Metchosin Residence*

Perched on a steep, ecologically sensitive hillside above Matheson Lake in Metchosin, this modest yet highly crafted residence is designed to sit lightly within its extraordinary natural setting. Surrounded by 10 acres of rugged landscape, the home frames sweeping views of the Juan de Fuca Strait, the Olympic Mountains, and the Sooke Basin—transforming everyday living into a continuous dialogue with land and horizon.

The challenging topography and fragile ecosystem inspired a restrained architectural response. To minimize disturbance to the site, the 2,100 sq. ft. prefabricated structure “floats” above the hillside on a slender steel frame supported by just three columns. This elevated approach reduces excavation, preserves natural drainage patterns, and allows the terrain to remain largely untouched beneath the home.

Materiality plays a central role in anchoring the building to its context. In collaboration with the client—a graphic designer with a refined eye for detail—the palette was carefully curated to reflect the surrounding landscape. Weathering Corten steel cladding echoes the tones of rock and earth, while an extensive green roof system softens the building’s profile and restores habitat to the site.

The result is a contemporary retreat that balances precision and restraint with warmth and texture—an architecture that is at once expressive and deferential, designed to age gracefully within its dramatic coastal environment.

*Project completed by Peter Schiønning (SOS Design) prior to joining Praxis.

**Night photos are by contractor. (Road’s End Contracting Ltd.)