This imposing and rather curious-looking brick house is the Nanton Residence and is situated on a big sloping piece of land in Vancouver, Canada. It was designed and built here by studios Wiedemann Architectural Design in collaboration with Bla Design Group. The project came to completion in 2021. The result was a 4-storey multi-generational family home that sits proudly at the top of a sloping corner lot.

The house occupies a long sloping site and is partially built into the ground

The two main objectives that both the architects and designers kept in mind throughout the project were to create a durable and low-maintenance house. In light of this strategy, they chose to cover the exterior of the building in bricks which ended up giving the house an eclectic, transitional aesthetic. The exposed bricks add a certain warmth and charm to the design but also make the house stand out and give it a robust look.

The kitchen is big and spacious and it’s designed in a minimalistic styleThe kitchen island extends into a multifunctional bar

In contrast with the heavy exterior, the interior design is very light, soft and airy. Three of the four floors are completely above ground which exposes them to beautiful and expansive views over the surrounding landscape. There’s two entrance points into the house, one which leads into the main foyer and another which is reached via a long steel bridge that floats above the sunken patio.

A pair of full-height glass doors act as subtle separators between the dining area and the adjacent roomThe top floor has its own open rooftop terrace with great views over the backyard and distance landscape

Inside, the rooms are big and open and there’s no unnecessary partitions. The different sections of a room are differentiated through furniture and decorations, like the gray kitchen cabinets which contrast with the more earthy colored living and dining areas. Bring sliding glass doors allow these spaces to easily and seamlessly connect with the patio and the beautiful backyard.

Three of the four floors are built completely above ground, at the same level as the backyardThe secondary entrance is to the side, via a metal bridgeA live edge wood table and a gorgeous low-hanging chandelier give the dining room a very sophisticated lookThere’s also a more casual breakfast/ dining setup in the kitchen overlooking the backyardThe partition wall between the living room and dining area is very elegant and subtleThe master bathroom enjoys a really cool view of the big trees out in the gardenThe bedrooms are decorated with soft and warm neutrals for a modern and relaxing feelSome of the areas are separated by sliding glass wallsThe lower level houses a home theater decorated with dark tones and elegant materialsThe large windows allow all three upper levels to enjoy a very close connection with the outdoorsThe scenic view from the corner of this bathroom is absolutely breathtaking