Cliff House Shaped By The Ragged Site And The Stunning Views

Clinging to a cliff on a remote island in British Columbia, the Tula House is one of those stunning structures designed to become one with the landscape and to take in the amazing views surrounding them in the most unique and unusual way. The house was designed by Canadian-based Patkau Architects and prioritizes the views without neglecting everything else.

Tula house floor to ceiling windows

Tula house floor to ceiling windows
Tula house floor to ceiling windows

It was built on the edge of a cliff, 44 feet above the Pacific Ocean. The highly irregular topography of the site definitely made things difficult and challenging for the architects who managed to make the most of this beautiful location and to turn this into a one-of-a-kind project.

Tula house floor to ceiling windows

The house was designed to reflect the irregularity of the site with its unusual geometry. The roof features moss and native plants and lets the house become one with the forest when seen from above.

Tula house floor to ceiling windows
Tula house floor to ceiling windows

Concrete, stone and nature blend together harmoniously. A series of dark fiber-cement panels give the house its shape and allow it to visually blend in and disappear into the forest.

Tula house floor to ceiling windows
Tula house floor to ceiling windows

Being so close and exposed to the ocean, the house has a close relationship with water. It flows continuously through the site and gets collected into a pool in the courtyard. The glass guardrails leave the deck completely exposed to the ocean.

Tula house floor to ceiling windows

Inside, the main spaces get to capture the panoramic views with their huge glass walls. The living area, for example, is designed to face the ocean.

Tula house floor to ceiling windows
Tula house floor to ceiling windows

The materials and colors employed here contribute to an overall casual and welcoming look that also has a sophisticated and elegant vibe. The chic leather chairs complemented by the white tables and the light wooden accents feel like a natural part of the décor.

Tula house floor to ceiling windows

The seating arrangements were designed to allow the users to admire the views. The sofa and chairs were strategically placed here and they’re the best seats in the house.

Tula house floor to ceiling windows

Continuity defines the interior space, despite the unusual geometry that we observed earlier. This is done through elements such as the wood-paneled ceiling that stretches throughout the house as well as a color palette based on light, natural shades that are usually found in nature. You can best observe this in the kitchen where there’s that cozy and colorful nook with a fresh vibe.

Tula house floor to ceiling windows

Even though these spaces share the same open floor plan, each zone feels like a distinct space, intimate and welcoming, like this dining area for example. The area is small and spacious at the same time. The round table gives it that cozy look and it appears to be small but it can actually sit 8 persons.

Tula house floor to ceiling windows

The interior floor, as you may have noticed, is a series of irregular spaces with unusual shapes, sharp angles and with zones separated by a series of concrete walls that channel the space to the ocean views and views of the courtyard.

Tula house floor to ceiling windows

Given how irregular and site was, the house had to adapt to the topography and, as a result, there are variations regarding the floor plan, differences of level and a multitude of secondary spaces that branch off, separating the main zones.

Tula house floor to ceiling windows

This unique geometry of the interior design is exquisitely highlighted in the bathroom where the washbasin stands at the center, with a thin vertical opening at the back that lets in light and the views and the design of the ceiling is repeated on the walls, creating a very elegant and refined look.

Tula house floor to ceiling windows

A series of skylights and glass plates in the floor visually connect the interior spaces with the outdoors, the cliff and the landscape in general.