Defying Gravity – SPRUCE MAGAZINE

A feat of engineering uncovers the potential in this stunning cliffside property.

By Danielle Pope | Photos by James Jones

The Millennial Batcave — that’s what Tim Agar calls the home he recently completed on the cliff face of one Victoria lake.

“This home has a huge cool factor,” says Agar, principal of Horizon Pacific Contracting. “The homeowners bought the property because they wanted to do something cool — and they weren’t afraid of that. It’s form before function on this one. The design isn’t the most efficient, but it is extremely cool.”

It would be easy to imagine a contemporary Bruce Wayne striding through the home’s tiered floors, its body cantilevered over the water like a runway for the Batwing. The house looks like one big architectural action stunt.

And that’s not far from what architect Pamela Úbeda of Coast + Beam Architecture was trying to achieve.

Cliffside Appeal

With a remarkably steep grade and setbacks that would place a new build far from the water’s edge, Úbeda had to get creative to form a home that would feel like a luxury lakeside property.

“A conventional approach is to use stepped floors. These offset rectangles leave you with several decks or rooftop patios, but you get further away from the lake and that’s not a great waterside experience,” she says. “We flipped that.”

Literally.

The home is, in effect, bolted to the edge of a rock face. Its highest level hangs 25 feet over the lake, while its lower level is buried back deep into bedrock, judiciously blasted out while navigating restrictive environmental and seismic codes. The build was so complex the team had to work in reverse to complete the structure, starting with the landscaping and building backwards.

“I’ve built a lot of complicated structures, and this one was at the tippy top of all those,” says Agar. “To say it was complicated was an understatement. This lot was the only one available because it was the only one no one wanted.”

No one, except the young pair who bought the property, dreaming of living nearby their favourite Victoria lake, regardless of what it took.

“We heard a lot of people had been at the property and said, ‘What would we do with this?’ ” says the homeowner, who wishes to remain anonymous — as Batman, of course, would. “We looked at a lot of homes and they were lacking a lot for us as two working professionals. We didn’t need something built for a family of four.”

From this angle, it’s hard to believe this home dangles 25 feet over the lake below, but the cantilevered structure combines a sense of architectural marvel with unparalleled views that create a surprising seclusion from nearby neighbours.

The Drop

To build perspective, the property experiences 20 metres of elevation change from the parking area to the water. That’s a 70-foot drop. While an old abandoned cabin on the lot had been nestled down at the water’s edge since the 1930s, modern setbacks meant any new build would have to be placed squarely on the cliff face.

“We had to blast our way down to the building site with ledges, then manage the materials from the bottom to top. Everything was in reverse. This home was built from the lake up,” says Agar. “Fundamentally, this was a very scary site to work on most of the time. Twenty metres doesn’t sound like a lot until you’re hanging over a cliff, drilling into rock.”

The result is two complete levels of open-concept space, with the in-ground “bunkie” level made especially for guests and recreation, and the main level an artistic reflection of single-floor living, which was the primary wish-list item for this couple.

Interior designer Pamela Billinghurst leaned into the build’s astounding architecture, exposing beams to create unity between the interior and exterior, highlighting the structure rather than hiding it.

“In other homes, the office usually feels like you’re going somewhere separate,” says the homeowner. “We wanted it to be looking out towards the living and kitchen area, so you have full views of the lake and the trees, but you also don’t feel separate and alone in a room; it’s inclusive. You can see each other.”

With a 70-foot drop from the top to the bottom of the property, this ranks as one of the most challenging builds the team at Horizon Pacific Contracting has ever undertaken, and the work had to be completed in reverse.

While the home itself stands out, the effect inside is complete privacy.

“There is literally no place you can see the neighbours, or they can see you, so it feels like total seclusion. It’s a truly unique experience,” says Agar.

How will a home like this navigate natural events and seismic safety? Agar and Úbeda both point out that, due to the extreme attention paid to this, given the location, this home is likely stronger than the lakehouses surrounding it. A home of this magnitude must be overbuilt, and the effect is as protective as it is beautiful.

A dark, moody palette — including black cabinetry, powder-coated finishes and black leather upholstery — adds a refined gravity to this bright space, offsetting what could be blinding light and creating a calming retreat for this couple.

A Secret Cave

“The homeowners had a very clear vision with what they wanted to do from the beginning,” says designer Pamela Billinghurst, who completed the home’s interior. “We wanted to evoke warmth and tranquility, and these homeowners were willing to take some risks.”

The interior palette is dark and moody; an important balance for the abundance of natural light. Moments of intrigue are spotted everywhere, like the continuous backsplash in the kitchen, the single-slab steam shower and the Bocci electric receptacles, which bring a subtle, circular theme to the space.

This couple wanted to create “dramatic moments” throughout the house, including the under-lit bench in the shower, which illuminates the continuous stone texture in this secluded room.

“This house is a logistical challenge, so rather than covering those structural elements, they were celebrated,” says Billinghurst. “It allowed us to make the most of every element of the space. Everything feels connected.”

Some of the more unique custom features — like the double-walk-through ensuite in the primary bedroom — came from inspiration the couple saw while on vacation. The result is an all-inclusive resort feel, with lush outdoor spaces, big patios and pools, a dedicated steam room, a custom stretch bar in the office and, of course, a private pathway to the water — 120 steps down, broken up through beautiful respite landings.

“Our real priority was the outdoor space. Having been in condos, we never had our own lawns,” says the homeowner. “We wanted this to be a seamless experience between inside and outside.”

And, there is a real bat connection.

Environmental considerations featured prominently in the build, but none more than the timing of the demolition of the cabin. A colony of bats were long-term residents of the derelict structure, and crews planned its removal to ensure the bats had flown away for their annual migration.

“We wanted to create the coolest home, where you feel like you’re on holiday but can also work from home and appreciate this environment,” says the homeowner. “We feel like we live in the trees. The birds are always singing and it does seem like you’re on vacation every day.”