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The Green House
Boniface Oleksiuk Politano Architects

Project Name: The Green House

Location: Gibsons, Canada

Design Team: Boniface Oleksiuk Politano Architects

Total Floor Area: 153 m²

Completion: 2024

Photography: Brett Hitchins


Design Features:

Project - The Green House, designed by Boniface Oleksiuk Politano Architects, stands as a masterful expression of modest architectural gesture and sophisticated spatial strategy nestled within a forest along a stream on a small farm in Gibsons, British Columbia. This 153-square-meter family residence exemplifies the perfect balance between familiar architectural profile and innovative spatial planning, redefining contemporary living experiences within compact footprints.


The project's most compelling design achievement lies in its intelligent "central spine" organizational strategy. The building is organized around the central entry and service spine that divides private spaces to the north and social spaces to the south. This double-height core serves as both circulation axis and vertical connector, maintaining clear functional zoning while preserving overall visual connectivity throughout. A playful peek-a-boo Juliette balcony overlooking this central space from the second-level mezzanine adds an unexpected moment of delight, reinforcing the home's sense of vertical generosity.


The architectural narrative unfolds through sophisticated spatial hierarchy, demonstrating remarkable spatial intelligence. The second-floor mezzanine overhangs the living space, providing the office, children's activities, or guests the opportunity to retreat from the main living area. The private areas to the north enjoy intimate views of the trees and nearby creek, while the main gathering and living space to the south features generous glazing and doors opening onto the south-facing outdoor patio.


The choice of materials demonstrates contemporary design pragmatism. The home is built with conventional construction methods, principally light wood framing including prefabricated roof trusses. The building features a high-performing envelope with exterior insulation to ensure maximum energy efficiency. From an energy perspective, the house surpasses code requirements, equipped with a heat pump and radiant slab heating system.


The façade treatment demonstrates the refinement of strategic fenestration design. Each window placement responds precisely to its environmental context, framing intimate views of the surrounding creek and forest from the private bedrooms while offering expansive glazing and direct patio access from the southern living areas. This carefully choreographed system of openings transforms the forest setting into an ever-changing backdrop for daily life.


House GM's defining feature is its innovative response to environmental challenges and high-performance building practices. Despite the family owning 10 acres of land, soil conditions proved extremely challenging during construction, requiring significant amounts of gravel and fill to ensure a stable foundation. Additionally, the building was constructed during a period of severe cost inflation and supply chain challenges. The home's exterior presents a deliberately understated profile: a simple gabled form rendered in a vibrant green that playfully references both its name and engages in dialogue with the natural surroundings. Born from a young family's vision (including a landscape architect) to transform a muddy field into a meadow homestead, The Green House proves that thoughtful design can achieve architectural sophistication without sacrificing warmth, personality, or environmental responsibility.


Design Team - Boniface Oleksiuk Politano Architects, established in 2019 and led by principals Alan Boniface, Shane Oleksiuk, and Adrian Politano, has distinguished itself as a leading Canadian practice renowned for its innovative approach to contemporary residential and mixed-use projects. Based in Vancouver, with operations extending to projects throughout North America, the firm demonstrates exceptional design excellence.


Under the creative direction of Alan Boniface, Shane Oleksiuk, and Adrian Politano, the firm leads a dynamic multidisciplinary team including architects, designers, and urban planning specialists. Alan Boniface brings over 35 years of practice experience, having fulfilled numerous leadership roles including Managing Partner of architectural practices, Chairman of ULI, and Chairman of the Vancouver Planning Commission. Shane Oleksiuk's design approach balances idealism and pragmatism, pursuing architecture that is both generous and assertive. Adrian Politano has contributed to and led numerous projects over the past 20 years at firms in Victoria, Toronto, and Vancouver. Their collaborative approach has yielded consistent client support and municipal recognition.


The firm's design philosophy centers on the connectivity of buildings to their surroundings, structures supporting street life, and vibrant public realms creating better living environments. Their design methodology emphasizes that a dense mix of uses in close proximity generates better community life and, ultimately, better societies. The firm consistently delivers projects that balance idealism with pragmatism, environmental sustainability with economic vitality.


Boniface Oleksiuk Politano Architects, as a full-service architectural practice, demonstrates proficiency across diverse typologies, encompassing residential developments at all scales, hospitality, office buildings, community facilities, master planning, urban design, and mixed-use projects. Through a diverse portfolio spanning from large-scale master plans to intimate community-based projects, the firm has established new paradigms in North American contemporary architecture, demonstrating consistent commitment to creating lasting communities. These communities are vibrant, sustainable, and walkable. The firm believes in the life of urban places and infuses all work with dedication to those ingredients that make urban life vital.

153 m²

Gibsons, Canada

2024

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