Montiverdi Estates
Montiverdi Estates, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Designed 1979
Montiverdi Estates is an exclusive residential neighborhood of single family detached houses, in a seven acre natural setting,
with numerous large trees, rock outcroppings and other significant natural elements. The site has steep west facing slopes,
offering views towards Howe Sound from the upper portion of the property.
The uniqueness of the natural setting and the program requirements lead to the conception of a "residential park" with each of
the twenty residences being carefully integrated with the setting. To foster the park-like quality, there has been no formal
definition of property lines, with a central community open space in the form of a large open wildflower meadow being
preserved and connected to the adjoining greenbelt. To soften the distinction between home and nature, and to enhance the
views of the residents above, the forest floor is brought under those buildings constructed on timer stilts and onto the
landscaped rooftops from above. The timber stilts have evolved as a response to the steep slope and rocky terrain and to set
the building amongst the trees.
The building section clearly responds to the site conditions as illustrated in the three typical conditions, changing from a low
spreading building to one with an increasingly vertical presence. Homes on the downhill side of the road are kept low so as
not to obstruct views to the west and to avoid a "canyon" effect between the homes. Additional features include the presence
of islands of natural vegetation to break the stretches of brown chip pavement and low street lighting which adds to the sense
of a special and private precinct.
The homes have a distinctive quality with the strong interplay of horizontal and vertical members and with a unifying external
finish of cedar siding interspersed with large window walls and wooden screening which allows for a subtle control of the
degree of openness and of privacy for the residents.
Within the residences, the entertainment size living room and dining room are positioned for the west views and late afternoon
sun and sunset, these spaces bring set apart from the family-oriented kitchen, breakfast, family room area to the south east.
The residences have, in general, transparent walls on the east and west with the north being opaque and the south either
transparent or screened for privacy from neighbours. The east-west direction of the columns reinforces the orientation of the
houses to afford maximum views, while also maximizing privacy.