Vancouver’s Lantern house Offers Blueprint for Urban Serenity
VANCOUVER, BC – Leckie Studio Architecture + Design has completed Lantern House, a 2,600-square-foot residential project in Vancouver, British Columbia, demonstrating a meticulous approach to design that prioritizes subtle detail and a sense of secluded calm within a dense urban surroundings. Completed in September 2023, the home exemplifies a growing trend toward intentionally crafted spaces designed to foster wellbeing and offer respite from city life.
The project, commissioned by a client who wished to remain anonymous, stands as a case study in holistic architectural thinking. Rather than focusing on grand gestures, Leckie Studio concentrated on refining every element – from the precise alignment of tiles to custom-designed door hardware – to create a cohesive and serene living experience. This dedication to detail, according to principal Michael Leckie, is paramount: “I frequently enough suggest to the team that the true merit of a work of architecture should be judged by its worst detail rather than its best.”
Lantern House achieves its tranquil atmosphere through a considered interplay of light and materiality. The design incorporates concealed apertures that subtly direct light across tiled surfaces in the bathing areas, enhancing the sense of spaciousness and privacy. Throughout the home, adjustments to wall thicknesses ensure tiles remain whole, while custom towel hooks are seamlessly integrated within the grout lines. These seemingly minor interventions contribute to a feeling of quiet luxury and thoughtful design.
The project team included james Eidse as lead design architect, emily Dovbniak as project architect, and designers Irena jenei, Holden Korbin, and Andrea Zittlau, with Ian Lee serving as interior designer. Key consultants involved Chalten Engineering (structural), Kontur Geotechnical Consultants (geotechnical), Louis Ngan Land surveying (surveyor), integris Project management + Engineering (building envelope), Monkey Tree Services (arborist), and Cyan Horticulture (landscape). Adisa Homes served as the general contractor.
Materials selected for the project include windows from Aluprof and SwissFineLine, solid surfacing from Laminam, tile from Stonetile and Ann Sacks, and lighting fixtures from Nora Lighting, Delta Light, Flos, and Bega.