connecting both to the Pacific Ocean.
The narrow lot did not allow for a garage so the property has a secure, gated entry and private courtyard with no lawn.
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The custom home’s interior is a testament to its surroundings – it was designed for maximum light and view. “Victoria has many grey days, but with so many windows I feel like I am outdoors when I’m indoors,” says Diane. “I set up my ironing board in front of the living room window and watch the ships go by.” She says that their home gives her energy because there is not a lot of ‘stuff’ in it, suggesting that the key to a contemporary look and feel is to minimize the amount of knick-knacks and non-essential furniture. An elegant, white leather couch is from Pottery Barn and a double glass coffee table, from California, is on pedestals and can swivel into a single table.
The Reads credit their interior designer, Karen West, of Karen West Design Group Inc., for transforming their vision into a reality. West won five awards for her design of the Read’s home and the owners compliment her as a “professional, organized designer” for thinking outside the box. “Karen is very exact about everything and she provided lots of tips on how we could save money,” says Diane. “She was indispensible and we were lucky to find her.”
All four floors were designed with a specific use in mind. The top floor, with its master bedroom, bathroom, his and hers dens, and laundry facilities, is exclusively for the owners use. The master suite features a bed centralized below dual skylights, with a custom head board and bench seat at the back, a fireplace and built-in fridge and microwave. The en suite has a wheelchair-accessible, double walk-in shower alongside a sunken tub and suspended cabinetry.
The third level main floor is the ‘public floor’ with a media room, living room, and one of the home’s two, low, contemporary holographic fireplaces that allow for an expanded view. There is also a two-part, avant-garde kitchen on smooth, honed tiles, with an open entertainment area and a walk-in butler’s pantry. The Reads call their unique kitchen “an experiment” that has proven to be a success because of its workability. On the entertainment side of the kitchen, there is a built-in stainless steel stove/oven, a microwave/oven combination, and sink. The cabinetry is Iced Poly Windswept bronze laminate and countertops are Blackstone granite with a stainless steel mosaic tile backsplash. A built-in wall fountain is surrounded by a counter-to-ceiling custom mirror to reflect the outside view as water cascades down the black grid, making it appear iridescent. There is black, open shelving with hidden pot lighting at the end of a sit-up bar.
The walk-in pantry consists of a stainless steel fridge, microwave, sink and more cabinetry, as well as a built-in portable serving cart and phone desk area. “There is lots of space and this is my prep and clean-up area,” says Diane. “Guests tend to congregate in the kitchen and this allows me to keep all the food, dishes and pots and pans in there and keep my kitchen tidy.”
The second level is one level below the street but still has a view of the ocean. This is a guest bedroom and a living area for long term guests. The lower level includes a storage area, workshop, sewing room, exercise room, and wine cellar.
Every floor is accessible by stairs and a LEV home elevator. The Reads particularly like its machine-room-free technology and easy maintenance. They say the elevator made the house possible. That, and the sea and the mountains.
-Photography by John Yanyshyn, August 2009
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