Pemberton Heights is one of those North Vancouver neighbourhoods defined by its tree canopy — tall, established, and worth protecting. When a young and growing family chose this forested setting for their new home, preserving that character was as much a priority as everything they wanted inside it.

The trees closest to the excavation posed a genuine engineering challenge. Rather than remove them, creative foundation solutions were developed to work around the root systems and retain the mature growth that gives the property and the street their character. The forest stays. The house goes in anyway.

The design itself takes a different direction from much of the contemporary work in the area — a traditional style with a contemporary twist, where familiar forms and warm details are refined and tightened into something that feels current without feeling cold. The interior arrangement was the primary focus for the clients, and it shows: the layout is organised thoughtfully around how the family actually lives, with a large dedicated gym and a private yard anchoring the home's relationship with the outdoors.

The covered outdoor space extends the living area into the yard through the shoulder seasons and the rainy months that come with a forested North Vancouver address — so the outside is usable and inviting year round, not just in July.

A home that fits the neighbourhood, fits the trees, and fits the family growing into it.