With homes like these in his repertoire, would you guess that Victoria architect Bruce Wilkin's own home is purely contemporary in style? See it after the jump...
We love the quaint and comfortable nature of the traditional designs, but we're also intrigued by this glimpse of Ann Hillyer and Wilkin's home from Western Living magazine. Read more about the home here. And see more of Bruce's work at Bruce Wilkin Design.
Image: Lucas Finlay
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Comments (9)
I love a good, solid craftsman. Simplicity and nonconceptual living is so under appreciated nowadays.
Are you certain these aren't renovations of existing older homes?
#1 clearly has an older foundation and front steps...
...and those diamond-pane windows aren't off the shelf items, but would be very costly as custom jobs - not something you'd see on this size of home.
#3 has a metal chimney flue-liner within the brick chimney - this isn't typically done on new houses, but very often done as a retrofit to homes with older chimneys to make make them safer without going to the expense of a complete rebuild.
Yes, the first three homes could be renovations. Either way, I think its unusual that an architect with a portfolio of homes like these (new or renovated) builds such a contemporary-styled home for himself.
I don't get it. I am sure most working architect's have to design/build/renovate twice as many craftsman/traditional homes than modern. It's most peoples preference. all look lovely, however.
The first images are his restoration/renovation work... the contemporary exterior is his personal home (new construction).
The interior shots at Western Living are great too!\http://www.westernlivingmagazine.com/HD/05.homes.buildingamystery.html
"Either way, I think its unusual that an architect with a portfolio of homes like these (new or renovated) builds such a contemporary-styled home for himself."
I don't think it's unusual at all.
Many architects begin their practices with renovations - redoing kitchens & bathrooms, adding a den etc.
Someone without a portfolio of work doesn't get granted a commission to design an entire house - very often the first house they design and see built is their own, and it's usually modern because all the architecture schools teach nowadays is avant-garde/modern design.
I think it shows versatility that an architect or designer can appreciate and master many different styles. Its about respecting what the house and the client are all about, rather than about your personal taste.
i live in new westminster, bc, and am just really encouraged to see canadian postings popping up, british columbia in particular. there's a lot of terrific and exciting design up here; go canada!
"Someone without a portfolio of work doesn't get granted a commission to design an entire house - very often the first house they design and see built is their own, and it's usually modern because all the architecture schools teach nowadays is avant-garde/modern design."
Sad.
I think it shows versatility that an architect or designer can appreciate and master many different styles. Its about respecting what the house and the client are all about, rather than about your personal taste.
It's true that architects aren't stuck to one style, but you usually don't have architects who are intensely focused on both modern and traditional architecture. While there is a historical connection between Arts and Crafts, Colonial, Craftsman, etc., there is really no connection between modern and traditional. Traditional is based on tradition, on history, on improving on the past. Modern throws all that away and is focused more on the architect than anything.