A Coastal Retreat That Hovers Above the Rocks
Shoreline House by Splyce Design in Victoria, Canada, is a renovation and addition that combine contemporary form with the rugged coastal setting. Instead of demolishing the 1960s structure, the studio retained and reconfigured it, adding a compact single-storey extension designed to minimize ecological impact while embracing sweeping inlet views.
The new volume sits lightly on the terrain with recessed concrete walls, giving the impression of hovering above the rocky site. Its roof extends into a sharp, cantilevered point, while the cedar cladding contrasts the original dark shed-roof forms that echo the granite shoreline. A colonnade-lined stairway leads to the entrance, choreographing arrival through rhythm, light, and shadow.
Large floor-to-ceiling windows dissolve boundaries between home and landscape, framing shifting ocean reflections throughout the day. Patios and pathways weave seamlessly into the native vegetation, grounding the house in its setting. The project highlights the studio’s precision in merging old and new, wild and cultivated, while preserving the character of the shoreline.
Photography: Ema Peter