WINGSPAN
Dubbed WingSpan House, the split structure opens up to a large courtyard and stunning views of Skaha Lake. "It’s almost like an embrace," says Vallely. "It’s like the two wings are capturing the heart of the home." - As featured in the January 2020 edition of Dwell magazine.
"The home’s simple V-shaped layout creates two distinct realms, one public and one private, each occupying a wing of the house and meeting at the entry vestibule. The residential side has a long inner-facing stone wall—which acts in part as a sound barrier—and lower ceilings, while the higher-ceilinged public areas look out through large sliding glass doors to the courtyard, the lake, and the mountains beyond."
"Everything is a bit rough and ready—and that’s the point," says Vallely, a Vancouver-based sole practitioner. "The kids can tear it up and do whatever they’re going to do. It’s a place to live life well. If you’re tiptoeing around, it’s too precious."
"The home can sleep more people than its six bedrooms would indicate. Late in the planning phase, the couple decided to follow Vallely’s suggestion and convert the pitched-roof house’s attic into habitable space. They can now accommodate more than 20 overnight guests."
"The juxtaposition of the two wings is what makes the house work so well," says Craig. "When we’re hosting friends or extended family for the weekend, the design is really conducive to hanging out together. But even when we have company, there are times I just want to go sit and read a book. I can do that. It feels like I have my own space."
-Dwell Magazine, Jan/Feb 2020
