West Coast modernism has long possessed a distinct and recognizable architectural flavor, defined above all by the seamless blurring of lines between the built environment and the natural world. It is a philosophy famously exalted by mid-century practitioners who sought to integrate living spaces directly into their surrounding landscapes. While this iconic design style is most frequently associated with the sun-drenched canyons and coastal stretches of California—particularly the Pacific Palisades—it has also found an enthusiastic and deeply appreciative audience much further north in British Columbia.
Although the weather in B.C. may not offer the year-round warmth of Southern California, it remains predominantly mild, making it an ideal canvas for indoor-outdoor living. From north to south, the dramatic backdrop of the ocean, towering mountains, and dynamic urban life creates a compelling framework for architectural exploration. A striking new home in Victoria, B.C., designed by the architecture firm BoForm with interiors executed by Bidgood, channels the very best of classic California modernism while thoughtfully adapting those design principles to a rugged, nature-embedded site overlooking the water.
Perched dramatically above the waterline with sweeping, unobstructed views of the Salish Sea stretching toward the U.S. mainland, the sprawling 400-square-meter residence spans three distinct levels that cascade gracefully down the steep hillside. While prioritizing the ultimate mid-century goal of bringing the outdoors in through expansive, floor-to-ceiling glazing wrapped around the home’s perimeter, the design team was equally committed to imbuing the interior spaces with a contemporary, refined take on mid-century aesthetics.
The organizational layout of the home is carefully calibrated to suit the sloping topography and the daily rhythms of its inhabitants. The primary living spaces are arrayed across the main floor, establishing a central hub for daily life and entertaining. This level encompasses the expansive living and dining areas, a main kitchen complemented by a functional butler’s kitchen, a discreet powder room, and an integrated garage.
Stepping down to the level immediately below transitions visitors and residents into the more private quarters of the home. This intermediate tier houses the primary bedroom suite complete with a spacious walk-in closet, a comfortable guest bedroom featuring an ensuite bathroom, a dedicated home office, an additional powder room, and other supporting functional spaces.
Descending to the lowest level reveals an environment entirely dedicated to wellness, relaxation, and extended hospitality. This bottom tier includes two additional guest bedrooms, a fully equipped home gym, a full bathroom, and essential mechanical infrastructure. Crucially, both the gym and the guest rooms open directly onto a sprawling lower terrace, which serves as an outdoor oasis complete with an outdoor kitchen, a hot tub, and a shaded lounge area for taking in the coastal environment.
Throughout the interior, the rooms are defined by an honest expression of materials, characterized by exposed structural beams, warm brick walls, meticulous millwork, and carefully selected furnishings. Speaking to the collaborative design process and the overarching vision for the project, Kyla Bidgood, creative director and founder of Bidgood, reflects on how the interior layers were developed to complement the architecture.
"With the architecture and space plan established, our role was to refine the interior—developing all interior elements and ensuring a cohesive, intentional flow from the exterior inward," says Bidgood.
To achieve this seamless transition, a sophisticated palette of materials was deployed across the home. Terrazzo, natural stone, and rich wood tones are used to complement the blond brick that anchors the design. This distinctive blond brick makes recurring appearances throughout the interior, wrapping around the built-in benches that line the windows and forming the solid mass of the prominent fireplace.
In specific zones, the designers allowed the material palette to shift dramatically. The washrooms and custom millwork elements were treated as intentional moments of expression, where the design team chose bolder surfaces and more vivid color palettes to create moments of visual surprise and tactile contrast against the home’s more neutral, earthy foundational spaces.
The homeowners, who originally relocated from Quebec, approached the design process with a clear vision of what they wanted their new West Coast sanctuary to feel like. They sought a living environment defined by warmth, earthiness, and a strong sense of place that anchored them to their new geographic surroundings. Bidgood and the broader design team ultimately delivered on this brief by crafting an environment that feels simultaneously expansive and intimately homey. The final layer of the interior narrative is provided by the owners’ own impressive, carefully curated art collection, which hangs along the neutral walls and completes the lived-in scene.
