West Coast modernism possesses a distinct architectural flavor—that seamless blurring of lines between the built environment and raw nature so exalted by mid-century practitioners is made manifest across the Pacific Northwest. While the style is most famously associated with California, especially sun-drenched enclaves like the Pacific Palisades, it is also deeply appreciated in British Columbia. Here, the weather, while not quite as warm year-round, remains mostly mild, creating a unique climate for indoor-outdoor living. From north to south, the dramatic backdrop of the ocean, rugged mountains, and dynamic urban life makes for a compelling canvas for residential design. In Victoria, British Columbia, a remarkable new home designed by architecture firm BoForm with meticulously curated interiors by Bidgood channels the absolute best of California modernism while expertly adapting to its rugged, nature-embedded site.
Perched dramatically above the water with sweeping, uninterrupted views of the Salish Sea stretching toward the U.S. mainland, the sprawling 400-square-meter home spans three distinct levels that cascade gracefully along the steep hillside. While bringing the outdoors in—achieved primarily through expansive architectural glazing wrapping the home’s perimeter—was an absolute paramount priority, so was imbuing the interior spaces with a contemporary, refined take on mid-century modernism. The architectural massing follows the topography of the land, allowing every level to engage with the surrounding landscape while maintaining structural integrity against the elements of the coastal environment.
The primary living spaces of the residence are thoughtfully arrayed across the main floor, creating a central hub for daily life and entertaining. This upper-tier level houses the main living and dining areas, the primary kitchen alongside a fully equipped butler’s kitchen, a convenient powder room, and an integrated garage. Stepping down to the level immediately below transports visitors and residents into the more private zones of the home. This middle tier contains the primary bedroom suite complete with a generous walk-in closet, a comfortable guest bedroom featuring its own ensuite bathroom, a dedicated home office for remote work, an additional powder room, and further functional service spaces designed to maximize privacy and comfort.
Descending to the lowest level reveals a sanctuary entirely dedicated to guests and wellness. This garden-level zone features two additional guest rooms, a fully equipped home gym, a comprehensive full bathroom, and essential mechanical spaces. Crucially, the gym and guest rooms open directly onto a sprawling outdoor terrace designed for leisure and wellness. This outdoor extension includes a fully functioning outdoor kitchen, a relaxing hot tub, and an expansive lounge area that brings the home’s wellness ethos directly into the embrace of the surrounding forest and sea air.
Throughout all three levels, the interior architecture is characterized by warm, tactile materials, including exposed structural beams, rich brick walls, high-quality custom millwork, and carefully selected furnishings that pay homage to classic design eras while remaining firmly rooted in the present day. "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 Kyla Bidgood, creative director and founder of Bidgood, describing the collaborative design process behind the residence’s cohesive aesthetic.
To achieve this seamless transition from the exterior landscape to the indoor environment, the design team utilized a rich palette of terrazzo, natural stone, and warm woods. These organic materials complement the blond brick that serves as a recurring architectural motif throughout the home. Notably, the blond brick wraps around the custom benches built into the window frames as well as the striking living room fireplace, anchoring the open-plan spaces with earthy permanence. Recognizing the need for occasional moments of dynamic contrast, the washrooms and custom millwork elements became what the design team describes as "moments of expression," where they boldly opted for more vivid palettes and unconventional surfaces to surprise and delight the senses.
The homeowners, who originally relocated from Quebec, approached the design and construction process with a very clear vision. They sought "warmth, earthiness, and a strong sense of place," according to Bidgood. Her firm ultimately delivered on this brief by crafting an expansive yet remarkably homey setting that feels both monumental and deeply personal. The final layer of the home’s interior narrative is completed by the owners’ impressive, museum-quality art collection, which hangs thoughtfully along the neutral walls and interacts dynamically with the shifting natural light pouring through the floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the day.
