Canadian architecture firm Omer Arbel Office has created the 91.0 cedar house, featuring sandblasted planks designed to “evoke” the look of stacked lumber. This unique home is elevated above a gully on a scenic waterfront property in British Columbia.
The 91.0 house, also referred to as Bridge House, spans 3,200 square feet (300 square metres) and is situated on a steep, three-acre site on Galiano Island, British Columbia.
Set amid forested surroundings, the home is designed to bridge two rocky ridges and extend across a deep fern-filled gully.
The project takes into account the potential for rising water levels due to climate change, which could cause the gully beneath the house to flood in the future.
For this reason, the studio approached the design from a more adaptive rather than apocalyptic perspective, aiming to create a home that responds to both current and future environmental conditions—a shift they refer to as “phenomenological”.
“If we cut a section through the site perpendicular to the water line, we find that there are four very different conditions, each corresponding to a different microecology and phenomenological identity,” Omer Arbel Office told Dezeen.
“Our intention was to organize the spaces in the house so that it would literally intersect all four conditions, allowing residents to experience the diverse aspects of the site. The home was conceived as a single plane—a flat datum—that enables inhabitants to observe the site’s sectional changes against it.”
“We realized that by following this idea through, the house essentially functions as a bridge over the fern gully. If water levels eventually rise due to climate change, the gully may transform into a tidal pool basin, offering a completely new interpretation of the home in the centuries to come.”
To reach the house, residents and visitors follow a wooded path that leads to a discreet front entrance set into the building.
Upon entering, an 82-foot (25-metre) corridor stretches the length of the house, featuring a window seat with views down into the lush fern gully.
At the far end of the corridor, the main wing opens up to ocean views and includes an open-plan kitchen and living area. The primary bedroom is conveniently located near the main living spaces and is cantilevered from the main structure, creating the effect of it being suspended above the landscape.
The corridor separates a secondary wing containing additional bedrooms and a bunkroom. These auxiliary spaces are designed for flexibility, allowing them to be closed off or opened up depending on whether guests are staying.
“The layout is intended to expand and contract based on the number of people present, so extra bedrooms can be opened when grown children or visitors arrive,” the studio explained.
The material palette draws focus to the surrounding forest and reflects the natural context with an almost geological character. The design features custom cedar cladding, where the end grain is sandblasted to create the effect of stacked lumber.
“Sandblasting the cedar end grain results in a surface with high contrast that responds beautifully to natural light,” said the studio. “Initially, it seems understated, but over time, it becomes a richly textured experience.”
“We conceived the project as a means of focusing attention on the surrounding forest, especially the delicate transition from forest to ocean. Cedar felt like the ideal material for this purpose, both inside and out.”
Inside, the house continues its emphasis on natural textures, with painted wooden battens, Douglas fir strips, and walnut shelving used for the walls and
